Tersk Stud celebrates milestone event at August Open House
9 September 2014, Caucasus, Russia ~ 125 years ago, here at the foot of the Mt. Zmeyka in the Caucasus, Count Stroganov laid the foundation of Arabian horse breeding in Russia. At the end of August, Tersk hosted its 4th annual festival of Arabian horses, this year celebrating the 125 years of this most important stud.
More than 3,000 people attended the 2014 Tersk Open House on August 22 and 23. As part of a two-day event program, Tersk held the Star of Five Mountains National C- class show and Summer Stakes of Tersk. The festivities also included a children’s show-jumping competition, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, and the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Horse Breeding (VNIIK), ECAHO and RAHBA (Russian Arabian Horse Breeding Association).
The attention of the audience was gripped by the Tersk history play, where Count Stroganov himself told the story of discovering the most appropriate environment for horse breeding, here in the Northern Caucasus, the hard years of the War, the Victory of the Russian people, culminating with the Victory Day Parade with Marshal Zhukov on the back of the snow-white stallion Kumir. The audience was captivated.
The mission of the Tersk Open House was to strengthen positioning of the Caucasian Mineral Waters, the Northern Caucasus Federal District and Tersk Stud in particular as a center of purebred Arabian horse breeding, as well as highlight and preserve equestrian traditions while enhancing Stavropol Kray’s status as a touristic resort area.
The two days welcomed regional authority leaders, social and political leaders, business representatives, Caucasian Mineral Waters visitors, and Stavropol kray residents, but the number of children were the largest group present.
This year is a significant year for Tersk Stud, and not only because of its anniversary, but also because of Tersk hard work on reviving the bloodlines of the most famous stallions (Aswan, Mashuk, Muscat). After a number of experiences and a careful selection, a grey colt named Apollon Tersk (by Aswan х Pelopiya) came into being. Stud breeders believe in his success and hope that this colt will share his famous father’s fate.
The celebration was also attended by well-known Arabian breed experts. Thus, Ms. Deirdre Hyde, W’rsan Stud manager (UAE) and ECAHO A-list judge told the Mass Media representatives that her first visit to Tersk Stud happened 21 years ago, and that she was amazed by all of the transformations and changes that the Stud has undergone since that time. They have several Russian Arabians at their stables in Abu Dhabi brought from Tersk. “It is our treasure,” said Ms. Hyde. She also congratulated Tersk management and the team with the success in resurrecting long-forgotten customs and reviving the Arabian breed of Russian horse breeders.
CEO of OJSC Arnest, president of RAHBA, Alexey Sagal noted that there are more than 100 especial stallions and mares at Tersk Stud that are priceless. The most prominent event was the birth of Apollon and several other foals that were born as part of the experiment.
Prize winners of the “C” category national show listed in ECAHO show calendar 2014 “Star of Five Mountains” were:
Junior class colts – Lutzefer Tersk, 2013, Tersk Stud
Junior class fillies – Bon Pari Tersk, 2011, Tersk Stud
Overall winner of the show – mare Borodina, 2000, Tersk Stud (winner of numerous Arabian horse shows, mother of equally well known champions like Banderos, and the champion of Holland mare Beatris and others.
~ report by Tersk Stud