France to display its expertise at Dubai horse fair

The International Horse Fair to be held in Dubai from 20 to 22 March 2008 will feature a French pavilion, managed by UBIFRANCE, welcoming a dozen French businesses as representatives of the horse industry.

France undeniably has important assets in this market, with approximately 1 million equids, including 350,000 as stock, 200,000 horses used for racing or competition, and 250,000 horses for recreational purposes.

The French sector boasts excellent expertise in the fields of genetics, breeding and training.

The Selle Français and Anglo-Arabian breeds stand out in Olympic sports and perform very well in the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) and the World Breeding Federation of Sport Horses (WBFSH) rankings of the best studbooks in the world for the year 2007.

The Selle Français is in second place of the year's rankings for show jumping, as well as for the three-day event where it is just ahead of the Anglo-Arabian, which ranks third.

The English Thoroughbred makes the French offering's reputation overseas. In 2007, all of the industry's professionals were awarded prizes. National training crowned the best horse in the world according to ratings (handicap value).

French breeding, on the other hand, elected the two best European fillies in their categories (2 years, and 3 years and over).

French breeding also shone in the international performance arena, with Group 1 race victories in the United States, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. On the occasion of the Dubai World Cup 2008, French breeding will be represented by several of its products.

The Arabian Thoroughbred is accumulating achievements in both flat and endurance racing. On the international racecourses in 2007, French breeders reaped fifteen of the nineteen Group 1 PA races run in France, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.

The French endurance teams held top positions in individual and team rankings in international championships, alongside UAE horsemen, also very skilled at riding French horses.

Horses hold great promise for the future in the area of recreation, as a source of business, jobs and vitality in agricultural and non-agricultural areas alike.

The French businesses on display at the France pavilion invite you to come and meet them in Hall 4 of the Dubai World Trade Centre.

French government-run enterprise Les Haras Nationaux (national stud farms) and horse breeding and trade professional organisations, represented by UNIC (Union Nationale Interprofessionnelle du Cheval), will be among the exhibitors.

The industry's businesses will present their innovations in feed, hygiene, horse health and nutrition, reproduction techniques, transport, farriery, events, and more.

Artists will display their works, paintings, drawings and porcelain, all centring around a shared passion: the horse.