Photos and commentary provided by Dick Reed, Toskhara Arabians, Texas
Mares 11+ years old
This is a wonderful class, its too bad it isn't featured more in the US.
First it is a chance to see mature horses, often well known horses.
PILAR (Fawor X Pipi by Banat) 1996 bred by Janow Podlaski. This is the dam of PINGA by Gazal Al Shaqab who was the class winner of Section A 4-6 year old mares. I first saw Pilar as a yearling filly when she won her class and was named Junior Champion Mare of Poland in 1997. She didn't make the Top 5 but she is beautiful and refined nonetheless.
The mares show with a dignity and confidence that is wonderful to see. Here ESPADRILLA (Monogramm X Emanacja by Eukaliptus) gives the impression of equals judging equals.
Don't get the impression that these older mares aren't asked to perform, they are asked for and deliver some of the biggest movement of the show. Here EGZONERA (Monogramm X Egzotyka by Probat) pushes off for a flying trot around the large ring.
