Hungary becomes latest stop for HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival
29 April 2016, UAE ~ The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival moves to the historic venue of Bábolna, Hungary (HUN), for the FEI Central European Endurance Cup 2016 on Saturday, 30 April 2016.
The six FEI rides are: CEI 3* 160-km, CEI 2* 120-km Open ride, CEI 2* 120-km Juniors and Young Riders, CEIYJ1* 80km, 2- CEI1* 80km (30/04 and 01/05), to be held under the umbrella of the Global Festival.
Riders from France, Poland, Austria, Czech Rep, Romania, Croatia, China, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Serbia and the host country Hungary, will be taking part in the rides that are staged at the Bábolna National Stud.
The 160-km Open ride will be run in five stages of 40kms, 20kms, 40kms, 20kms, 20kms and 20kms while the 120-km rides will be run in four stages of 40kms, 20kms, 40kms and 20kms. The 80-kms rides will be over 40kms, 20kms and 20kms.
Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) said, “We are glad to bring the Festival’s events to Hungary and to this area where the rides are held which has for over two hundred years been known for its Arabian horses and Arabian breeding. His Highness Sheikh Mansoor has always directed us to take the sport of Purebred Arabian horses all over the globe and that is why we are here in Bábolna, Hungary.”
“Endurance as a sport in still growing in this part of Europe and we hope that by supporting these rides the number of Purebred Arabian horses increase in numbers,” she added.
Founded in 1789, Bábolna has been a major location for horse breeding in Hungary throughout the its existence. The stud is famous for its stallion “Shagya” imported from Syria in 1836, following a major expedition organized by Eduard Herbert. The Bábolna Arabian breed developed by the middle of the 1800s has become known as the Shagya-Arabian breed world-wide, and was recognized as an independent breed in 1978.
Bábolna Stud Director Balazs Berci said, “We are very thankful to HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his support to our endurance rides. Hungary has a long-standing history of breeding Purebred Arabian horses and we are confident that such support will further boost the Arabian racing here in Hungary.”