European Horse Inspection Held at Silver Eagle Stable

Silver Eagle Stable in Nokesville hosted the Performance Shagya-Arabian Registry Inspection last weekend, welcoming eight horses and two international judges.

It was the first time PShR held an inspection on the East Coast. According to Drew Van Hook, manager and head trainer at Silver Eagle Stable, it all started at a equine clinic in January.

Shagya-Arabian Horses walk with their handlers during the PShR Inspection at Silver Eagle Stable.

“One of the members from the association began to ask me about my facility and what we can offer,” he said. “They presented the idea, then I entertained it and before we knew it we were in a contract.”

The events began on Friday morning, as Shagya-Arabian horses from all over the East Coast arrived with their owners and trainers to prepare for the multiple tests they would be judged on.

Dr. Walter Huber, from Germany, and Judit Kovács, from Hungary, were selected by PShR as the judges for this year’s U.S. inspections.

Being a PShR judge for nine years, this was Kovács’ first time judging in the U.S.

“It’s really a great pleasure to see the horses here,” she said. “The Shagyas of here in the U.S. are very much at the same level of quality as in Europe.”

The horses were judged on five guidelines—a veterinary examination, a physical evaluation, rideability, free jump and an interior test.

When being judged, however, some inspections are more emphasized than others. The physically demanding inspections are key, as the breed was developed more than 230 years ago by the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy to be a superior cavalry horse.

“Because the Shagyas have always been a riding horse…the rideability and the jumping capacity is important information,” Kovács said. “Our impressions are excellent.”

After two days of inspections and judging, points were tallied and awards were presented on Saturday afternoon.

Shagya-Arabian Horses are presented awards at the PShR Inspection Awards Ceremony.

Lily Creek Legacy, a 7-year-old bay mare from Rock Creek Stables in Tacoma Park, Md., won the rideability award. The jumping award went to Lily Creek Bakari, a 7-year-old chestnut mare from the same stable.

The next PShR Inspection will be held in California on May 20.