Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
An ambitious operation to have the UAE equestrian riders represented well and even achieve medals in the Dressage competition at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics formally got underway in Abu Dhabi.
Taking a galloping march towards a bright future, the Royal Stables announced the launch of its host Para Dressage Performance Programme for the athlete people of determination at the historic place Sheikh Zayed Majlis in the emirate.
At the place where the late Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan envisioned the Royal Stables as the pioneering private breeding ground for Arabian horses, the latest initiative is designed to empower athletes of determination and provide a structured pathway for them to compete internationally. It has got the sanction from the UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation.
Addressing a gathering of the stakeholders on Thursday were Her Excellency Buthaina Al Mazrouei, Board Member at Royal Stables; Dr. Ghanem Al Hajri, the Federation Secretary General; Laura Richardson and Dr. Russell MacKechnie-Guire, the Programme's performance manager and technical lead, respectively.
Para Dressage is the only Equestrian discipline included in the Paralympic Games, where it has been a regular fixture since 1996. An International Equestrian Federation (FEI) governed discipline, Para Dressage is conducted under the same basic rules as the sport of Dressage, the highest expression of horse training where athletes perform at a walk, trot and canter, executing tests ridden from memory and following a prescribed pattern of movements. The test difficulty is determined by the athlete's graded level of impairment in the case of Para Dressage.
"Although it seems like it's 3-4 years away to the 2028 Paralympics," said Richardson, "2026 is the start for qualification. Before that is the pursuit of the Asian Para Games, so over these next months, our journey will take us across the world for classification events, where they prepare for the big competitions, and we are hoping to get there in time.
"We are truly grateful for all the support we got. Everybody we reached out is already offering support through ideas and connections. Please keep it coming. We have three athletes on board. Of course, a team is made up of four, but we would ideally like to have a pool of 6-8 talented riders to choose from."
In the context above for Para Dressage athletes, perhaps the most vital selling point for the Royal Stables initiative is getting two riding simulators – highly advanced tools used in leading equestrian nations to support rider development and accessibility.
The simulators allow for fully customisable positioning and analysis, providing a vital training step for para-athletes before transitioning to live horse work. Of the two simulators, one is basic while the other one is more advanced with more options for speed and control available. The latter one attracted a lot of attention from even industry veterans, as witnessed by Aletihad.
"While the basic one is also available down the road in Dubai, the other one is a first of its kind in the region, or at least in the UAE," said Hannah McCabe, a spokesperson on behalf of the Stables.
Dr. MacKechnie-Guire detailed how the initiative will be grounded in science-led coaching, sports medicine and biomechanical analysis. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience working with Paralympic athletes, Dr MacKechnie-Guire expressed his excitement for developing UAE riders and helping them achieve elite-level performance on the world stage.
"As a scientist, every challenge is an opportunity. I think the call to action here is the amazing facilities and the ambitious project here to change the way how we view Para Dressage in the UAE," said Dr MacKechnie-Guire.
The launch also offered guests a glimpse into the future home of the UAE para dressage team. The Royal Stables' extensive redevelopment includes a new indoor arena, clubhouse, accommodation and treatment facilities besides the simulators which were on display in a separate housing, but will eventually move to the clubhouse.
The Royal Stables' team of experts will oversee all aspects of athlete and horse welfare, with a long-term vision to establish the UAE as a leader in inclusive equestrian sport.
