Horses are an integral part of Gulf culture, and people very diligently participate in the festivals that promote their age-old traditions. People have a large collection of horses that they should show off to the rest of the world. Although the country is popular for camel riding and camel race tracks, horse riding is not too far behind. The craze and response of the past two editions of the Katara Arabian Horse Festival in Qatar speak volumes about the fanbase that the festival has created for itself. Aside from a love of horses, the massive prize money for the lucky winners is another enticing factor for participation. Let's delve deeper to learn more about the location of the lit festival, which is rapidly approaching.
Katara International Arabian Horse Festival in Qatar: A Manual of All the Important Details
A call to all the equestrian enthusiasts, brace yourself for the biggest horse festival of the season, organized by the Katara, the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, and the Qatar Equestrian Federation. The festival will take place at Katara Esplanade, the Katara Cultural Village Foundation, from February 1st to February 11th, 2023. The grand event's goal is to promote purebred horses on national and international platforms while also providing people from all over the world with an opportunity to learn about Qatar's rich culture. Katara International Arabian Horse Festival (KIAHF) is the event that is being executed under the patronage of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Major Events Featured in the Katara Arabian Horse Festival
The Katara International Arabian Horse Festival in Qatar is a very popular event that upholds the culture of "modernization and originality" aligned with Qatar's National Vision 2030. The festival is an event that renders a one-of-a-kind experience for all the attendees. The visitors get the chance to encounter some of the best horse breeds that are not found anywhere else in the world. Other than that, they get to participate in different competitions. Let's glance through the major events that are a part of the Katara Arabian Horse Festival 2023.
Peninsula Show
The festival will kick off with a specific origin show. It will be held from February 1 to 4, 2023. The event at the Katara Horse Festival is open to straight Egyptian horses registered with or eligible for registration with the World Arabian Horse Organization. The championships include yearling fillies, yearling colts, junior fillies, junior colts, senior mares, and senior stallions. There will be a total of nine judges who will follow the open method to choose the winners. This show will be one of the top attractions in Qatar in the month of February.
Registration Dates
- 18th to 25th December, 2022: 2.500 QR
- 26th December, 2022, to 5th January, 2023: 15.000 QR
- Withdrawal Penalty: 45.000 QR
Arabian Horse Auction
This event will take place on February 5, 2023, where people will get to see the finest purebred Arabian horses. If you are a horse owner, a breeder, or an equine enthusiast, then do not miss the chance to be a part of this amazing day during the International Arabian Horse Festival. The auction supports the owners by providing them a market to sell the best of their horses and buyers to upgrade their stable. Before considering participating, the horse must be registered in a WAHO-recognized studbook and have a health affirmation from a registered veterinarian who is not the horse’s owner.
Auction Fees: 500 QR
Title Show
The dates for this event are February 8th through February 11th, 2023.The eligibility criteria for the horses participating will be that every horse, including yearlings, should have qualified at an ECAHO affiliated show or at least have qualified at other shows accepted by the EAHSC. The championships included in the Katara Horse Festival are for yearling males, yearling females, junior males, junior females, senior males, and senior females. Judges will follow the open method to choose the winners. This show will conclude one of the most popular events in Qatar. Go through the detailed guidelines on the official website to understand everything and register yourself.
Registration Dates
- 18th to 25th December, 2022: 5.000 QR
- 26th December, 2022, to 5th January, 2023: 30.000 QR
- Late Entries for Yearlings Category: January 6th to 19th, 2023: 5.000 QR
- Withdrawal Penalty: 45.000 QR
Here are some of the other fun events that are part of the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival.
- Auction of horses participating in the title show
- Exhibition: Equine postal stamps
- Painting: saddle art
- Cube Painting
- 3D Painting on the Ground
- Sculpture Art
- Display of horse-related books
- Exhibition: Equine Photography
- Carousal
- Food and beverage stalls
- Parade of horses
- Street decoration: Katara’s main street will be lit up with Arabian-style lighting installations to create an exciting festival atmosphere
- Light show on the esplanade and amphitheatre
- Closing ceremony
Suggested Read: Places To Visit In Saudi Arabia: Top Attractions To Uncover The Mystical Vibes of This Arabian Country
You must participate in or at least observe the third edition of the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival in Qatar now that you have learned about all of the details. Be a part of Qatar's’ rich culture and heritage and celebrate the opportunities that the country comes up with to inspire and motivate its citizens. It is suggested that you register yourself on the official website if you are interested in participating in any of the other competitions and contests taking place during the festival. And if you'd like to spend some more days in the country, then avail of the Qatar tour packages to explore the significant landmarks and indulge in thrilling activities.
FAQs
Qatar is a home for many horse riding academies and centres in Qatar. Few of the best one are:
- Al Shaqab Academy
- Al Khor Riding Center
- Al Shahaniya Stud
- Umm Qarn Stud Farm
Al Shaqab stud is the perfect and most famous place to find the best pure bred Arabian horses in Qatar. The stud has proven its value on many international platforms, and the horses have won many awards in different competitions.
Katara International Arabian Horse Festival (KIAHF) is the event that is being executed under the patronage of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. It is one of the biggest events in Qatar that is dedicated to equestrian sports. It is an eleven-day festival that will be concluded with the title show for purebred Arabians.
This event will take place on February 5, 2023, where people will get to see the finest purebred Arabian horses. The auction supports the owners by providing them a market to sell the best of their horses and buyers to upgrade their stable.
Here are the details about the registration and fees for the Peninsula show.
- 18th to 25th December, 2022: 2.500 QR
- 26th December, 2022, to 5th January, 2023: 15.000 QR
- Withdrawal Penalty: 45.000 QR
The Arabian horse festival will be held at Katara Esplanade, the Katara Cultural Village Foundation, from February 1st to February 11th, 2023.Visitors will get a chance to witness the beautiful purebred Arabian horses and participate in many competitions and contests.
Here are some of the most interesting competitions and events to be held during the Katara festival.
- Exhibition: Equine postal stamps
- Painting: saddle art
- Cube Painting
- 3D Painting on the Ground
- Sculpture Art
- Display of horse-related books
- Exhibition: Equine Photography
Yes, if you want your horse to participate in any of the events and contests, you must provide an authentic medical certificate approved by a registered veterinarian who is not the horse’s owner.
