Henrik von Eckermann first in the Grand Prix presented by Longines and Al Shira'aa.

© Brandinfiniti Oman

By Equestrian Life

Held for the third year running at the Al Forsan Equestrian Centre in Abu Dhabi, the Al Shira'aa International Horse Show (9-12 January) is set to attract some of the biggest names in showjumping.

The event is one of the premier championships on the Middle East’s equestrian calendar, and carries a total cash prize of over €200,000. It also boasts five Longines ranking classes.

FEI World No.8 Swedish star, Henrik Von Eckermann, who won the show-concluding Longines Al Shira’aa Grand Prix in 2018 on Chacanno, is just one high-profile athlete expected to return to the UAE capital.

“I am very honoured and excited to be returning to Abu Dhabi once again for the Al Shira’aa International Horse Show. It was a super event last year with world-class facilities and organisation and I expect it to be even better this year. I look forward to putting on a world class performance for my fans in the UAE,” said Von Eckermann.

Other top international competitors include three-time Portuguese Olympian [2004 Athens, 2012 London and 2016 Rio] Luciana Diniz, Saudi Arabia’s Olympic bronze medalist, Ramzy Al Duhami and his compatriot, Abdullah Al Sharbatly, Louis Sabino from Portugal, as well as the UAE’s Sheikha Latifa Al Maktoum and German rider, Philip Weishaupt among others.

The show also features classes for young riders and juniors as well as young horses in addition to four-star competitions. In an exciting new addition, the show schedule will also feature a Derby class for the first time in the region. Britain’s William Funnell, the 2018 Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby champion will be taking part.

In a change to the 2018 event, the Al Shira’aa CSI1* Show (6-7 January) will precede the Al Shira’aa International Horse Show. A competition designed to give all levels of riders and horses a chance to compete on the big stage, the programme will see the UAE’s up-and-coming riders compete in 110 and 120cm classes at Al Forsan International Sports Resort.

View the programme here.

About Al Shira’aa Stables

At its heart Al Shira’aa Stables represents the physical embodiment of one woman’s desire to preserve ancient family traditions while promoting modern best practice in equestrianism.

Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Al Nahyan was raised to love, respect and nurture the magnificent purebred Arabian horse, which has influenced so much of Bedouin culture.

Yet her interest in horses does not begin and end with Arabians. Today, Al Shira’aa Stables represents a highly respected, multi-national operation committed to the development of all types of horsemanship across many disciplines from grass roots to elite performance.

Overseas the company lends its name to key international events including the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby and the Royal Windsor Al Shira’aa Dressage Grand Prix.

Find out more about Al Shira’aa Stables here.

READ THE LATEST NEWS ARTICLES HERE