The United Arab Emirates participation at the Asian Games is well underway, with the team competition completed and the individual Dressage Championship medals of the 19th Asian Games awarded tomorrow, Thursday, 28September, following the conclusion of the FEI Intermediate I Freestyle test.
UAE rider Natalie Lankester and mount Cash DXB were amongst the fifteen qualifying combinations for tomorrow’s Freestyle in a strong field of Asia’s best riders. She qualified with a score of 64.882% and will take to the arena again tomorrow to conclude the Dressage for this Championship, riding a complex floorplan choreographed to her chosen music.
“It’s been an incredible experience so far and I’m proud and eternally grateful to have the opportunity to represent my country. For the first time at such a Championship, I couldn’t have asked for more from Cash. He felt with me the whole time and even though we can still improve on many small points, it was a great test. I’m excited for tomorrow’s Freestyle and will give it my all,” commented Natalie, who also scored a personal best of 67.059% on Cash DXB in the Prix St-Georges yesterday.
The UAE Dressage team, who have only been competing together for the first time this year, has already seen multiple podium places on the European circuit over the summer, with riders Natalie Lankester and Mohamed Jassim Al Serkal taking first place in the CDIAm in Crozet and the CDIAm in Deauville respectively.
Dressage continues to grow in the UAE, with the total number of registered riders increasing by 120% over the past year, with over 20% of those Emirati riders. The sustained support from H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, along with the continued efforts of the UAE Equestrian Federation to further develop the sport, allows dressage to grow across the Emirates and attract new riders.
The Dressage Finals start at 15:00 CST tomorrow, with Natalie Lankester on Cash DXB, a 16 year old KWPN gelding by Hexagon’s Rubiquil, drawn to start fourth at 15:27.
