The Arabian horses of Egypt have inspired many people worldwide. Their extraordinary beauty and long history of committed breeders in their native land have ensured their popularity. Egyptian horses have always done well in championships and competitions. However, the United Arab Emirates has prevented Egyptian horses from participating in an international horseracing event this month, which is a qualifier for the World Cup in Germany next April. The officials in the UAE claim that the Egyptian horses are not vaccinated, whereas Egyptian officials deny this. They believe this decision is very wrong because it harms the reputation of the horses. "Our horses are very healthy and have been vaccinated," says the President of the Egyptian Equestrian Federation (EEF), Hesham Abou Hatab. "The contestants Yehia Wagei Attallah and Sameh el-Dahan have paid for boarding the horses, hoping to do well in the World Cup." The Egyptian federation believes that this decision may also have a bad effect on their reputation in the future. "We have filed a complaint with the International Equestrian Federation about the decision, as the Emirates don't have the right to make such a decision, which is proving very detrimental for the Egyptian federation," Abou Hatab was quoted by a local newspaper as saying. The Egyptian official added that the EEF would also complain to the International Olympic Committee to investigate. "The decision will also prevent Egyptians from taking part in the 12th Arab championship next November in Qatar," Hesham explained. "As a result Egypt will not contest the London Olympics in 2012, although we have already qualified for them." The General Authority for Veterinary Services in the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture has procrastinated replying to a European Commission report, which condemns the veterinary procedures applied to horses here. The President of the Arab Horse Association, Ahmed Abdel-Razeq, says that Arabian horses have been the best in the world for more than a decade. "They have an excellent reputation and provide an income for many families working in this field," he adds. "There are more than 500 farms for horses in Cairo, Alexandria and other Egyptian cities.” In America, Egyptian horses remain perennial favourites, while Egyptian Arabians bred from stock exported to America have made their presence felt in virtually every country where Arabians are bred today. The first importations of what are termed ‘new' Egyptian horses were made in 1958. The term ‘new Egyptian' refers to horses bred in post-World War II Egypt, and especially at the new State stud outside Cairo, the Egyptian Agricultural Organisation (EAO). The EAO was formerly known as the RAS, the Royal Agricultural Society, before the departure of King Farouq in 1952. The ‘new' Egyptian horses were also distinguished by a particular look, attributable to one stallion, Nazeer. Foaled in 1934, Nazeer was rescued from the obscurity of a provincial stallion station by General Pettko von Szandtner, the first director of the EAO. Nazeer sired his first purebred foal in 1950 and his last in 1960, but in that decade left a legacy that will echo for centuries.
