The city of Sorocaba, in the interior of the state of São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil, is expecting up to 20 foreign buyers of Arabian horses between March 15 and 18. That's when the city is going to present the 22nd Interstate Arabian Horse Exhibition, which promises to bring together the best animals of the breed raised in Brazil.
Claudio Angelo dos Santos, exhibition and competition manager at the Brazilian Arabian Horse Breeders Association (ABCCA), which promotes the fair, believes that between 15 and 20 foreigners should come to the country to see and buy the animals.
Part of the foreigners should come to Brazil accompanying the competition judges. Three of them will be from the United States and one from Austria. One will be from Brazil itself. The group will be responsible for evaluation of the horses to compete in the Exhibition.
There will be, in the four days of the event, a series of competitions. The conformity competitions alone, which evaluate the animal's characteristics like beauty and posture, will include 25 categories. There will also be riding competitions, with 30 categories, and show jumping.
During the exhibition, there will be just one auction, on Saturday, at 8 pm. The auction will offer stallion covering or semen. The semen will be donated by Brazilian breeders and the income will be turned to the ABCCA, according to Santos.
Last year, for example, around 50 coverings were sold for the price of US$ 2,600 each. While the semen of some horses reaches bids of between US$ 7,200 and US$ 9,600, for example, that of others receives bids of around US$ 960.
There are no horse auctions during the exhibition, but each animal has its own stables and national and foreign breeders tend to observe their performance in the competitions so they may make an offer later.
It is also common for the foreigners visiting the exhibition to stay in the country for a few more days, after the fair has ended, to visit horse-breeding farms. "The foreign interest in animals born in Brazil is great," stated the exhibition manager at ABCCA.
The exhibit will have between 200 and 250 animals. Brazilian Arabian horses are among the best in their breed in the world. This kind of animal is known for being multi purpose: it may be used in cattle farming, as it is very good in herding and it is also resistant in sport, guaranteeing good results in races.
The breed is also greatly recommended for children learning how to ride, due to their calm and docility. Arabian horses arrived in Brazil with the Brazilian royal family, in the early 1800s, and from then on underwent a great evolution. The Brazilian climate favors the farming of this breed.
Service
22nd Interstate Arabian Horse Exhibition
Date: March 15th to 18th
Site: Marco Zero Eventos, in Sorocaba
Further information: (+55 11) 3674-1744
Anba – www.anba.com.br
