(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
Olympian Sheikh Ali Al Thani will lead the Qatari charge as top riders are set to take part in the highly-anticipated CHI Al Shaqab 2017 which will be held this weekend at Al Shaqab.
Thrilling action and a unique display of showmanship will be on the recipe for enthusiasts when the world's top riders and horses compete from March 2 to 4.
This year's edition of CHI Al Shaqab, the only equestrian competition of its kind in Asia and Middle East will feature three equestrian disciplines: showjumping CSI5* and CSI3*, Dressage CDI5*, and Para-Dressage CPEDI3*.
In the showjumping CSI5* and CSI3*, spectators will witness the complete focus and endurance of the world's top horses as, with the rider's guidance, they navigate challenging obstacle courses that consist of wide and vertical jumps.
The visiting fans will get a chance to see how a horse and rider work together to seamlessly clear the obstacles as they increase in difficulty with each round.
As part of the group of Qatari riders, Sheikh Ali will again compete at this year's CHI Al Shaqab. Appropriately enough, Al Shaqab is built on the site of Sheikh Jassim's decisive victory over the Ottoman Empire, which led to the foundation of the modern state of Qatar.
Sheikh Ali will be hoping to build on the legacy of the country's founder to achieve a remarkable success at this year's competition.
Other top competitors in the event include Daniel Deusser (Germany), Christian Ahlmann (Germany), and Simon Delestre (France), all of whom rank in the top five worldwide. Horses and riders will put on an exceptional display of teamwork as their extensive training is put to the test. Often referred to as ‘horse dancing', dressage encapsulates the agility, responsiveness and obedience of the horse as the rider uses the reins to make subtle movements that prompt the horse to manoeuvre in a specific way.
Patrik Kittel (Sweden) won both the Grand Prix and the freestyle test at Al Shaqab last year, and he'll seek to add another trophy to his mantle at this year's event.
Other dressage riders to watch this year include Carl Hester (United Kingdom), the world's number five, and Inessa Merkulova (Russia), ranked sixth.
CHI Al Shaqab is proud to host the para-dressage discipline for the third year running. para-dressage gives riders with physical disabilities the opportunity to compete in dressage. Spectators will be given a special opportunity to see the special bond shared between horse and rider, as the horse compensates for the riders' disabilities.
Several riders will be defending their 2016 crowns in para-dressage, including Grade1b winner Nicole Den Dulk (Netherlands), GradeII winner Rixt van der Horst (Netherlands), and Philippa Johnson-Dwyer (South Africa), who won the GradeIII event.
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