Arabian Horse Judges & Breeders Education & Training Symposium

The Australasian Arabian Breeders Coalition (AABC) is once again privileged to host the bi-annual Arabian Horse Judges and Breeders Education and Training Symposium (JBETS).

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Dates: Saturday July 19th & Sunday July 20th 2025

Venue: Simeon Stud | Middle Dural, NSW

Fee:  $150 | National Level Judges & Breeders

$200 | International Level Judges, ECAHO National Level I & II Assessment Candidates

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The symposium is composed of two full days of extensive classroom education and intensive practical application of all aspects of Arabian horse breeding assessment. Emphasis will be placed on comprehensively understanding and properly utilising the Arabian Scorecard, the international standard for Arabian horse assessment worldwide.

The symposium has been designed to comprehensively educate and train the following members of the Arabian Horse community:

• AHSA & NZAHS International Level Judges

All internationally accredited judges from Australia and New Zealand have the most to gain from the Symposium. Those judges already recognised by the AHSA & NZAHS as ‘internationally qualified’ are eligible to advance to ECAHO National Level I & Level II at an official ECAHO Judges Assessment conducted by the Judges Instructor Group (JIG). These assessments are held annually in Europe & the Middle East late in the calendar year with the purpose of identifying judges from each member country that have the qualifications and aptitude to advance to ECAHO National Level I and National Level II. ECAHO has committed to conducting an ECAHO Judges Assessment in Australia late in 2025, granting unprecedented opportunity for AHSA & NZAHS judges to be recognised as ‘internationally qualified’ on the ECAHO Judges List. Accreditation by ECAHO will most certainly provide greater opportunity for Australasian judges to officiate at ECAHO-affiliated shows in Europe and the Middle East.

All ‘internationally qualified’ AHSA & NZAHS judges, which meet ECAHO age and non-trainer restrictions, are eligible to receive additional training and assessment on Sunday afternoon to best prepare for the rigour of the ECAHO National Judges Assessment. It is the aim of the AABC to assist the greatest number of qualified professionals to successfully pass the assessment and advance up the ranks of ECAHO Judge accreditation. All ‘internationally qualified’ judges from both Australia & New Zealand are most welcome and strongly encouraged to attend.     

• All other levels of AHSA & NZAHS Accredited Judges

Those judges who have not yet been granted ‘internationally qualified’ by the AHSA or the NZAHS are strongly encouraged to attend the Symposium. Not only will you have the opportunity to learn and practically apply the Arabian Scorecard alongside your more experienced colleagues, but you will also receive the necessary instruction and experience that is expected of all Australasian judges selected to judge the International Championships (AAIC) and the Emirates Arabian Horse Global Cup (EAHGC-AC) each year. It is the aim of the AABC to not only identify the most qualified judges in the Australasian community capable of officiating the AAIC & EAHGC-AC each year, but to also provide the unprecedented experience of judging the greatest number of purebred breeding horses in the region using several internationally certified scorecards in the company of most well-respected and experienced judging professionals from around the world. For those who aspire of judging overseas in the future and would love the opportunity to be considered for the annual AAIC & EAHGC-AC judging panel, this symposium is the perfect first step.

• Arabian Horse Breeders & Equine Enthusiasts

Arabian horse breeders and equine enthusiasts from all breeds are also strongly encouraged to attend. A comprehensive understanding of equine anatomy, form-to-function, Arabian horse type and practical scorecard application will be learned over the course of two information and activity-packed days, with the additional opportunity to network and socialise with friends, colleagues, professionals and fellow breeders from all across Australasia. This symposium will unquestionably make you a better informed and more knowledgeable horseperson, will better equip you to make more informed breeding decisions and provide the possible foundation for all those who aspire to become judges in the future.

Simeon Stud has kindly offered to host both days of the Symposium onsite in Middle Dural, NSW. On Sunday, attendees will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge practically, evaluating dozens of Arabian breeding horses using the Arabian scorecard with real-time feedback and group discussion.  

We look forward to welcoming judges, breeders and enthusiasts from all across Australasia to join us this July at Simeon Stud for an extraordinary weekend of education, application, inspiration and camaraderie. We look forward to once again bringing the entire international Arabian horse community closer together and raising the level of excellence here at home.

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Download PDF | Invitation - Symposium Schedule & Details

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