INSIDE THE SALON DU CHEVAL OF EL JADIDA At its third year, and, as part of the events at the Salon du Cheval of El Jadida, this show headquartered inside the new ‘Parc des Expositions in Azemmour’ wanted to be a showcase of the horse in Morocco in all his differentiation. For centuries, the Moroccan territory has been the Kingdom of horses bred and preserved like hidden treasures in the most remote villages, an aspect of the living heritage of a civilization that has always used mainly the ‘Barbary’ breed in all actions of everyday life. Such horses from the Greater Maghreb area, including mainly Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, used to enjoy more glorious times in the past, being the most representative breed of indigenous people in that region of northern Africa. The most representative image Europeans have kept in their mind is that of the fantasias (festivals) that would enthralled them by their color and the fervor of thousands of horsemen rushing into crazy races that would shake the black powder inside their guns; the most beautiful one being undoubtedly ‘Moussem’ held in Amghar, near El Jadida, that takes place every year at the beginning of August. Nowadays, although the ‘Tbourida’ still retains a good place in the various provinces of the Kingdom culminating with the annual gathering of the prestigious Sorbas. Entirely re-organized with powerful and magnificent Barbary horses, it is a real shame that this race is no longer brought to the fore within a more traditional activity during breeding competitions with high promotional index. Unquestionably, its merit was to set up an international competition within the framework of the Salon El Jadida, which could do it better. In this context, with regard to such race, which is the symbol of the genetic heritage of a country still having magnificent specimens up to 50% of the herd estimated at 300,000 subjects against 35% in Algeria and 15% in Tunisia, this horse is deeply present in the heart of all Moroccans as he is truly a national identity regardless of the environment of stay. Having placed it at an international level, under the aegis of the O.M.C.B., created in 1987 in order to support, divulgate and promote the Berber horse on an international scale, the International Berber Horse Championship 2017 gathered only few foreign competitors from Algeria, France and Luxembourg. Horses were not in good condition despite the granted facilities. Such an event was not at all efficiently highlighted and provided passionate about these prominent horses with an unfortunate image. THE MOROCCO ROYAL TOUR Through a dynamic process started by HRH Ft Princess Lalla Amina, the highlights of this show give priority to the Morocco Royal Tour with its three show jumping competitions organized by F.r.m.s.e. In sequence, they are: Tetouan, Rabat and, to conclude, El Jadida with the participation of the best riders of the discipline, this being a technical program set up by famous French trainer Marcel Rozier, a man in that art. THE TBOURIDA A second target of interest for visitors runs it second place, but it does first in the heart of all Moroccans. This is undoubtedly the Grand Prix of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Tbourida that brings together 15 Sorbas with their 17 knights from all the provinces of the country. According to the purest tradition, they find shelter under caïdales tents providing with a striking spectacle of a thousand Barbary horses grouped on a ground mixed with straw. The Tbourida is a traditional equestrian art that is still considered as a major cultural heritage these days because it is now part of a highlevel sports activities work schedule alongside with its regional and national competitions leading to the Grand Prix of the Salon du Cheval of El Jadida. The wonderful show offered on this four-day Championship deserves to list out a ranking as it follows: 1 Sorba El Fatehy Aziz - Beni Mellal area 2 Sorba Benkhadda El Arbi - Beni Mellal area 3 Sorba Add Mhamed - Casablanca Settat area 4 Sorba Nassiri Toufiq - Casablanca Settat area 5 Sorba Laaraj Faraji – L’ Oriental area ENDURANCE A novelty put in place last year, with the support of the United Arab Emirates, in the person of Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan who finances all endowments; it was a revival of endurance events on 40, 60 and 80 km in the beautiful middle Atlas region on h o r s e b a c k riding trails of the ‘Ifrane Cedar Forest’. On October 6th and 7th, 2017, riders of the discipline were simply delighted by a warm atmosphere that deserves to be highlighted. However, also on this occasion we could observe the participation of many riders belonging to military institutions and that cannot be considered as amateurs when compared with the private ones who, as for them, had full merit of seen top places being taken by their professional horsemen. For the sake of fairness, there should be a double ranking there. Classification 40 km 1st Lahrach Yousra with Rivella Equestrian Center Farah 2nd Ayour Youssef with Quarfa Gendarmerie Royale 3rd Moumjid Badre with Bahir Rnc Equestrian Center Oued Merzeg Classification 60 km 1st Boukri Rachid with Ben Yassin - Royal Equestrian Club Menzeh 2nd Oubaychou Smail with Lizaz - Royal Temara Cavalry School 3rd Smahi Noura with Zakia - Farah Equestrian Center 4th Moutaouakil Oussama Mdl with Agalman – - Forces Armées Royales Khenifra Classification 80 km 1st Bouhout Hamid Mdl with Tissue II - Garde Royale 2nd Bensaid Ali Djt with Rose of the Winds – Garde Royale 3rd Hammadi Smail with Arrabiefi - La Ferme Equestre 4th Keddara Meryem with Toumira - Royal Equestrian Center Menzeh 6TH MOROCCO BREEDERS CUP In what is becoming a ritual in the shows program of the Salon, there are two breeding competitions reserved for purebred Arabian horses which take place in the most ominous confidentiality. The field supervisor ought to think more about this matter; it is necessary and urgent since Morocco deserves better. Under the auspices of the A.H.O. - and with no particular euphoria at the end of it - the 6th Breeders’ Cup brought together nearly sixty participants born and bred in Morocco. At the Championship, the panel of judges - who might also discuss that – awarded the winning positions as follows: Yearling Fillies Championship Gold - Soultana De Dream by Kanz Al Bidayer & Mz Oa Sham Sabbah – Mohamed Mgharfaoui Silver - Shireen Mams by Galik Conquestador & Malawi – Tarik Mamoun Bronze - Issan Malach by Rayyan Al Naif & SL Rashida – Mostafa Benlafkih Fillies Championship Gold - Firdaous L Azri by Imperial Bisaam & Nassira Gam – Youssef Azri Silver - Nefertity by Amalfi de Nautiac & Dona Kristina – Abdelmajid Aboukhadija Bronze - Marjana Menara stud by Exotic Sadiq & Shahada Im4Bahja – Karim Benlafikh Mares Championship Gold - Etqane Bouznika 2013 by Ts Apolo & Miss Navarrone – Haras Royal de Bouznika Silver - Kamar De Dream 2013 by Imperial Bissam & Dahmarks – Mohamed Mgharfaoui Bronze - Zineb Inès 2012 by Amalfi de Nautiac & Mounah de Nautiac – Abdelmajid Aboukhadija Yearling Colts Championship Gold - Walil Inès by Jenufa de Nautiac & Bs Specific – Abdelmajid Aboukhadija Silver - Issan Sokar by Al Adeedal Al Shaqab & Insha Shabilah – Mostafa Benlafkih Bronze Menara Ar-Ra’D by Gazal Al Shaqab & Shaila Du Siard – Karim Benlafkih Colts Championship Gold - Majestic by Shahada Abu Jamaal & Oulaya – Mostafa Benlafkih Silver - Adham Machaa Allah by Seyf Al Assam & Makrama – Aicha Quaisse Bronze Issan Haroon by Ansata Haisam & Hyblea Malika – Mostafa Benlafkih Stallions Championship Gold - Ezzaim Bouznika 2013 by Ts Apolo & EE Auras Echo – Haras Royal de Bouznika Silver - Sahm Adarouch 2012 by Kacim & Amiri Athena – Ranch Adarouch Bronze - Nassim El Aaz 2013 by Imperial Bissam & Rania Al Doum – Mohammed Oumlaz 2017 INTERNATIONAL ARABIAN HORSE A-SHOW Tenth competition with a participation of 95 Arabian horses from Spain - France - Morocco – Qatar. An International A show that was set up, in his times, by Dr. Vet. Fdail Lahcen in a golden period of the event. It is fair to say that this competition did not get the success that one would expect in a country that is experiencing massive growth of the breed. Perhaps, this has been happening too fast to control it properly; in fact, we must note that the livestock as a whole was much too imported from outside countries to the detriment of Moroccan strains that were still able to produce with the reputation that has long been recognized to them. If we take into consideration the participation in the Regional Competitions of Marrakech (74 exhibitors) Meknes (89) El Jadida (112) Bouznika (66) which are getting bigger from year to year with nearly 750 registered horses, it will be soon necessary to act upon the education of new judges - local experts who have the required skills to officiate and secure a good development of the sector in Morocco, to restrict the participation of judges that are always the same (and who have become shareholders), thus bringing no modernity by their judgements. Fashion is somewhat temporary, involving many issues and disagreements among the countries in the international sector. Here, the European Horses Shows Organization has become a center of fierce disputes, even about its legitimacy. The technical counsellor of the A-Competition of El Jadida should evolve by rethinking the selection process of the judges who down there, too, are sharply criticized; everyone can conceive the business according to their inner disposition, yet, the more we judge the less we like it. A refocusing of actions towards Arabian horses in Morocco should be put on the agenda; the paradoxes being that in Europe and in the world, the institutional organizations are no longer in direct charge of the breeding of horse breeds in general. Championships 2017 Yearling Fillies Championship Gold - Hadba Al Shaqab by Marwan Al Shaqab & OFW Mishaal Breeder - Owner Al Shaqab Stud, Qatar Silver - Soultana De Dream by Kanz Al Bidayer & MZ Oa Sham Sabbah Breeder – Owner Mohamed Mgharfaoui, Morocco Bronze - Jihane Bouznika by Lammah Athbah & Gazala HBV Breeder – Owner Haras Royal of Bouznika, Morocco Fillies Championship Gold - Poesie by Kanz Al Bidayer & Pelissima Breeder Titanium Arabians – Owner Haras Inès, Morocco Silver - Mashkora Al Shaqab by Fadi Al Shaqab & Marwa Al Shaqab Breeder – Owner Al Shaqab Stud, Qatar Bronze - Menwah Al Shaqab by Wadee Al Shaqab & Miss El Power JQ Breeder – Owner Al Shaqab Stud, Qatar Mares Championship Gold - Volodia De Lafon 2012 by Shanghai Ea & Vassilia Breeder Earl Mas De Lafon – Owner Haras Inès, Morocco Silver - Jenufa de Nautiac 2012 by Shanghai Ea & Jalicia de Nautiac Breeder Haras de Nautiac – Owner Haras Inès, Morocco Bronze - Ensemble DDA 2009 by Eden C & Angelica Showlee Breeder – Owner Haras Royal of Bouznika, Morocco Yearling Colts Championship Gold - Hagars Al Shaqab by Fadi Al Shaqab & Wind Kamelia Breeder – Owner Al Shaqab Stud, Qatar Silver - Lazeez Al Shahania by Eks Alihandro & ZT Makbey Breeder Al Shahani Stud – Owner Michel Combette, France Bronze - Kanz Gam by Kanz Al Bidayer & Samya Gam Breeder – Owner Haras Gamhouien, Morocco Colts Championship Gold - Jawen Aslal by ZT Marwteyn & Just Adore Breeder – Owner Aslal Arabians, France Silver - Nydjik Des Aubues by Maximilian & Nirvana Des Aubues Breeder Lucas – Owner Haras Inès, Morocco Bronze - Espressivo Mams by Zahran Albidayer & Rihanna CP Breeder Mehdi Ameur – Owner Tarik Mamoum, Morocco Stallions Championship Gold - TS Apol 2003 by Ts Don Brave & Fairness FHP Breeder Toni Salloum – Owner Haras Royal of Bouznika, Morocco Silver - Slatan De Lafon 2013 by Shanghai Ea & Vassilia Breeder Earl Mas De Lafon – Owner Haras Inès, Morocco Bronze - Picasso EA 2010 by Padrons Psyche & Nebaska Kossack breeder Equuq Arabians – owner Tarik Mamoun, Morocco CONCLUSION The 10th Edition of the El Jadida Horse Show ended rather successfully. The Organizers had taken up the same theme as for the 1st 2008 ‘Salon of Pride and Passion’, for which the world community - kindly invited to follow its realization - could have claimed more consistent bonfires in its programming, given the importance of the anniversary calendar. A comment heard here and there also evoking new creative frameworks to recruit. It is still missing there an extra facility to host more international exhibitors of a wide variety of products; it is surprising to note the lack of suppliers in the races sector which nevertheless find themselves inside of an important field of actions put in place by the supervisory body with its all-pervasive protection policy of equines. The luxurious institutional stands take up too much room inside and actually relegated outside the facility most of the exhibitors, the sight of which was detrimental to the harmony of the places. The highlight of the 2017 show - for its novelty - was a varied show on the career of the Tbourida that took place at the end of the week enthralling huddled audiences in the stands. They showed their joy by admiring in the open air what it is usually held inside the facility with its lack of space; for sure a great initiative to renew, and why not into a fully-converted commercial space... For the evening show on the great career of the Salon, the presentation by z z Serra Camps with his two purebred Arabian horses was for many attendants a moment of waking dream just like the Equestrian School of Cordoba that made a presentation of very-high quality riding subjects; both performances alike overshadowed military formations once again much too present at the show and that, however, have poor technical skills; a much harder training is needed for next year. Sincere and heartfelt congratulations to the children who are generously welcomed in large swarms - in my opinion they are indeed the Masters of the Feast. It is such a thrill to hear them singing along the anthem of their country to the fullest when the winner of a competition is put in the spotlight, that is sort of happiness that heals; thank you to the village that has been dedicated to them and still needs to grow. Thinking about young people is a duty indeed. Our hearts go out also to the many technical teams that work away from the spotlights but allow the realization of a show that develops further year after year thanks to their involvement into an event that is still an example of the high quality of its facility.