Don’t Miss the All-Nations Cup in Aachen! Join the best Event for Straight Egyptians in 2025 An Interview with Klaus Beste by Monika Savier
Arabian shows were originally intended as a guide for breeders and customers to better assess the breeding potential of mares and stallions. The connection between different matings and the quality of the offspring was made visible and evaluated at a show. Arabian horse shows were traditionally social events, such as the All-Nations Cup in Aachen, a marketplace, a MUST GO for anyone interested in Arabian horse breeding. After all, no one is so independent of their environment or social network that they could not care what others think of their own horses. We probably agree that nothing in life is fun if it does not also involve the risk of failure. Happiness and success arise from excitement and are an expression of relief at having escaped defeat, bad luck or loss of face. In the past, breeders considered participation in Aachen a recognition in itself, even without winning. They saw the judges’ scores and some of their recommendations as useful information. Today, the show ring is more a place where some earn money directly or indirectly and others say, “Nothing but expenses.” Nevertheless, we need the show ring more than ever. Our digital media world has reached a level of uncontrollable influence that real-life meetings have become irreplaceable for breeders, owners, and their horses. So, we should participate again and bring our horses. But as breeders of Straight Egyptians, we are hoping for a change. We find it tragic that the personalities of our horses are increasingly being retouched away by panda eyes and clipping. In addition, they are made excessively hot in the pre-ring instead of being given the opportunity to show their movements with pride, nobility, and balance. The “American stand-up” can also go, can’t it? Yes, we should show our Straight Egyptians in Aachen. We should stand together again around the ring, or even at the comfortable VIP tables, and talk about the state of affairs, about beautiful and less beautiful horses that (should) float past us. And about exceptional horses, whether they really live up to their iconic claim or are an artificial product of the media and their rich origins. We want to know whether it would be possible to tweak this world-famous high-end VZAP event in Aachen in favour of the Straight Egyptians. That’s why we asked Klaus Beste, a veteran of the All-Nations Cup in Aachen, former managing director of the VZAP, spokesperson and organizer of the event, and himself a breeder of Straight Egyptians.