40 years and counting...
The Honorary Membership is awarded to those individuals who have contributed significantly to development of ECAHO, Arabian Horse Events and/or the Welfare of the Arabian Horse in direct relation to the activities of ECAHO. Any Member can propose an individual that fits the description to the Executive Committee in writing through a submission form available on the ECAHO website. This form needs to be stamped and signed on behalf of the proposing Member organization.
The following prerequisites are required to be considered for the ECAHO honorary membership:
The Honorary Membership is awarded at the Annual General Meetings. Normally one individual will be honored per annum. The Executive Committee may deviate from this number in extenuating circumstances.
2023
Holger Ismer (1947 – 2023)
One of the great German breeders. On one hand the Ismer stud was - and still is - the oldest and largest private thoroughbred Arabian horse stud in Germany, on the other hand Holger Ismer was also a real breeder and visionary. Thanks to him that, in addition to the initial pony breeding, thoroughbred Arabian breeding was established in Ströhen and continues to this day. Since 2007 the stud has been managed by his son Nils. Holger was one of the founding members of ECAHO. He was an active force behind many ECAHO rules. He also led the Racing Committee of ECAHO and had the vision of the fair competition for everyone. He was ECAHO A Judge for many years. His last show was the All Nations Cup in 2022.
2022
Shirley & Charlie Watts (Halsdon Arabians)
More than 3 decades of breeding purebred Arabian horses at their farm in Devonshire Countryside, mainly of the Polish lines, with breeding mare coming from the State Stud of Janów Podlaski and Bialka. Halsdon Arabians have always represented superlative quality care and pragmatic intuitive husbandry as the central core of the Halsdon management philosophy. Although many horses bred there were successful at shows, all were treated and trained in a moderate way with regards to their physiological and psychological needs. Shirley and Charlie promoted the Arabian horses at many shows all over the Europe, including the European and the World Championship. Halsdon Arabians often supported the shows also financially as sponsors.
Mrs. Anne Heiloo
Ane Heiloo is inseparably connected with the beginning of ECAHO and the Arabian horses in Austria. She was a breeder (having over 40 horses at ther farm in the past) and for 37 years she acted as President of the VVÖ (Austrian Arabian Horse Breeders Organization). She organized the International and National show in Wels which could have celebrated already the 30th anniversary in 2021 (but due to COVID-19 pandemics had to be postponed). Besides the organization of the shows on behalf of VVÖ, she has been financially supporting many Arabian events. Anne Heiloo was a member of the Executive Committee of ECAHO for many years and acted also as Vice-President of ECAHO.
2019
Mrs. Ursula Roberts (1921-2021)
Coming from a hunting family, she´s been involved with horses all her life. She began judging in 1945 and, for the next fifty years, assisted in running various horse shows. She was on the Judges’ and Disciplinary Panels of ECAHO. In 1983 she was asked to be Chairman of ECAHO’s newly formed Show Commission and remained in that position her resignation in 1998. The aim of the Show Commission was to form an acceptably level method of judging throughout Europe that could be understood and enjoyed by everyone. As breeder, she has always been very supportive of using Arab blood to improve Anglo-Arab and Part-bred horses, and especially the ponies. In 1991 she helped start the UK International Show at Towerlands, which is now the UKIAHS. In 1994 she was asked to run an International Show for Arab horses in the Middle East, in Qatar. This she did for several years, and now the Qataris themselves run that show.
Mrs. Izabella Pawelec-Zawadska (1937-2015) - IN MEMORIAM
Izabella inherited her lifelong passion for horses from her father, a former cavalry officer. In 1972 she started to work in Warsaw in the Horse Breeding Department of Animex, and so her long association with the Arabian horses and State Studs of Poland began. Before long, Izabella was a highly respected international judge, something she thoroughly enjoyed for 35 years as she travelled all over the world, looking for the positive aspects in every horse she judged. After 25 years in the post of Breeding Inspector at the Polish State Administrative Boards of Horse Breeding, Izabella formally retired in 1998 but continued to work at the Polish Arabian Stud Book Registry Office as a Breeding Specialist and Consultant. A highly respected world authority on Arabian horse breeding, Izabella rose to senior positions in both ECAHO and WAHO, being involved with both from their foundation.
Major P.W.S. (Pat) Maxwell (1929 - 2010) - IN MEMORIAM
Pat Maxwell spent most of his teenage years in India. Later, he joined the army and worked his way up to the rank of a Major. He was a passionate horseman who, back in the late 1950’s, bred steeplechasers and rode in show jumping events. In 1967 he married his wife Joanna, who at the time already owned Arabians and introduced him to the breed. Together, and later supported by their daughter Emma, they were breeding and showing Arabian horses for more than 40 years. It was the Maxwells, who first introduced Spanish and Egyptian blood to Great Britain they were one of the most successful breeders in Europe having won seven Paris World Championships with horses that were bred at Lodge Farm Stud. When in 1983 some countries joined for the first time to create the European Arabian Horse Show Commission, he was with them. Two years later became the organization’s first President. ECAHO became his “baby” and he gave ECAHO a face. He was the driving force, and ECAHO grew steadily from 13 countries in 1985 to 28 countries in 2001 when he resigned for health reasons.
Mr. Peter Stössel (1944 - 2013) - IN MEMORIAM
Peter Stössel, longtime president of CSIO5* St Gallen, was born in 1944. Apart from his business interests, Peter Stössel was very involved in the social and cultural life of his native region. He was the founding member and longtime president of the Swiss Dialogue Marketing Association and organiser of the New Orleans Meets St Gallen Jazz Festival. For sport lovers he was perhaps best known as the president of one of the leading FEI events, CSIO5* St. Gallen, which he chaired for 25 years from 1987 to 2012. In addition to being an exceptional organiser (among other the European Championship for Arabian horses in Frauenfeld), Peter Stössel was also a passionate breeder of Arabian horses. He was one of the founders of ECAHO and longtime its Treasurer.
2018
Mrs. Joanna Maxwell
Joanna and her husband Pat Maxwell brought the Arabians to Europe. Their farm Lodge Farm Arabians had of Europe’s most celebrated and successful Arabian horse breeding programs. Joanna and her husband bred 5 World Champions mainly different bloodlines. Next to great show horses she also bred race winners - from show bloodlines. She has always believed that Arabians should be multi-purpose. Joanna Maxwell is one of the most reputable ECAHO Judges. She retired in 2017.
Mr. Peter Upton
Peter Upton studied art and art history at college and university. He is best known for his paintings depicting the desert scene and the Arab horse. A past President of the Arab Horse Society of Great Britain, an international judge, and a recognised expert on the history of the Arab horse. He writes regularly for the magazines, has been involved in films on the Arab horse, and is the author of several books, such as Desert Heritage: An Artist’s Collection of Blunt’s Original Arab Horses (1980), The Classic Arab Horse (1986), The Arabian Horse – History, Mystery and Magic (1998) Out of the Desert and The Arab Horse. He is ECAHO reputable Judge (retired in 2017), Instructor and co-author of ECAHO Judges´ Manual.
Dr. Hans-Joachim Nagel
His love for the Arabian horse began with the mare Hanan with whom he founded a worldwide unique breeding line. Far away from following fashion trends and show activities he created his own breeding program with intelligence and reason, which today enjoys the highest recognition all over the world. Following almost 50 years of selection and consistent breeding, his horses have their very own appearance, testament to a key attribute to successful breeding – thinking in generations. For many years was, amongst others, Executive Committee member of ECAHO, President of the WAHO, President of the German Registry VZAP. He is founder of the All Nations Cup.
Mr. Sami Suleiman Al Nohait
Mr. Sami Suleiman Al Nohait has been the main delegate to WAHO for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 1992 and was part of the team responsible for the production of the first volume of their Stud Book at the time Saudi Arabia was approved by WAHO. Apart from many other senior official positions, Sami was for many years the Director General of the King Abdul Aziz Arabian Horses Centre at Dirab, where he was responsible for overseeing the Registry and Stud Book office. He has been a WAHO Life Member since 1990, and an Executive Committee member since 2004. He was one of the biggest supporters of ECAHO attending most of the meetings.
SAR Teresa de Borbón
Great supporter of the Arabian horses, acted as ECAHO DC and Judge for many decades, supporting the Spanish lines of Arabian horses. Now retired from the ECAHO lists but still active as breeder, show organizer and Judge in Spain.
Mrs. Ursula Rahm
Stood at the beginnings of ECAHO, acted as DC, worked in the Executive Committee and Commissions and many years as the Treasurer of ECAHO.
Dr. Nasr Marei
Long term Judge, Instructor, successful breeder and promoter of the Arabian breed. He decided to stop judging big shows and retired from the ECAHO list but still listed as National judge of Egypt.
Mr. Peter Gamlin
Very kind person, for many years ECAHO Judge, excellent breeder and supporter of Arabian horses, still active even in his 80´s.
