2008 REPORT AWAITED

REPORT MADE AT THE 2007 WAHO CONFERENCE:

We do not know exactly when the Arabian horse was first introduced into the country that is now Portugal, but we do know that from the year 710, the successive waves Islamic invasions brought us many Oriental horses, which left a deep impression that lasts up to today. The Arabian horse has been documented in stud books in Portugal since 1893. The Portuguese have, since the beginning and still to this day, carried out the selection of our Arabian horses for breeding by means of hard sporting tests, and never only by outward appearance. We consider that this has been a major asset to our breeding programme. Thanks to this choice of breeding stock by means of functional tests, many Portuguese Arabians have participated with considerable success in open competition for horses of all breeds and obtained excellent results even in Olympic disciplines, where it is rare to find Arabian horses.

Our current stud book is Volume 2 to 2002. The estimated number of living Arabians in Portugal is 500, with approximately 30 foals registered each year from approximately 40 active broodmares and 20 breeding stallions. Actually there are approximately 250 broodmares but most of them are used in cross breeding. 25 foals were registered in 2006. The use of Artificial Insemination, transported semen and embryo transfer are all permitted. There are 15 Arabian horse shows, no races, and 25 endurance rides each year. Other popular activities for Arabians include showjumping, cross country and dressage, at which they compete against all other breeds. The Stud Book is computerized. DNA, markings and microchips are all used for identification. Imports and exports and local sales within Portugal are also increasing.

In showing, Portuguese Arabians have won several Supreme Championship titles, most notably in Brazil, Mexico and Spain. In Endurance, our horses excel. The Portuguese team was ranked 2nd at the 2003 European Championships, were 2nd at La Baule in France in 2004, and won the Team bronze medal at the 2006 World Championship in Aachen, Germany. In racing, the Portuguese purebred Arabians have also done extremely well especially in France. More surprisingly perhaps, in open Show-Jumping Competitions against all breeds, a Portuguese Arabian was a finalist in the Classic Tour at Fontainebleau, France and was also the 9th biggest winner in France out of all the 6 year old horses. In the tough sport of Eventing, the purebred Arabian Reject Ibn Biarritz took 3rd place at Pau in the French Championships, where he was the only Arabian taking part. He has also twice won the championships of Portugal, the CCE event of Mafra. In dressage, once again in open competition against all other breeds, the Portuguese Arabian Ohxul Ben Biarritz won many tests, and was ranked 2nd at the Paris Grand Prix, and 3rd in Madrid. Champion of the International Class in Portugal, twice winner of the top title, he was preselected for the Olympic Games, unfortunately he did not compete because he died prematurely. Arabian horses bred in Portugal also achieve great success in the specialized sport of mounted bullfighting, in which the bull is not killed. This traditional, magnificent and extremely difficult discipline was once the sport of Kings. This discipline, unique in the world, requires a horse with courage, suppleness, strength and also above-average intelligence.

In conclusion, the Arabian horse is a marvellously versatile animal, and we are proud of our Arabians in Portugal. Actually, we are doing everything possible to promote the Arabian Horse. This is why our new Association of Arabian Horse Breeders is independent of the other breeds. Furthermore, we recently published a luxurious book of more than 400 pages, illustrated by a thousand photographs, entitled "The Arab Horse in Portugal" it presents the Arabian from its origins to the present day. We feel a profound sense of gratitude to towards the countries that first saw his birth and to all the people that with such great wisdom, patience and skillfulness, transformed him into the beautiful and cultural treasure that he represents to the world today, acting as a symbol of friendship linking peoples from many countries of the world.