UAE Children's ride

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From the Khaleejtimes:  

Nadia takes title with super show 
By Hisham El Gizoulli 

NADIA Abdul Aziz Taryam, riding Arabian gelding El-Shalao Haroum, lifted the 
UAE Most Preferred Children's Endurance Cup, at Seih Assalum Endurance 
Village yesterday.

Majed Al Kumaiti on JA Boldarr finished second and Mohammed Abdullah Bilhab 
on Jidda was third. The winner covered the 80km distance in 3:34:05 seconds 
with average speed of 22.42 km/hour.

The race saw a heartbreaking disqualification of consistent rider Layla Abdul 
Aziz Al Redha who crossed the finish line ahead of the others on her Arabian 
gelding Moro Manutea. Layla was disqualified on veterinary grounds as her 
crew declined to present her horse within the stipulated 20 minutes after 
arrival.

"It is another success for the stable of Shaikh Ahmed bin Humaid Al Nuaimi 
who won on Wednesday the 200km FEI/UAE World's Most Preferred Endurance 
Ride," Nadia said. "I have made my tactics on the expectations that the 
pace-setters will not present their horses with the stipulated time and, 
accordingly, I held my horse back in the final lap," she added.

"The speed was very high and the restrictions were strict, and under these 
circumstances one had to think of the regulations as an important part of the 
competition," Nadia added.

The event was attended by General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, 
Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Minister of Defence, Shaikh Sultan bin Zayed Al 
Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.

Out of the 18 riders who started the race, five were disqualified on 
"over-time" grounds in the final lap, three were eliminated due to lameness, 
one for pulse while one tired between the start and Gate One.

Thirteen UAE riders took part in the competition, plus two from USA, one 
Portuguese, one Spanish and one from New Zealand. American rider Alexandra 
Luck expressed her satisfaction with the result saying that she was only here 
to complete the race in her first international outing. "I have won the 1998 
Junior Championship in USA and that is why I have decided to try my luck at 
the international level," she said.

For the other American rider, Bergen Smeding, the race was a great success 
for UAE. "I came to know that UAE is organising an international competition 
for children and have immediately decided to take part therein," he said. "It 
is my first visit to the Middle East and I believe believe now UAE is a 
leading country in horse riding. Everything is perfect and up to our 
satisfaction," he pointed out.