HAVING overcome the logistics, the show was amazing as ever. This year, CHI Al Shaqab had 42 nations and 85 athletes competing in three disciplines: show jumping, dressage and para dressage.

The Qataris love the event and are delighted to welcome the riders from all over the world, very much the same as previous years.

Qatar is a nation that loves its jumping, and Al Shaqab is the highlight of the year. As in previous years, Ireland was well represented. This year saw attendance from Shane Breen, Cameron Hanley, Denis Lynch and Mark McAuley.

The Grand Prix on Saturday was nothing if not impressive. Despite two-thirds of the seats in the imposing outdoor stadium being left empty for Covid, there was still a fabulous atmosphere. Shane rolled a pole in the first round but jumped a fluent fast clear in the second rewarding him with eighth place as the fastest on four faults.

Beautiful test

In the Longines dressage arena, Ireland’s Dane Rawlins performed a really beautiful Grand Prix test on his 18.2hh bay gelding Espoire. The walk movements proved a bit tricky and were expensive in terms of lost marks.

However, Dane and Espoire showed lovely passage, canter pirouettes and a flowing canter zigzag which gained him particularly strong marks in those movements which left the combination finishing on 66%.

The freestyle produced an all-German winning line up with Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl and Zaire-E taking the title on 84%, Helen Langehanenberg and Damsey FRH were just behind them on 82% and Dorothee Schneider with Faustus 94 (81%) in third.

There was an emotional fond farewell to Damsey during the jumping course change between rounds in the Grand Prix as Damsey retired from competitive life.

Para dressage

The para dressage classes were well represented with 17 countries taking part, with a particular strong Swiss contingent. Foreign judge Marco Orsini from Germany explained that, just like the riders, the judges have been unable to meet over the last year.

“You only get better by judging more and more. There may well be some bigger than normal differences in scores as a result. But I am expecting the horses to be in better shape and to have improved because they have had a year where they haven’t had the stress of travelling. Last year was really very difficult as nobody knew what they were able to do and when they would be able to compete.”

Marco also talked about the online resources that are being developed for judges and possible delivery of additional resources for riders in time for Tokyo.

The mare I brought, Donna Siesta, had never flown before so part of the reason for taking up the invitation was to do a test run on a long trip to a hot climate. She surprised us all by being ultra-calm, so much so that the first test, while clean, accurate and a respectable 67%, lacked some of the sparkle that her work normally has.

So in the following two tests we increased the energy which, although improving the overall way of going, caused a few mistakes leaving her in third position on all three days.

Dazzling

The star of the para scene was certainly Rodolpho Riskalla in Grade IV (4). He stole the show on all three days with dazzling tests with his stallion Don Henrico culminating in a score of 81% in the Freestyle. Rodolpho who is trained by his mother, has recently moved his home base to Germany despite working in Paris.

“This is better for me and the horses. I now have two to compete (in Para) and it is easier for us all to be in one place. Covid has made some things easier for me, I can now work most of the time from home and just drive into the office in Paris twice a month.

“I can do everything that I normally do in the office at home, but I can ride in the mornings and work in the afternoons.”

Next stop for Rodolpho was due to be Macon in France, but given the Herpes outbreak on the European mainland he will now need to consider where next.