The Abu Dhabi edition of the GCAT series of shows was held this past weekend, in the Etihad Arena at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The time difference between countries makes watching some of these shows a little more challenging. Many thanks to Arabian Essence TV, who makes the videos from all the shows available on their YouTube channel, thereby providing the opportunity to watch the Senior Mare Championship (SMC) class at a more convenient time. I have to confess to you that really, the compelling reason to watch this class was all about the charm of the thumbnail photo (taken from the video) which shows Basmah Al Bidayer with her handler, Raphael Curti, as she exited the ring, after her initial presentation. And that's where this story begins, as Basmah Al Bidayer, led me to Estonia, the mare who preceded her in the ring and also, Wildona, who immediately followed her. And so, just like that, 1-2-3, the strongest mares (in my opinion), out of a total 15 mares in the class and the last mares to enter the ring Sunday night, one right after the other. And the craziest thing is, if it were not for Basmah Al Bidayer's charismatic expression, I would have missed seeing all 3 mares.
These 3 mares are more similar than they are different. Not only do they share common ground in their Polish heritage but phenotypically, all 3 mares are closer-coupled, with strong, smooth toplines, well-sprung rib cages and broad, across the chest and hind end. Outside of these 3 mares, the quality of all the mares in this class was consistently high. I did not envy the judges for the job they must do. How to pick one horse each for gold, silver and bronze, when really, any of these 15 mares could be chosen and no one would disagree.
I have blogged about Estonia (#133) previously and today, I feel the same way about her, as I did 2 years ago, in March of 2022. Of the 3 mares (despite that Basmah Al Bidayer was the driving force to watch the video), Estonia is my favorite, my number 1 choice. I appreciate strong bodied horses, of rounded lines, with overall smoothness and breed type. Estonia is all that, plus, she is a powerful mover, forward, straight and supple, conveying a quiet confidence, no matter where she is. I wish I was more like her. Although she is primarily Polish in breeding (75%); she is a Laheeb granddaughter and when combined with additional Egyptian blood (Aswan and Nil) her total percentage of Egyptian breeding grows to 25%.
Basmah Al Bidayer (#135) is by Fadi Al Shaqab (Besson Carol x ABHA Myra) and out of Bidayer (Emigrant x Eskalopka). While the percentage of Polish breeding is a little less than that of Estonia, her dam Bidayer traces to Milordka in both matrilines, that of her dam, the Monogramm daughter, Eskalopka and her sire, Emigrant. You will remember that Milordka was classified by Dr. Edward Skorkowski as Saqlawi, only because he felt that physically, she resembled a Saqlawi horse more than any other strain. Her expression is like witchcraft; she will captivate your imagination and melt your heart. She remains the single reason why I watched this class, all because of a photo.
Wildona (#136) was consigned to the Pride of Poland sale, this past summer. She was one of the high selling lots and sold for $650,000 Euros. Wildona is a Shanghai EA daughter, out of Wilda, by Gazal Al Shaqab, out of Wilga, an Ekstern daughter. While the percentage of Polish breeding is less than the other 2 mares, Wildona traces to the beloved mare, Wizja, an *El Paso daughter and a United States National Champion mare. If you continue to follow the matriline beyond Wizja, eventually you will reach Szweykowska, a Slawuta bred mare and the foundress of Polish family 7. Dr. Skorkowski measured her skull and from her measurements, determined her to be Saqlawi by strain.
As we continue to move forward into what appears to be a more urban future, sometimes the things we treasure of our past need to evolve, as we do. Yes, change is scary, people fear change more than death! But what is even scarier, is extinction and the loss of the one true thing we love most, because we fail to change, to make an effort to remain current and therefore, of interest to others all over the world. Think about it. These mares are a celebration, of many various dreams and ideals of the past, brought forward in a slightly different form, as compared to the horse the visionaries bred. Today, we speak of the breeders, their programs and their horses, only because the very thing you feared, change, reminded us of who and what they were, once.
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