On Friday night, many prized Arabian horses left the auction ring at the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) unsold, as breeders awaited higher offers despite buyers’ cautious bids.
One of the top bids of the evening, Dh600,000 for Lot 11, JS Al Sultan—a five-year-old stallion with an illustrious pedigree and prize earnings over Dh450,000—was declined by the owner, who decided not to sell at that price.
In collaboration with the Emirates Arabian Horse Society, the auction showcased 33 horses descended from international competition champions. However, bidding was slower compared to the week’s camel and falcon sales. In several instances, initial bids were high, then decreased, and ultimately fell short of sellers’ expectations.
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Unlike the earlier camel and falcon auctions, where bids soared quickly, the horse auction progressed at a more reserved pace. In many cases, bids started high, declined, and then settled below expectations.
Of the 15 horses shown, many remained unsold as auctioneers highlighted their rare bloodlines and competitive success, but buyers hesitated at the listed prices.
Passion for Horses
Among the evaluators was Mohammed Al Ali, 41, a breeder who has participated in Arabian horse beauty contests since 2014. “I developed a passion for horses from admiring the beauty of just one, and I’ve since been entering Arabian horses in beauty contests,” he said. “Every year, I enter around seven or eight competitions. Prize money can vary from Dh50,000 to Dh100,000, depending on the level of the championship. The Abu Dhabi show is the strongest globally.”
Al Ali, who once purchased an Arabian mare for Dh300,000 at auction, was still contemplating his options on Friday night. “Today, we saw high-quality horses with strong pedigrees,” he noted. “I haven’t placed any bids yet; I am assessing first. If I find an unsold horse appealing, I can speak with the organizers backstage.” Nonetheless, Al Ali left the auction before seeing the seven remaining lots.
Searching for ‘a Very Good Horse’
Younger bidders were also active, including 17-year-old Hamad Al Hammadi, attending his second auction to bid for his 19-year-old cousin. “He always asks me to bid for him,” Hamad said with a smile.
The cousins, from a family that breeds endurance horses, are now exploring beauty horses as investments. “I inherited this from my father and grandfather,” Hamad said. “We’ve been entering horses in races, and now we’ve decided to invest in beauty horses, so we came to check them out.”
By the auction’s final quarter, the cousins made two unsuccessful bids: one for Dh7,000 and another for Dh45,000. “We’re willing to pay up to Dh100,000 for a very good horse,” Hamad said. “We evaluate the horse’s neck, face, eyes, bone structure, and physique; so far, we haven’t found one we want to take home.”
While the event showcased the elegance and pedigree of Arabian horses, the evening concluded with more cautious buying, leaving some of the finest horses to return to their stables.
