Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God protect him, His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, attended the closing ceremony of the 8th International Arabian Horse Beauty Show. The ceremony was held at the King Abdulaziz Arabian Horse Center in Riyadh, amidst a remarkable official and public presence that reflects the esteemed position of this time-honored sport in the Kingdom.
Upon his arrival at the venue, His Highness was received by His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Khalid bin Faisal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Higher Authority for Equestrianism and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Horse Racing Club, His Excellency the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Engineer Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli, and a number of officials.
Tournament results and crowning of the winners
Following the playing of the national anthem, the parade of horses that qualified for the finals began, with His Royal Highness the Prince of Riyadh crowning the winners. In the championship for stallions of Saudi origin and breeding , the “Athbah” stud farm, owned by His Royal Highness Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, dominated the scene, with the horse “Khuraysan Athbah” winning the gold medal, “Baslam Athbah” taking the silver, and the bronze going to the horse “Layth Dirab” from Al-Aredh stud farm.
In the mares championship , Horizon Stud won the gold medal with the mare “Eco Anastasia”, while the Royal Cavalry of Oman won the silver medal with the mare “D Gram”, and the mare “Nouf Adhba” from Adhba Stud won the bronze medal.
Record numbers and broad international participation
The eighth edition of the International Arabian Horse Beauty Show witnessed a record number of participating horses, with 844 horses from various countries, reflecting the prestigious international reputation the championship has earned. The competitions were judged according to the highest international standards adopted by the ECAHO (European Conference of Arab Horse Organizations), which intensified the competition and raised the artistic level of the show.
Historical legacy and cultural standing
The patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for this championship underscores the great importance the wise leadership places on purebred Arabian horses, which represent an integral part of the cultural and historical identity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom is the original home of the Arabian horse and has been dedicated to its care and the preservation of its lineage since the era of its founder, King Abdulaziz – may God have mercy on him.
The King Abdulaziz Arabian Horse Center serves as an international and local reference body in this field, contributing to the organization of championships and the documentation of lineages, which enhances the Kingdom’s position as a leading global destination in the field of equestrianism and horse beauty, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in reviving national heritage and supporting sports and cultural activities.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Royal Highness the Prince of Riyadh received a commemorative gift from His Excellency the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture. His Royal Highness also honored the government agencies and sponsoring companies that contributed to the success of this major international event.
