UAE’s dressage team ready to compete at Asian Games in Hangzhou

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation announced that its four-strong dressage team has passed the vet check and will go on to compete on Tuesday, in the team competition and individual qualification.

With the support of Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Bin Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE will be represented in the team dressage competition for the first time since equestrian sports debuted at the ninth Asian Games in 1982.

Riding for the UAE at the 19th Asian Games are:

Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri on Ecencka, a 14 year old KWPN mare by Jazz, Mohamed Jassim Al Serkal on Hermes V, an 11 year old KWPN gelding by Bretton Woods, Natalie Lankester on Cash DXB, a 16 year old KWPN gelding by Hexagon’s Rubiquil, Bianca Schutz on Fearless WS, a 9 year old Westfalen mare by Franziskus

The horses, who arrived in Hangzhou on Thursday of last week after quarantining in Aachen’s famous Deutsche Bank Stadium facilities, have been adjusting to their new temporary home at the stunning Tonglu Equestrian Centre and are ready to take to the centre stage and contend for a place on the podium.

Back in 2006, the UAE secured team gold in endurance, along with individual gold and Bronze in the same year, as well as an individual bronze in showjumping. Four years later, the UAE’s showjumping team secured two silver medals, both team and individual.

On Wednesday, the riders will again take to the area to ride the complex FEI Intermediate I test to qualify for a place in Thursday’s Freestyle, with the best 15 horses from the previous day’s competition competing for a medal.

Organised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Asian Games bring together the OCA’s 45 member countries to compete in a diverse range of 40 sports, including the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of dressage, showjumping and eventing.