Spanish Riding School of Vienna to exhibit at Al Fares Dubai 2006

'We are delighted and honoured to have the Spanish Riding School in our show,' said Satish Khanna, General Manager of Al Fajer Information & Services, the show's organiser. The Spanish Riding School, 'Spanische Hofreitschule' of Vienna, is a traditional riding school for Lipizzan horses. It was established in 1572 and named after the Spanish horses that were, and still are, the mainstay of the riding school. Today the horses are bred in a court stud in Lipica, near Trieste in modern Slovenia, and at the Piber Stud in western Styria, Austria.

'I will be attending entirely as an equipment consultant acting for the school and will be involved in the creation of display content and presentation for what will be the first public display by the school,' said Paul Belton, Chairman of Albion Saddlemakers (Europe's largest manufacturer of specialist, high quality equestrian equipment) and past president of the Society of Master Saddlers of Great Britain. Albion currently operates in 30 countries and is retained by members of nine Olympic teams for consultancy and product supply.

The Spanish Riding School is a part of the German-Austrian-Swiss group which, with 26 companies, has emerged as the biggest overseas group to exhibit at Al Fares Dubai 2006. 'As a leading equine event, Al Fares Dubai constitutes an excellent platform for building business contacts in Asia and Africa. Germany is looking to access these emerging markets. The aim of participation will be to benefit from the added value generated along the entire equine industry supply chain,' said Hermine Hoh-Fessl, organizer of the German-Austrian-Swiss group.

Al Fares Dubai has grown steadily since its inaugural show in 1995. Over 300 exhibitors from over 25 countries will be exhibiting at Al Fares Dubai 2006. New countries participating at Al Fares Dubai 2006 include Brazil, Argentina, Norway and China. Among the major companies/organisations that will be exhibiting are the 140-year-old La Rural from Argentina; Equine Canada; Boeckmann - the largest manufacturer of trucks and trailers in Europe along with 22 other German companies that include Horse-Gym-2000, Horse & Rider Therapy, Rower & Rueb, Waldhausen, Theo Sommer and Sellaport; The Council of Leather Exports, India along with 11 saddlery and harness companies; Ardmore, Foran, Plusvital and TRM from Ireland; Prestige Italia, Pariani and Sarm Hippique from Italy; Racing South Africa and South African Equine Council along with nine companies; Pavesco AG Twydil from Switzerland; Al Awani and Gulf Rider alongwith 34 other companies from the UAE; Duralock, John Whitaker and Lillidale from the UK and Charles T. Creech and Transcon from USA.

Over 7000 trade visitors from over 50 countries are expected to attend the show.