For their 50th anniversary, the Austrian Arabian Breeding Association (ÖAZV) invited to a special anniversary show in Stadl Paura. From humble beginnings in 1972, an active breeding community developed, which cultivates the breeding of the Shagya Arabian in particular.
Due to Austria’s proximity to Hungary, Shagya Arabs kept coming to the country,e.g. in 1967, when the stallion Shagya XX from Topolcianky served to improve local Austrian breeds in Burgenland. Other stallions followed, also from Romania and Yugoslavia, and in 1971 the first purebred Arabians came to the Austria with Gustl Eutermoser and the Mosch family, both came from Germany.
On March 19, 1973, 14 friends of the Arabian horse founded the “Arabian Breeding Association Austria” (AZVÖ), which numbered seven stallions, two geldings and 31 mares. Stud Book I for purebred Arabians and Volume II for Shagya Arabians were published. Five years later, the purebred Arabian breeders split off and founded their own association, the “Association of purebred Arabian Breeders in Austria” (VVÖ). The still existing AZVÖ looked after the breeds Shagya-Arabian, Partbred- and Anglo-Arabian and included 28 breeders with 13 stallions, 35 mares and 31 young horses. In 1983, the AZVÖ was also a founding member of the International Shagya Arabian Society (ISG). However, internal difficulties caused another split and so in 1986 the AZVÖ became the ÖAZV (Austrian Arabian Breeding Association), which now looks after the Arabian breeds (except purebred Arabians).
The Highlights at the Show
At the beginning of July, the ÖAZV invited to the 50th anniversary. Unfortunately, the international participation was limited, but the Austrian breeders gladly accepted the invitation to come to the beautiful Stadl Paura. At the same time, on Friday and Saturday before the actual show, a studbook registration and stallion licensing were carried out, and so more than 50 horses met in the spacious facility.
The highlights of the show were the yearling filly Kuhaylan Zaid-115 (Gina) bred and owned by Walter Fahrnleitner, which received by far the highest score of the juniors with 7.76 points and won in the yearling class. She is sired by the stallion Kohekon. The stallion is a rarity in breeding, because his sire line Kuhaylan Zaid was considered extinct and could only be brought back to life through luck and a lot of effort. But the effort was worth it, Kohekon was licensed, passed his performance test and is now active in breeding and in endurance sports – this year he has already completed a 120 km and a 140 km ride.
A total of eleven mares competed in three classes. Another daughter by Kohekon won the class for 4- to 6-year-old mares with 7.8 points: Kuhaylan Zaid-616 (Katara) (out of Saklawi I-124 (Gahwary)) *2016 bred and owned by the Hemmer family. The mare received a premium in 2020 and is now active in endurance sport like her sire, where she achieved 3rd place in the Shagya Arabian Endurance Cup in 2021 – that’s how it should be, performance and correct conformation!
Jussuf-301 (Jarida) (Jussuf-911 (Jelzin) / Raida) *2013 won the class of 7- to 10-year-old mares. She comes from the Jussuf sire line, which also only returned to Austria and Hungary in the 2000s with Joska and Joshua from Denmark.
In the class of 7-year-old and older mares, Saklawi I-124 (Gahwary) (Geydan / Gazmene) *2011 of the Hemmer family won again. She was Junior European Reserve Champion in 2013 at Marbach,. She has the Russian stallion Gips ox as a grandfather via Geydan and therefore has a relatively large proportion of purebred Arabian blood, especially since her pedigree also includes the stallions Ibn Galal I and Tobrok. Nevertheless, she is a large-framed mare, noble without appearing too fine and equipped with excellent movements.
The stallions are of course always eagerly awaited by breeders and spectators. Unfortunately, only five horses competed in two classes. The oldest stallions finally were the winners and later champions: Jussuf-911 (Jeltsin) (Jussuf A1-42 / Rapina) *2009 of the Hoppenberger family won. He is an impressive stallion with a lot of expression. Behind him was the 17-year-old D’Amour (Saramour / Daika) *2005 of the Sommer family from Germany; he was the oldest participant in the show. He is also an expressive stallion, rather short and compact with a strong legs.
With the championships, a nice show came to an end, which one would have wished for some more participants. Let’s hope that next year, when the Shagya Arabian breeders meet in Bábolna for the ISG European Championships, more breeders will be willing to show their horses to a wide audience!
(For the photos and results please see the German article)
Gudrun Waiditschka
