news

Spanish grande dame of dressage chooses Doha for comeback

Beatriz Ferrer-Salat is the grande dame of dressage at CHI AL SHAQAB 2015. A few days before turning 48, the multiple medalist is aiming for a come back in the sport, bringing out Sir Rajah for his first competition at 5*-level.

Beatriz Ferrer-Salat is the grande dame of dressage at CHI AL SHAQAB 2015. A few days before turning 48, the multiple medalist is aiming for a come back in the sport, bringing out Sir Rajah for his first competition at 5*-level. It took a long time. She bought Sir Rajah as a very young horse, training for seven years. “He is a lovely horse, very willing to work, much like Beauvalais,” the Spanish rider said, remembering her previous top horse that left the sport after an injury in 2008 at the Beijing Games. Ferrer-Salat and Beauvalais won individual silver at the World Equestrian Games in Jerez 2002 and bronze in Athens back in 2004. Since Bauvalais Ferrer-Salat had other horses but always dealt with injuries. “I hope this streak is now over”, she said.

Sir Rajah (10) is one of several up and coming grand prix horses that will feel the atmosphere of high level sport at AL SHAQAB when the dressage discipline opens on Friday. Following Thursday’s warm up ride in the arena 23 riders from ten countries will face a grand prix test as the first level of their competition, moving on either to the Grand Prix Special or the Freestyle on Saturday for the finals aiming at a total purse of 160,000 Euro.

Rikke Swan from Denmark residing in Luxemburg is bringing Finckenstein TSF towards his second 5*-appearance. For her the first big worry is already out of the way. “I was so worried about the flight for the horse but he took it in his stride and was even the first one to get unloaded.” Svane then took the black stallion on a stroll around AL SHAQAB and he seems to enjoy being in Qatar. Just like his rider does: “We are honoured to be invited and it is remarkable to see somebody willing to make this special effort for dressage,” the Dane said.

Dressage opens on Friday, March 6 at 14:00.