CAIRO, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's annual National Championship for Egyptian Arabian horses opened Thursday in the New Administrative Capital, east of Cairo, bringing together breeders, owners and enthusiasts to showcase the country's purebred Egyptian Arabian bloodlines.
The three-day championship, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, is held at the new headquarters of the El-Zahraa Arabian Horse Breeding Station.
The competition, featuring around 174 horses, is divided into several age and gender categories, including fillies, mares, colts and stallions, allowing horses to be assessed against others in similar groups.
Judging is based on internationally recognized standards for Arabian horse beauty championships, with particular attention to physical conformation, breed characteristics and movement.
The championship provides breeders with an opportunity to assess the quality of their horses and the effectiveness of their breeding programs, said Ahmed Abdel Razek, head of the Egyptian Arabian Horse Breeders Association.
It also serves as a qualification pathway for horses seeking to compete in international events, he added. ■