Over 60 showjumping horses touch down in Doha

With the inaugural CHI AL SHAQAB less than a week away, participants in the equestrian championship, including FEI (International Equestrian Federation) officials, international riders and 60 showjumping horses and their grooms, have begun touching down in Doha.

CHI AL SHAQAB will be the first international equestrian competition to take place in the Middle East and Asia. Hosted by AL SHAQAB, 170 riders and 200 horses from more than 25 nations will be participating. The top 30 show jumpers and top 15 dressage riders, according to the International Equestrian Federation’s world rankings, have been invited to compete. Top regional and international teams are also taking part in the endurance race.

The preparations, overseen by the CHI AL SHAQAB Local Organising Committee, headed by AL SHAQAB Director and CHI AL SHAQAB President Fahad Bin Saad Al Qahtani, include setting the stage for the hosting of approximately 200 horses in AL SHAQAB’s stables, and over 5,000 spectators in its stands.

Omar Al Mannai, CHI AL SHAQAB 2013 Event Director said, “We are simply thrilled at the sheer number of riders, officials and horses that we are hosting over the next few days. As the first international equestrian event in the region of this calibre, we are proud that so many globally renowned riders will soon enter our arena.”

“We are confident that AL SHAQAB will provide CHI’s riders and their horses with an experience that exceeds their expectations,” he added.

In addition to competition preparations, the spectator plaza, designed to celebrate Qatar’s rich heritage in equine culture and sport, will soon be open to all members of the public. The enormous 17,000 square metre plaza will feature an array of family-orientated activities, including a fashion exhibition and trade market, a dedicated ‘kids zone’, a food court with several different kinds of cuisine, a Williams F1 simulator, and a multitude of cultural presentations and events.