2014 World Equestrian Games - UAE News

Rain test awaits UAE endurance team in Normandy

Endurance trainer Esmail Mohammad hopes hard work will pay off

By Leslie Wilson Jr, Racing & Special Features Writer
Published: 18:27 August 27, 2014

Dubai: Endurance trainer Esmail Mohammad expects the hard work put in by the UAE team during the summer to pay off when the five-member squad compete in the gruelling showpiece event at the FEI Alltech Equestrian Games at Normany on Thursday.

Led by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the defending champions take on some of the world’s best endurance riders in the 160 metre event, which for the first time, will be held over five loops.

Mohammad understands that it takes more than just practice to excel at this level of competition and is also hoping that the individual horse skills of each rider will hold them in good stead.

“The team have been practicing very hard all summer, at various endurance sites across Europe,” he told Gulf News. “The acclimatisation is important but nothing can prepare you for the conditions that you will encounter on the day of the ride...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/rain-test-awaits-uae-endurance-team-in-normandy-1.1377405

UAE endurance squad gear up to defend title

Shaikh Hamdan leads five-strong squad in showpice event at Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

By Leslie Wilson Jr
Racing & Special Features Writer
Published: 19:01 August 26, 2014
Gulf News

Dubai: The UAE endurance team faces its first test of reckoning on Thursday when it defends its title at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy, France.

Significant interest has centered on the 160 metres marathon which has attracted a record 170 riders from 48 nations.

The UAE return as defending champion having won the gold at the 2010 WEG Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky.

Led by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the five-member squad also includes Shaikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri, Abdulla Ghanim Al Marri and Saeed Mohammad Khalfan Al Mehairi.

UAE Announces WEG 2014-Nominated Riders

Mansour Saeed Mohammed Al Faresi - Norwest
Saeed Ahmad Jaber Al Harbi - Africano
Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri - Farak; Moota Haddeea
HE Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum - Qhashmyr d'Hazel; Yamamah
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashin Al Maktoum - Ajayeb; Intisaar
Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum - Nopoli del Ma; Novisaad d'Aqui
Abdulla Ghanim Al Marri - Qrafik la Majorie; Quran El Ulm
Saeed Mohammed Khalifa Al Mehairi - Kedjari Des Serres
Saif Ahmed Al Mozroui - Oso Larrikin