Photo: Rik van Lent jr.
Hamasa Ibn Kaisoon 
(Kaisoon x Menha)
Imported from Germany to Johrhemar Stud

What was the first show you ever have judged?
The first show I judged was a small local show. In this country judges are given small assignments in the beginning of their judging careers and are gradually built up to adjudicate at the major shows. We also do not have as many shows a year as there are in Europe and the USA giving us little exposure to judging locally. Fortunately I have been invited several times to judge in Europe and the UK , such as, the Nations Cup in Aachen and Interpferd in Austria. I am due to judge at the British Nationals this year. I also try and attend several international shows each year so as to keep up with the trend internationally.

Photo: Rik van Lent jr.
Gazella Bint Masri 
(Masri x Bint El Gazella)
Supreme-Champion Mare of South Africa in 1992,
owned by Johrhemar Stud

Please explain what has changed at shows since then?
Shows have changed dramatically since the time I first judged. Some changes are for the good and some, unfortunately, for the worse. Everything has become more professional, not that it is necessarily a bad thing, but over-showing of horses is in my opinion being exaggerated to the extreme where it becomes difficult to judge the horse itself. Showing today is not for the feint hearted nor the backyard horse that is loaded once a year by it's loving owner and taken to the Nationals! Artificial enhancement of horses reared its ugly head at shows world-wide and thankfully there are many drives to eliminate it totally, but unfortunately a lot of damage had already been done to several horses who today are crippled from drug abuse etc. This was a great concern to me personally as I could not see a bright future for the Arabian horse as a breed if matters had continued in this way.

Photo: Gigi Grasso
Simeon Sadik 
(Asfour x Simeon Safanad)
"Sheer beauty and type."

You are travelling a lot. From your experience, are there any differences between the shows in the US and Europe?
Shows in the US are certainly more glitzy and glamorous than in Europe, with the emphasis on showmanship and a "Hollywood like" performance rather than on the best horse in the showring. In the USA it also depends on which horses have been promoted profusely before the show. The trainers, who very often are also judges in the USA, have dominated the show scene for a long time and it's become a case of 'looking after each other' amongst the trainers, as they judge each other throughout the showing season. A great cause for concern is the latest trend to judge a breed (halter) horse for
its 'trainability' rather than selecting the best representative of the breed. Thus there cannot be particular interest in preserving or perpetuating the true characteristics of the breed. This sadly leads to corruption in many cases and the only one suffering as a result is the Arabian horse.
Even today abuse is rife in the show ring in the USA. It is not unusual to see a lovely mare trembling in front of its handler and young horses' heads being jerked around on the chain in full view of the owners, stewards and judges alike. There are rules against these practices but they are not enforced.
I much prefer shows in Europe and the UK as there still is a certain amount of control being exercised by the showing authorities and control boards that are in place. The shows also evolve around the horse rather than the glamour. Shows in the UK and in Europe certainly are more emotional and dignified with a very fine line being drawn between being overdone and glitzy as opposed to being too staid and dull. A lot of good taste and sensitivity with a great deal of intellect is still evident at these shows.

Photo: Rik van Lent jr.
Essteem
(Fame VF x Espressa)
"A powerful stallion that makes his presence known."

Do you see any differences concerning the judging in USA and Europe?
As I said before - There are too many trainers who are also judges in America and this has unfortunately led to widespread corruption taking place. In Europe judges who are invited are generally breeders of repute and judge accordingly, selecting the best representative of the breed rather than whether the horse in question will be a good performance horse. I am of the opinion that an excellent representative of the Arabian horse will be a good performance horse anyhow.
The different systems of judging are also a question. Any judge who knows how the system of judging works can make that particular system a success or a failure, depending on his/her integrity. No system is fail-proof, but I personally still prefer the European system used at shows such at the Nations Cup where the points are displayed immediately and any judge who is out of step shows up at once. The spectators in Europe also are a great thermometer as they make no secret about it when a judge is out of line. Spectator involvement is an integral part of shows and should never be lost.

Could you describe to our readers how do you work as a judge?
I judge a horse from the minute it enters the show ring whether it be at a walk or at the trot. I first look for the whole picture and then already make my selection. Only when the horses are brought before me do I start analysing the different sections such as head and neck, body and topline etc. Movement is of the utmost importance as it is part of the 'type' of an Arabian horse, for instance a horse with a rolling movement and a trailing tail cannot be a typical Arabian no matter how beautiful it is. The 'walk' is equally important, as it is then that I can evaluate the horse's ability to 'track up'. A lot of handlers today insist on 'jogging' rather than walking to disguise faults and this can be very frustrating for a judge. Sadly many handlers today play to the audience instead of showing what the judge must be able to see to evaluate exhibits correctly.

Which criterion is the most difficult to judge?
Undoubtedly the legs, as there are so many variables and interpretations. Bad legs are a pest hate of mine - so I tend to be very strict when it comes to legs. It's amazing how many leg faults are ignored today in the show ring.

Photo: Rik van Lent jr.
Here and in the title:
Hamasa El Fagr
(Farag x Menha)
He was headsire at Johrhemar, three times National Champion Stallion of South Africa and Champion of the Riding Class in 1988

Some people think we do not have enough judges. Do you agree?
I do not know about enough judges, but I think it's always a good thing to have fresh young blood to take over from the old ones. None of us want to know that we're getting old, but unfortunately it's a fact of life and at some time it will be our turn to step down to make way for new judges. As you have probably noticed what worries me most are the amount of trainers who judge as well - obviously not all of them are corrupt judges - but I certainly prefer a judge who is a breeder as well, as I believe a breeder looks at a horse from a breeders viewpoint and not only as a trainer would.

Looking for new judges. There already are some candidates. What are your demands for a judge?
My most important demand would be total integrity, for without it you cannot be considered a good judge. Integrity - meaning - not willing to go below a certain standard and being totally honest. Obviously an excellent knowledge of the breed and of the international criteria of the breed. I would also prefer the candidate to have bred Arabians for a number of years and to have shown horses him/herself so as to have a good understanding and experience of the underlying requirements of shows world-wide.

Photo: Gigi Grasso
Pikieta
(Probat x Platyna)
"I like her for her sheer beauty as an Arabian mare."

Do you have any ideas or wishes in regard to a comprehensive training of judges?
Judges should have undergone a rigorous programme of the different aspects of the Arabian horse, such as the historical background for instance. Written and oral examinations should have been done to asses the new judge's ability to judge Arabians and his/her knowledge of the breed. Without these I'm afraid a judge will feel very lost and inadequate once he/she enters an international show ring. Also a judge should judge at least five shows as a junior judge along with a senior judge so as to gain enough experience before being made a senior judge.


Let's talk about the horses! There always is the "type issue". Do you see any differences regarding the type of show horses in the USA and Europe?
Certainly there is a difference. In the USA the emphasis lately is on performance horses rather than the best representative of the breed. Whereas in Europe I have experienced that the classical correct typey Arabian is still the horse that comes out at the top. In the Middle East the trend has been very much influenced by Europe (ECAHO).
Yes, "type" is something that most people have difficulty with explaining. For me it's never been difficult as I look for an Arabian horse as portrayed in ancient lithographs, paintings and works of art - this is what a typical Arabian horse should look like - not the high stepping, long necked performance horse that some people today would wish the Arabian to be - for that purpose there are the Saddlebreds and French Trotters! Thankfully there are breeders in the USA, Europe and the Middle East who still believe the Arabian has not changed and is still the beautiful horse is was meant to be when it was initially created!


Please name five horses which impressed you while judging in Europe.
When I mention these five horse it does not mean that any other horses didn't impress me as well, as five is a very limited amount. If you don't mind I'll name five stallions and five mares.

Photo: Javan
ZT Shak Fantasy 
(El Shaklan x RH Light Fantasy)
"The epitome of type!"

ZT Shakfantasy (El Shaklan x RH Light Fantasy) is the epitome of type - a dream Arabian stallion.
Essteem (Fame VF x Espressa) is a powerful stallion that makes his presence known.
Simeon Sadik (Asfour x Simeon Safanad) is sheer beauty and type with the most exquisitely sculptured head.
I loved Plakat (Aswan x Pchelka) for his wonderful personality and unforgettable movement.
Balaton (Menes x Panagia) stands for type, powerful body and great legs.

Photo: Rik van Lent jr.
Plakat 
(Aswan x Pchelka)
"I loved him for his wonderful personality and unforgettable movement."

I liked Pikieta (Probat x Platyna) for her sheer beauty as an Arabian mare.
Psyche's Amber Gem (Padrons Psyche x Zabiya) - I just adored this mare when I judged her in Aachen. Such a pity she had to be disqualified because of incorrect papers. She still remains a beauty!
Bint Sylvan Lass (El Zahra x Sylvan Lass) was a typical desert queen and old type Arabian.

Photo: van der Poorten
Mangani
(Nuri Shalan x Metelica)
"Her sheer elegance and beauty just stole my heart."

The sheer elegance and beauty of Mangani (Nuri Schalan x Metelica) just stole my heart, so much so that I went on a search to find a daughter of hers, which I did and imported her for our stud - she is Machelka (Plakat x Mangani)
El Masra (Shaker el Masri x Estasha) is the personification of a typey brood mare.



How important are performance classes (riding competitions) within the Arabian horse shows to you?
Performance classes are another part of showing and very important for the breed, as it shows the versatility of the Arabian horse. In this country, I am sad to say, that performance classes have become more important at our shows than the halter classes. We as breeders keep on protesting about this and hope that it will change back to what it always was - that the breed sections are paramount at our breed shows! We have also had a number of judges from the USA lately who judge a horse in the breed section for its 'trainability' rather than selecting the best representative of the breed. This does a lot of damage to the breed as such, as young breeders believe that the Arabian horse should look like a performance horse rather than look like a typical and classical Arabian horse.

Photo: Rik van Lent jr.
Machelka 
(Plakat x Mangani)
National Senioren Champion Mare of South Africa 1992

What is the purpose of a show?
A show should be a breeders shop window where the best of the breed is represented. It is an integral part of the Arabian horse world and a place to formulate new breeding programmes or to stick to and be satisfied with your own breeding programme after seeing what is available at that time. It is also the place to meet new breeders and a rendezvous for old friends to compare notes and to keep up with the latest news and trends in the Arabian horse world.

Photo: Rik van Lent jr.
Gazella Bint Masri 
(Masri x Bint El Gazella)

What is the most important feature of an Arabian horse? What do you appreciate most?
In my opinion the Arabian horse is the epitome of the "horse" as it was created so many centuries ago. No other horse has its ability to endure in such an unforgiving habitat as where it originates from and for that alone I admire them tremendously. Their intelligence and beauty is something which still has an effect on me even after all these years. There is no bigger thrill than to see an Arabian horse in full flight across a field - nothing can surpass it! Their versatility is world renowned. Every time a mare foals at our stud it is just as if another miracle has happened. To me there is no one important feature - it is the 'whole' horse that is important and if any one feature is absent the 'whole' is broken and not pleasing to my eye any longer. This is why we breed Arabians to achieve that 'perfection' we all seek!