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Here in Egypt the breeders actively avoid endurance for the most part. 
Breeders like Wigdan el Barbare or Nasr Marei do not have horses 
participating in endurance, although there might be some that are 
bought from their studs (I doubt it strongly, however).  On the whole, 
the main breeders have horses that are so much more expensive than the 
baladi (grade) Arabs and most of the "endurance" riders are grooms 
employed by pyramids stables, so the economics are not favourable to 
having stables compete unless the breeders decide to do so.

Egypt is absolutely full of Arab horses, albeit most of them of mixed 
blood, even the cart horses show very distinct Arab characteristics, so 
most riders don't see the point in paying LE 20 thousand or more for a 
horse to ride. The other thing to take into account is the fact that 
the only "real endurance" here is the FEI flat racing. We have all seen 
the casualties involved in this and most breeders are EXTREMELY 
reluctant to risk expensive horses in such a risky situation.

Maryanne
Cairo

On Apr 7, 2005, at 3:04 PM, John Teeter wrote:

> At 09:06 AM 4/7/2005, you wrote:
> > Ah Bette,
> >
> > And we are so glad a few of you breeders are out there doing what you 
> > do.
>
> Sorry to enter late into this. I generally don't have much to say 
> about the breeding of the Arabian horse - mainly not being too 
> particular as to the breed, but the individual I'm riding. But there 
> are contrasts with activities in the US and those I've seen or heard 
> of in other countries.
>
> In Argentina, as I mentioned earlier, there are @10 large breeders of 
> Arabians. The original endurance events in Argentina were sponsored by 
> the Arabian Breeders Association (circa 1985). At the time, the major 
> focus of these breeders was on the Arabian flat track world  and the 
> show/halter world (which I know nothing about!).
>
> The first Arabian flat track race was held in the early 1990s. It was 
> a major breakthrough for the Arabian breed here but Endurance was what 
> the real horse people WANTED to do with their time though it seems!
>
> -- back on topic -- a big difference I have sees between breeders here 
> and in the US is that here each stud (haras) has multiples of 
> individuals out there competing. They are either ridden by 
> professional endurance riders (like Mercedes Tapia on RAS Kasal) or by 
> semi-professional gauchos who are skilled horsemen first and endurance 
> riders second (like Hugo and Hugito Mendez riding on the Miguel's Moro 
> horses in the PanAms) - and/or by the breeders and their extended 
> families.  Either way, the breeders are actively engaged at both the 
> breeding and the competitive areas. 
>
> They tend to bring a large number of their offspring into endurance 
> themselves, as well as providing mounts to others through early sales. 
> But they are very visible at the competitions and there is a very 
> friendly, spirited feeling of competition between the various haras.
>
> This is not unlike what I saw in the UAE - where the various racing 
> stables are visible (unique team colors and clothing etc.)  - there 
> the breeding facilities are just being established, so they are not 
> yet projecting  out through the competition as identifiable entities, 
> but basically each racing stable has (or will have) behind it a 
> breeding operation I think. Also, there is a different feeling of 
> completive spirit which likely reflects cultural/historical lines.
>
> Australia, with the Toft's and Meg Wade have a similar situation. 
> Breeders are actively visible in the competitive arena - almost at the 
> team level. I haven't seen much of France, Itally, ... the rest of the 
> Europeans. Belgium looks more like the US I think - But it would be 
> interesting to know more.
>
> Overall, while I've seen American Arabian breeders be interested in 
> endurance, I've not seen any yet field an endurance team which is 
> visibly competing with multiple entries in multiple events every year. 
> For example, in the upcoming AERC NC, we would see various breeders 
> actively supporting the competitors who are riding on their offspring 
> - with bragging rights going to the ones who had highest completion 
> rate or most top 10 - with team colors and shirts etc. which bond the 
> teams in the competition.
>
> As it is, the US is very fragmented with the riders not being aligned 
> much with those that breed their mounts. It would be great fun to see 
> team FireMountain in the national rankings with team OutlawTrail for 
> example (to use breeders who aren't in this conversation:)
>
> johnt
>
> (who hears that Val and Cia are on-site at Pinamar - that Mercedes and 
> the RAS team were there, but came back to El Reparo training center to 
> celebrate Eduardo's birthday last night and to pick up Madiya, Grace, 
> and Jan at the airport today) and that Steve, Dianah, and Deborah will 
> arrive tomorrow (i think?). Leonard and Carol will get here Saturday 
> and will drive down with Steph and I - to meet all the Moro horses 
> there.
>
> Anyway, people are showing up and I'm still trying to get steph out of 
> the tack shops! She found this great new saddle - 3km  w/o stirrups  - 
> and bunches of "ride awards" which is a eufomism (sp?) for something 
> culturally unique which needs to be spread around the Southern Idaho 
> endurance community:) - she wouldn't go for the soapstone turtles 
> though -- too heavy??? (and btw: the US announced their team - 
> although if Steph weren't on it, I don't think I would know this yet:) 
> But the list is at:
>
>   http://www.endurance.net/2005pac/riders/
>
> )
>
>
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Maryanne Stroud Gabbani
http://miloflamingo.blogspot.com
http://haramlik.blogspot.com
http://www.alsorat.com
http://homepage.mac.com/msgabbani


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