Qatar’s top riders are set for exciting action as the sixth edition of the Qatar Equestrian Tour – Longines Hathab supported by The Social and Sport Contribution Fund (Daam) kicks off at the Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) Indoor Arena on Friday.
An initiative of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Shaqab, Longines Hathab is the country’s premier equestrian competition series and fulfils a vital role for the horse-riding community.
It seeks to inspire Qatar’s next generation of international champions as well as increase awareness of horsemanship as part of Qatar’s culture and tradition.
The season will get underway with the Small Tour event today, offering QR20,000 to the riders followed by the Medium Tour, which is carrying a prize purse of QR60,000.
Riders will compete in Open Tour and Future Riders before the Big Tour event tomorrow. The hugely-popular series also involves dressage competition.
Qatari rider Saeed Nasser al-Qadi will defend his overall Big Tour title while Rashid Towaim al-Marri will look to retain his Medium Tour crown. Mohamed Jabor al-Naimi will start as defending champion in Small Tour while Jessica Waldon and Khalid al-Nuaimi will defend dressage titles.
The Tour is organised and hosted jointly by Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) and Al Shaqab, member of Qatar Foundation. Tours will be held at QEF and the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab and comprises a series of 14 individual and team competitions to be held between September 2022 to April 2023, and will include multiple categories in show jumping and dressage, across various age groups.