Equestrian Sport UAE Podcast

Now in it's 5th Edition, the highlight of the regions showjumping calendar is less than 3 weeks away. Equestrian Sport UAE Podcast's Sam Gerrard-May caught up with Event President Mr. Omran Ahmed Al Owais, and the show's Sponsorship and Hospitality co-ordinator, Sami Kettle to learn more about the development of the show year-on-year thanks to the insight and vision of founder, H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza Al Nayhan. 

The Al Shira'aa Team have had another phenomenal season in Great Britain culminating in a 2* grand prix win at Chepstow International for Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqui, an exciting first UK GP win for the talented UAE Youth Olympics silver medal holder. We caught up with Omar and fellow Al Shira'aa Young Rider, Humaid Abdullah Al Muhairi along with the stables' Operations Director Mohamed Ahmed Al Owais at the end of the show to hear about their rounds and plans for the rest of the summer.

Mohamed Ahmed Al Owais is the Operations Director of Al Shira'aa Stables, with the support of its founder, H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza Al Nahyan, he has just made his debut in the 5* Rolex Grand Prix, Rome. In this episode we hear about his role from setting the foundation of the Al Shira'aa Farms UK breeding programme to the logistics of competing abroad from the Abu Dhabi base.

Mohammed Ibrahim AlNakhi is the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation Showjumping and Dressage Committee Vice-President as well as Co-ordinator of FEI Group VII, Judge and Steward. We are immensely grateful he found time around his roles to talk to us about the unprecedented season which began with an FEI imposed suspension, and ended with a rider in the highest position ever to be achieved by the UAE on the Longines Ranking. Mohammed shares some exciting news about the forthcoming UAE summer competition schedule and the federation's plans for UAE representation at the major events of 2022.

Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi is celebrating his most successful season to-date having finished as number-one UAE rider on the FEI Ranking, leader of the Emirates Longines League and 2020/21 Championship title holder. He now has his sights firmly fixed on representing his nation at the FEI World Cup (Herning) and 19th Asian Games (Hangzhou) in 2022.  In this episode Abdullah shares with us his training and competing plans for the summer, the gratitude he has for a supportive family and federation, along with some exciting breeding news with his top horse Cha Cha Cha. 

It was a great honour to interview Sheikh Rashid who has been making up for lost time with several wins following his successful treatment for Leukaemia. We hear about his introduction to Showjumping, training with his sister, Sheikha Latifah bint Ahmed Al Maktoum and the journey to a UAE team silver at the 2010 Asian Games. Sheikh Rashid shares with us the beginnings of DXB Horses and some special moments along the way, and we gain an insight into the respect he has for his family name.

We are delighted to bring you Episode 1 with Abdulla Al Marri following his recent young horse success where he shares the challenges of breeding warmbloods in the region, some highs and lows of his quick succession to leading UAE rider along with a little-known story about the horse he ‘stole' from the Whitakers.

Pulse 95 Radio LifeBeats' Sally Musa interview with Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi from February 2019 following his sucess at the H.H. Ruler of Sharjah Showjumping Cup.