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2011 WAHO CONFERENCE, DOHA, STATE OF QATAR 1ST NOVEMBER - 8TH NOVEMBER 2011 With optional Pre and Post Conference Tours on 30th & 31st October and 9th & 10th November VENUE: THE RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL, WEST BAY LAGOON, DOHA |
A SINCERE THANK YOU FROM WAHO TO THE RACING AND EQUESTRIAN CLUB,
QATAR FOR HOSTING SUCH A WONDERFUL 2011 WAHO CONFERENCE
Scroll down to see the initial press release and Agenda for the 2011 conference, a full report will be published shortly.
One of the highlights of the event was the keynote speech by HRH Princess Alia Al Hussein Al Saleh,
"The Relationship between Humans and Equines in Today's World".
The full text is reproduced in the PDF link below
WAHO welcomes new members at any time. Please contact the WAHO
Office if you would like us to send you a membership application form.
Click here to read Arabian Horse World Magazine's preview of some of the Stud
Farms which hosted visits during the 2011 WAHO Conference in Qatar.
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| After a wonderful Welcome Reception on the evening of 1st November, the highly successful 2011 WAHO Qatar Conference opened at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on 2nd November. The official opening was conducted by HE Sheikh Mohammed Bin Faleh Al Thani, Chairman of the Racing & Equestrian Club, in the presence of several VIPs and dignitaries including Mr. Sami Jassim Al Boenain, General Director of QREC, and HE Sheikh Nawaf Bin Nasser Al Thani, together with ambassadors from various countries which had delegates at the Conference. A delightful short film about Qatar made by Mark Strickson of Rock Wallaby Productions was much enjoyed, as was the talk by Mrs. Judith Forbis on the History of the Arabian Horse in Qatar from pre-Islamic times to the present day. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 HE Sheikh Mohammed Bin Faleh Al Thani |
 Mrs. Judith Forbis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three days of intensive meetings, discussions and lectures followed, attended by the WAHO Executive Committee led by President Dr. Hans-Joachim Nagel, and some 80 Voting Delegates from 40 countries, with the added participation of over 250 Observers from some 50 countries. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Dr. Hans-Joachim Nagel |
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| From this meeting the clear conclusion can be drawn that WAHO and its Member countries have a strong commitment not only to their core activity of maintaining the stud-books in which the horses’ pedigrees are recorded, but also most importantly to taking care of every aspect of the welfare of Arabian horses world-wide. This ranged from suggestions of ways to try and control the more intrusive breeding practices through ways to reduce the incidence of genetic disorders, and on to advocating correct practices in training and competing in the breed’s three main activities, which are showing, racing and endurance riding. It is very fitting that this step forward was made in Qatar, a country renowned for its famous Arabian Stud Farms, most notably Al Shaqab Stud, Member of Qatar Foundation, which hosted a spectacular horse parade and dinner on 3rd November. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Visit to Al Shaqab Stud | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Another highlight which preceded this stud visit was the special presentation 'A Tribute to Living Art' by the Qatar Museums Authority and Al Shaqab Stud, Member of Qatar Foundation, with the well-known artist Karen Kasper unveiling her 3 specially commissioned bronzes of the World Champion stallions Gazal Al Shaqab, Al Adeed Al Shaqab and Marwan Al Shaqab. The 3 bronzes shown will be on permanent display at the Qatar National Museum, with the life-size versions when completed due to take pride of place at Al Shaqab Stud itself. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Karen Kasper |
 Al Adeed Al Shaqab Bronze |
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| Everyone thoroughly enjoyed an evening of Arabian racing on 2nd November at the spectacular Al Rayyan Park Racecourse, where the highlight was the special "WAHO Cup" race, won in a thrilling close finish by the grey colt Damis (Amer/Kachia) fittingly owned and bred by the Conference's patron, HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Umm Qarn Farm. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Visit to Al Rayyan Park Racecourse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back at the Conference, over the next 2 days it was clear that WAHO has also made great progress in its educational programme, with keynote speakers such as Princess Alia Al Hussein Al Saleh from Jordan and Emma Maxwell from the United Kingdom who respectively addressed the subjects of welfare and treatment of horses of the Arabian breed as well as the importance of good temperament in these horses. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 L to R: HRH Princess Alia Al Hussein and Emma Maxwell | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other very significant and well received lectures were presented by three of the world’s leading equine genetic experts: Professor Matthew Binns, Dr. Michael Bowling and Dr. Samantha Brooks, educating the conference on the latest advances in research into the equine genome, as well as addressing the current ‘hot topics’ of genetic disorders in the breed and how best to avoid them. These talks were extremely well received by the participants, and from their comments and feedback it appears everyone is extremely happy that WAHO is concentrating its future efforts on these important issues. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Professor Matthew Binns |
 Dr. Michael Bowling |
 Dr. Samantha Brooks |
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| Equally well received were the talks by Mrs. Cynthia Culbertson on the Arabian Horse in Islamic and Orientalist Art, as well as the presentation of a delightful video and slide-shows about the little-known wildlife and natural history of Qatar presented by Mark Strickson, Frances Gillespie, and Dr. Christiana Hebel from Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The central event of the 2011 WAHO Conference concluded on 4th November with a glittering gala dinner. Gathered together from all over the world in celebration of the very special, beautiful and unique purebred Arabian horse, it was generally agreed by all the participants that this had been a very important and productive WAHO Conference. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PRIDE OF QATAR DAYS: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The 2011 WAHO Qatar Conference programme continued from 5 - 8 November with the exceptional Pride of Qatar Days, with over 200 participants enjoying visits to several of Qatar’s world-famous Arabian horse breeding farms to see the many beautiful and athletic horses. These visits were kindly hosted by Umm Qarn Stud of HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani, special adviser to HH The Emir of Qatar and Patron of the 2011 WAHO Qatar Conference; by Al Shahania Stud of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani; by Al-Naif Stud of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Al Thani; and by Al Nasser Stud of Sheikh Nawaf Bin Nasser Al Thani. There was also a visit to the magnificent Camel Race Track hosted by Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani, and to the The Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al-Thani Museum and Al Samariyah Stud, hosted by Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani. Another visit to the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club also took place on the morning of 8th November for a special horse show with two ridden classes, and a fascinating lecture demonstration by Gillian Higgins from England – “Horses Inside Out”. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Conference participants also thoroughly enjoyed the chance to explore every aspect of Qatar, ancient and modern, on a series of tailor made pre and post conference tours, including specially arranged visits to the unique Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation facility as well as a visit to Al Maha Stud, both at the kind invitation of Sheikh Saoud Bin Mohammed Bin Ali Al Thani. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WAHO EXTENDS ITS SINCERE THANKS TO ALL THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE, WHOSE GREAT EFFORTS, HARD WORK, EXCEPTIONAL GENEROSITY AND WARM HOSPITALITY ALL COMBINED TO MAKE THE 2011 WAHO QATAR CONFERENCE SUCH A RESOUNDING SUCCESS. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| A comprehensive report with many more photographs and more details from the WAHO General Assembly proceedings and the Guest Speakers' presentations follows here soon. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Tel: +44 (0) 1684-274-455 | Fax: +44 (0) 1684.274.422 | Email: waho@btconnect.com | Website: www.waho.org
WAHO Qatar 2011 Conference Office Hannie Maasdijk, Coordinator
Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club, PO Box 7559, Doha, State of Qatar.
Tel: +974-4419-7639 Fax: +974.4480.2734 Email: wahoconferenceqatar2011@gmail.com