<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name="Author" content="World Arabian Horse Organization (c) 2004 all rights reserved"> <meta name="Description" content="The WAHO Trophy"> <meta name="KeyWords" content="WAHO, arabian horse, arabian horse, arabian horses, arabs, World Arabian Horse Organization, WAHO, W.A.H.O., Jay Stream, Jay Stream, Abu Dhabi, arabian breeders, Arabian horse breeder,"> <meta name="Classification" content="Business"> <title>WAHO Conference report 2006 by by Sharon Meyers</title> </head> <body> <table cellpadding="6" width="797" border="0"> <tr><td colspan="3" align="center"><img src="images/Waho2006/SharonMeyers/DesertBredMareandFoal.jpg" border="0" /></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" align="center" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:72;Color:#A65555;font-weight:500">WAHO</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" align="center" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:48;Color:#D4AFA8">Conference 2006</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" align="center" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;Color:#AAABAC;font-weight:300">< Report and Photography by Sharon Meyers ></td></tr> <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="34%" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:12; text-align:justify" rowspan="2">The Conference was hosted by the Syrian Arabian Horse Association (SAHA) and the Arabian Horse Office at the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, under the patronage of Dr Bashar Al Assad, President of the Republic of Syria.<br /><br />A large team of volunteers from both SAHA and the Ministry helped the organising committee, led by Basil Jadaan, Mohammed Al-Wadi and Naji Chaoui to manage this very successful event. Also helping out once again was Natalie Meredith who, together with WAHO s hardworking Executive Secretary Kina Murray, was kept busy looking after the participants. There were Voting Delegates present from 38 countries and Observers from 27 countries, including Australians Leon Bennett, Gladys Musil, Robyn Summerhayes and her sister Kim Cox, Jenny Pond and her son Matthew and of course myself. Peter Pond attended in his capacity as WAHO Vice-President and our Society s official delegates were Registrar Helen Dohan and Board Member Brother Peter McIntosh.</td> <td valign="top" width="66%" colspan="2" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:15; text-align:justify;Color:#AAABAC;font-weight:300">Syria is the cradle of the Arabian horse and countless modern-day Arabians owe their existence to Syria s horses, so it was highly appropriate that the 2006 World Arabian Horse Organization Conference (WAHO) was held in Damascus during April 2007.<br /><hr width="100%" size="1" color="#A65555" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="34%" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:12; text-align:justify"><font color="color="#A65555"><b>Conference Report</b></font><br />During the three-day General Assembly there were many general  housekeeping items covered such as financials and the always-interesting reports from each of the voting Delegates regarding Arabian horse affairs in their countries.<br /><br />Important items passed by vote of the General Assembly included the re-election of the WAHO Executive Committee with two new members, Dr Marek Trela (Poland) and Mr Sami Bin Suleiman Al Nohait (Saudi Arabia); the re-activation of the Applying Registering</td> <td valign="top" width="34%" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:12; text-align:justify">Authority Membership of Ecuador; the acceptance of new Applying Members Estonia and Croatia and permission for Chile to register the Arabian horses of Peru. The updated WAHO Registration and Stud Book Rules were also passed. Other Agenda items passed included that all parent-verified foals of registered purebred Arabian parents must be eligible for registration provided they fulfill all WAHO and Registering Authority Member registration rules, irrespective of whether or not the sire has any form of  stallion licence ; that there can only be one registering authority member per country or area of </td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="3"><hr width="100%" size="1" color="#A65555" /></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" align="center"><img src="images/Waho2006/SharonMeyers/SyriaStreetParade.jpg" border="0" /></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" align="right" rowspan="2"><img src="images/Waho2006/SharonMeyers/StylishStreetParade.jpg" border="0" /></td> <td valign="top" align="center" colspan="2"><img src="images/Waho2006/SharonMeyers/horsetransport.jpg" border="0" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="34%" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:12; text-align:justify">jurisdiction without the express permission of the existing Voting Member; that apart from formally agreed exceptions (eg. Germany registering the Arabian horses of Luxembourg) all Arabian foals must only be registered in their country of birth; and that WAHO does not allow the registration of cloned Arabian horses, or any offspring or descendants of cloned Arabians.<br /><br />A new Consultant, Mr Xavier Guibert from France, was appointed to the WAHO Executive Committee. Rear-Admiral James Carine was made an Honorary Life Individual Associate Member of WAHO by unanimous vote of the General Assembly. He was the Administrator/Registrar for the British Arab Horse Society for many years and has helped</td> <td valign="top" width="34%" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:12; text-align:justify">WAHO in several capacities including Field Secretary and consultant. James officially retired from WAHO duties at the Syrian Conference. There was also a very moving tribute to the late Jay Stream, former WAHO President.<br /><br />Regarding the situation between WAHO and Arabian Horse Association (AHA) and Purebred Arabian Trust of America (PAT), WAHO President Dr Hans J. Nagel reported the door has always been open for further discussions. A meeting was held in Argentina in April 2006 between several members of the WAHO Executive Committee and the PAT Board Members. These discussions were reported back to the full Boards of both organisations and some correspondence</td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="3"><hr width="100%" size="1" color="#A65555" /></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" align="center"><img src="images/Waho2006/SharonMeyers/MaroofandLainAlSahra.jpg" border="0" /></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="34%" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:12; text-align:justify">followed, but it remained WAHO's understanding that no firm progress had been made by the Americans as regards their acceptance of the WAHO Definition. The Purebred Arabian Horse Registry (PAHR) remains the WAHO Registering Authority Member in good standing for the USA, Canada, Mexico and Panama. Imports to and exports from the USA continue to be processed by PAHR in the normal way, as has been happening for nearly ten years.<br /><br />Our Australian Registrar Helen Dohan attended a very productive Registrars meeting where problems involving the European Union countries were discussed in detail. It was reaffirmed that horses could only be registered in their country of birth and that universal equine life numbers (EULNs) would eventually need to be adopted in all countries. This is a worldwide system whereby each country is allocated a number; this number is followed by the number allocated to the Society, then the horse s individual registration number. If a horse is microchipped, an ISO-compliant chip must be used and the number recorded by the appropriate registry. There was discussion on how to trace horses competing under  competition names but our Australian method of cross-referencing using the database seems to be helping here.<br /><br />There were several excellent guest speakers covering fascinating subjects including the histories of the Syrian Arabian and the Bedouin tribes, as well as Arabian horse strains, which are very important in Syria to this day. Films included the newly released  Children of the Wind by Gerhard Skorianz and  Al Aseel , a thoroughly enjoyable look at Syria s present day Arabians.</td> <td valign="top" width="34%" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:12; text-align:justify">A talented American-based film producer, Mohammed Ohjee of Dragonfly Productions, was specially commissioned to film the WAHO Conference and associated events and this DVD will soon be for sale. In the meanwhile, a short clip to whet your appetite can be seen at <a href="http://www.dragonflyproduction.net" target="_blank">www.dragonflyproduction.net</a>.<br /><br /><font color="color="#A65555"><b>Overview of Social Activities</b></font><br />I arrived in Syria on Sunday prior to the conference to do two, one-day guided tours with Sanadiki Tours & Travel Services, the company that organised all our tours, including the fabulous six-day  Bedouins, Horses and Culture post conference tour. The first tour was of Damascus, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the next day we travelled to southern Syria to visit the historic sites of Sweida, Shahba, Kanawat and Bosra. The Great Roman Amphitheatre at Bosra was awe-inspiring and dates back to the second century A.D.<br /><br />On Monday night Al Shaikh Ali Mithwid Aljasem and the Al Bashakem Tribe invited us to a traditional dinner at their temporary Bedouin camp at the Old International Damascus Fair Ground opposite the Four Seasons Hotel, the conference venue in the heart of Damascus.<br /><br />The camp was there in preparation for a special event planned for the WAHO opening ceremony. This was a wonderful introduction to the Bedouins, their exceptional hospitality</td> <td valign="top" width="34%" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:12; text-align:justify">and remarkable horses. It was also my first experience of the rarely seen  12-man plates , which consisted of 20 cooked lambs on a bed of delicious rice and nuts, so heavy it takes 12 men to carry the giant platters. Arabian horses were dotted around the camp, standing quietly tied to fences, trees and telegraph poles amid all the hustle and bustle. They later took part in an impromptu parade and show of horsemanship. It s noteworthy that the horses I saw throughout Syria had incredible temperaments. Tuesday night there was a grand welcome reception and dinner under the patronage of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform at the Bawabat Restaurant.<br /><br />Wednesday morning the Conference was officially opened by the Syrian Minister of Agriculture, Mr Adel Safar. There were many Syrian officials who also attended, along with senior Sheikhs from all the Bedouin tribes. A special surprise was in store for us, an Arabian horse parade through the streets of Damascus! It was a splendid spectacle with hundreds of horses and riders taking part. Two busy roads in front of the conference venue were closed off for the parade! Horses and riders came from all over Syria, in fact a law prohibiting horse transports from entering central Damascus had to be specially lifted. Mr Amir Mardini and Dr Ahmad Hajjweiss were the masterminds behind this historic parade. After the parade the Mayor of Damascus sponsored a scrumptious lunch at the</td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="3"><hr width="100%" size="1" color="#A65555" /></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" align="right" rowspan="2" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:12; text-align:justify"><img src="images/Waho2006/SharonMeyers/WalkingBetweenTables.jpg" /><br /><br />romantic Nobalaa Palace.<br /><br />That evening Mr Mahmoud Al Anzarouti hosted a dinner party and concert in the pretty garden setting of his Asayel Al Sham Stud, where we enjoyed a parade of his beautiful horses, both Syrian and imported, including his interesting Syrian/Egyptian outcrosses. The handsome straight Egyptian stallion Ansata Haisam (Ansata Hejazi x Alajneha Nahme), newly imported from Qatar, put on quite a show. Also exhibited were the fine pure Syrian horses from Al Khaer and Al Jadaan Stables, including Basil Jadaan s wonderful black Shweimet Sabbah mare, Al Kahirah, who represents several generations of his breeding program. A group of these Syrian mares and foals were let loose in the arena while we dined and watched the entertaining folk dancers. It could have been a scene out of  Arabian Nights ! One beautiful grey mare in particular was transfixed by the colourful Whirling Dervishes and appeared quite disappointed when it was all over. So were we.<br /><br />On Thursday we were driven to the picturesque Zaman Alkhair Restaurant for lunch. Our hosts were the Management of Seif Alsham Equestrian Club and Alghabra Stud. We were in for a treat as the stud s attractive Syrian horses were paraded up and down a narrow pathway, over a small bridge, past an impressive fountain and between our tables while we dined! The horses remained calm and attentive to their handlers, even a bit blasé about it all. One sweet mare, Kenanit Al Faheem of the Shweimet Sabbah strain, had a cute colt foal at foot and he was a real little trooper who took everything in his stride.</td> <td valign="top" align="center" colspan="2"><img src="images/Waho2006/SharonMeyers/ConferenceAussies.jpg" border="0" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="34%" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:12; text-align:justify">We were then whisked off to Basel Al Assad, Syria s National Stud.<br /><br />This 160-hectare stud near Damascus was established in 1992 to preserve the original Syrian Arabians, it s now home to around 150 Arabians with 12 important strains represented. Full strain names provide vital information to Syrian breeders, not because any strain represents a particular phenotype, but because they clearly trace the provenance of every horse in the pedigree back to individual tribes, clans or families that have  owned the different strains for hundreds of years. For example, among the impressive parade of 25 horses was the eye-catching filly, Lain Al Sahra (Majd x Leiali Al Samr), of the Hamdaniet Ibn Ghorab strain, which I learned is a Hamdania sub-strain belonging only to the Ibn Ghorab family from the Shammar. We also saw her sire Majd (Basil x Mayadah), an imposing bay of the Keheilan Haifi strain. Mayadah, dam of Majd, must have been an exceptional broodmare as we saw several of her outstanding offspring including one of my favourite stallions, the masculine grey Ma roof (by Mehrez). All too quickly the parade was over, but not the day s events. That evening we enjoyed a wonderful dinner with live Arabian music, kindly co-hosted by Al Fadi and Al Jameel Stables, at the historic caravanserai Khan Asa d Basha in Old Damascus. On Friday Sehr Al Sharqe Stables sponsored the Gala Dinner Dance at the Orient Club in Damascus. This was a most enjoyable evening with excellent food and entertainment, which included local dancers and the famous Whirling Dervish.<br /><br />Saturday was devoted to sightseeing, another walk through Old Damascus and visits to the small Christian settlement of Seydnaya and the castle-like Convent of Our Lady. We then travelled to the village of Ma lula where the inhabitants still speak Aramaic, the language spoken by Christ.<br /><br />Saturday evening we were treated to a horse parade, folklore show and a delicious meal at the impressive Basel Al Assad Equestrian and Shooting Club in Aldimas, sponsored by the</td> <td valign="top" width="34%" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:12; text-align:justify">Syrian Arab Horse Association and breeders of Damascus and its countryside. There were quite a variety of athletic Arabians displayed, including race and show horses. Again, for our enjoyment, beautiful mares with their foals were turned loose in a yard butting up to the area we were dining in. Sadly this was the last official conference activity and where we farewelled those not taking part in the post conference tours. Everyone was looking forward to meeting again at the next conference to be hosted by Oman in 2009!<br /><br /><font color="color="#A65555"><b>Impressions</b></font><br />The Arabian horse is an intrinsic part of Syria s history and culture and they should certainly be preserved for future generations. I was impressed by many of the horses I saw. They were a hardy, athletic and noble group with excellent conformational points that are slowly disappearing in many lines of Arabians elsewhere. It s my hope their genetic potential will be utilised more widely outside Syria and the Middle East.<br /><br />Interestingly breeders present at the Conference frequently remarked about the Syrian horses special qualities  well laid back shoulders, good length of rein, strong hindquarters with very good tail carriage, strong bone, generally correct limbs with clearly defined tendons, fine skin and hair quality, light and free movement with equable and kind temperaments.<br /><br />I found the Syrian people to be amongst the friendliest I have met anywhere. Their history extends for thousands of years and their famous archaeology sites were a journey into the deep past and an experience I will treasure. Syria is unique and wonderful. If you would like a trip of a lifetime to see their Arabian horses first-hand, the Syrian Arabian Horse Association would be delighted to hear from you. Contact details are: P.O. Box 31815 Damascus, Syria. Email <a href="mailto:info@saha-sy.org">info@saha-sy.org</a> or ph: + 963 11 3245385/6 or fax + 963 11 3245387.</td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="3"><hr width="100%" size="1" color="#A65555" /></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" align="center" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;Color:#D4AFA8">Reprinted with permission from June 2007 edition of  The Australian Arabian Horse News <br />Available by subscription at <a href="http://www.arabianhorse.com.au/subscribe/subscribe.html" target=_blank>www.arabianhorse.com.au</a>.</td></tr> </table> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-6078967-12"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {}</script> </body> </html>