A total of 88 riders from 23 countries will thrill crowds in the spectacular Commercial Bank CHI AL SHAQAB Presented by Longines event, which will take place at the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab, member of Qatar Foundation, from 27-29 February.
The world-class international equestrian competition, which Al Shaqab is organizing and hosting for the seventh time, will see riders compete in the Olympic disciplines of showjumping, dressage, and para-dressage. Heights of 1m60 will be reached in the senior showjumping rounds, where children will ride high over 1m circuits. The three days of competition will also feature the dressage Grand Prix, Big Tour and the Arabian Horse Show, amongst others.
CHI (Concours Hippique International – International Equestrian Competition) is the official title awarded by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) to international equestrian competitions with three or more equestrian disciplines. Commercial Bank CHI AL SHAQAB Presented by Longines is one of only five CHI competitions worldwide and the first and only equestrian event of its kind in the Middle East and Asia (Mena) region.
German showjumper Daniel Deusser, currently third on the Longines global rankings, headlines the impressive list of entries. Other jumpers competing include Sweden’s Peder Fredrickon, ranked number five, Belgium’s Pieter Devos, ranked number six and the winner of last year’s CSI5* Grand Prix in Doha, and Olympian Edwina Tops-Alexander (Australian).
Great Britain will once again be represented in a significant manner within the showjumping category by Scott Brash, riding Hello Senator and Hello Shelby, with Jack Whitaker and Elucar v.E. and Scenletha.
The flight carrying 45 spectacular showjumping horses has touched down in Doha, ahead of the event. In total, 130 horses from all around the world – including Germany, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Spain, Austria and Switzerland – will arrive on three separate flights.
About Al Shaqab
Since its establishment in 1992, Al Shaqab’s vision was to build on Qatar’s Arabian horse heritage and be a leading global centre for equine professionals, while providing an engaging experience for the community. Global leadership has not only meant preserving, improving, and promoting the Arabian horse breed, but also encouraging the community in this unique, traditional cultural sport.
Today, Al Shaqab’s impressive facilities, which are distinctively designed in the shape of a horseshoe, cover 980,000 square meters. With a state-of-the-art Main Arena comprising both an indoor and outdoor venue capable of holding over 5000 spectators, Al Shaqab is part of Qatar’s growing reputation on the world stage that showcases its ability to host major international sports event at the highest level.
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.
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