Saudi showjumping championships prepares international equestrians for World Cup finals

RIYADH: The three-star category of the Saudi Equestrian Federation Cup for Show Jumping began on Thursday and ended on Saturday evening.

Ghalia Almousa, a showjumper representing Saudi Arabia, shared with Arab News the significance of the event for riders like herself.

“This is the second international of the season. It is a three-star rank show. And it is also a qualifier for the (FEI) World Cup.

It is also preparation for us riders for the upcoming four- and five-star show,” she said.

The three-star competition consists of 13 rounds and features 130 participants from 18 countries.

The four-star and five-star categories are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

The Saudi showjumping championships have provided the opportunity for international riders such as British showjumper Barry Dove to experience the Kingdom for the first time.

“Everyone I’ve met since I’ve been here has been really nice and welcoming, and the sport’s great and the big classes are really competitive and big,” he told Arab News.

Dove trains Saudi jockey and showjumper Nasser Al-Shawaf while also taking care of his horses on his English farm.

“He asked me to come here and help him with the start of the season with his older horses. So that’s why I’m here. And I’m lucky enough to ride in one of the shows today as well,” he said.

Spotted at the event was top Kuwaiti rider Ali Al-Khorafi, who is gearing up for a busy season ahead.

“After today, we have the next two shows in the CSI fourth star in two weeks. And then after that, the five star,” Al-Khorafi told Arab News.

“And then we ship our horses to Kuwait for the three CSI there. And after that we continue to the league in Qatar to compete as well.” 

Al-Khorafi believes the Gulf