One such beneficiary is Hussein Abdali who recently finished his Mentorship Programme in Kildangan Stud Farm, Ireand. Hussein Abdali is currently working as a Registration Officer (Studbook), Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club, Kingdom of Bahrain.

Overwhelmed by the three-week training, which enhanced his knowledge and exposure, Abdali said: “This programme benefited me a lot and helped me gain more experience in the racing field. It also gave me an opportunity to meet big names in racing world and get in contact with them which is a huge benefit for my future career. I returned home with a lot of ideas which can be implemented at my home racing club.”

He further added: “It was a great honor to visit Kildangan Stud Farm and meet true horsemen like Joe Osborne and Jimmy Hyland, Director of Kildangan Stud Farm, who gave me in insight into learning and experiencing the breeding operation. I had a brief about stallion management and marketing, pedigree analysis and mating, stud farm management and foal routine inspection and evaluation.”

With Jimmy Hyland, Abdali visited all the nine stud farms in Ireland. “It was also an honor to meet nutritionist Dr. Steph Jackson from USA and spent three days with him to learn horse feeding.”

He was equally elated to attend the Northern Ireland Derby at Down Royal and to receive the Derby Cup on behalf of Godolphin team. “I went to the Curragh race course alongside with Paul Murtagh, Head of Race Day Operation and experienced every position and role during the race.”

He also managed a visit to Ballydoyle which he found to be a “fascinating and different operation than other operations I ever saw or heard about.”

Weatherby was the next stop where he had an overview about their management system of registration. He said: “Weatherby is testing a digital passport which will be launched in the future which might help Bahrain within our studbook authority.”

“Overall it was a fascinating experience. Thanks to His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister, IFHRA and Ms Lara Sawaya, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR), for this wonderful opportunity.

The mentorship programme comes under HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Racing Festival which is celebrating ten years this year.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carrier, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFHRA, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abu Dhabi Youth Council, General Authority for Sports and sponsored by Ayadi LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Nissan Middleast Al Massood Automobiles, Nirvana Travels and Tourism LLC, Equicare Veterinary Services, Alawal Stud, Cavalos Equine Care & Supplies, SET Sustainable Environmental Technologies, Al Awani General Enterprises, Omeir Travels, Kabale, YAS Channel, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club, Mohammed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Racing Post, Paris Turf, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2018, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.