Saudi Arabia: More than 400 horses compete in Saudi fest

Kansascity.com - Full Article

Jan. 30, 2009

By DONNA ABU-NASR
Associated Press Writer

At a green oasis in the desert outside Riyadh, a dazzling array of Arabian horses with colors ranging from dark gray, coffee bean black and warm honey have competed all week in an extravaganza designed to celebrate Arabian horses.

The second Al Khalediah Arabian Horse Festival features a beauty show, races and an auction. The popular animal is intrinsic to this region's culture, and one that, according to ancient Bedouin legend, God designated as one of the "glories" of the earth.

The event, which began last Sunday and ends Friday, was hosted by Prince Khaled bin Sultan, the son of Crown Prince Sultan, at his Al Khalediah Farm which has more than 900 Arabian horses. More than 400 horses from 18 countries took part in this year's festival.

"This is one of the biggest such gatherings in the world," Khaled said of the festival.

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Saudi Arabia: The Prince Khaled's Cup Endurance Challenge 2009 to boost Endurance sport in the Kingdom.

Located at Al Khalediah Farm, Tebrak, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (K.S.A), the Prince Khaled Endurance Cup will be the premier FEI ride on the K.S.A calendar this year.

The event which will take place on January 27th is a joint venture between the Al Khalediah Arabian Horse Festival and Intl. Endurance Equestrian Events.

The event is patronized by His Royal Highness, Prince Khaled bin Sultan bin AbdulAziz Al Saud.

Al Khalediah Farm, Tebrak, which is 90km from Riyadh on the road to Makkah (Holy place), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (K.S.A). provieds excellent facilities and infrastructure, the venue is set to provide excellent facilities suited to overseas and local participants, officials and visitors.

The Prince Khaled‘s Cup Endurance Challenge 2009 will be a door opening event to the FEI World Class Endurance in the K.S.A. In the challenge, riders will have to plot through various terrains, undulating slopes and sandy areas in the subtropical cool air in the morning and night. The Looping will be marked with flags prominently at strategic points to guide the riders for looping distance and direction. Along the trails, there will be designated water points providing drinking water and ice water for cooling at approximately every 5km. Throughout the course, riders will need to go through compulsory stops after each loop called Vet Gate, for cooling their horses, whilst ensuring the safety and welfare of their animal from the checks performed by a highly expert team of endurance veterinarians. Endurance sport is still fairly young in K.S.A. and as part of the state‘s efforts to promote sports tourism, the staging of The Prince Khaled‘s Cup Endurance Challenge 2009 will help boost this sport in the Kingdom.

The managing directors of Intl. Endurance Equestrian Events are two well-known figures in the equestrian world, Ahmed Ali Al-Hammadi and Mohammad Essa Al Adhab both are FEI four-star Grand Jury members along with chief steward and Technical Delegate. They have more than twenty years of working experience in equine industry.

The Timing System from Intl. Endurance Equestrian Events is best in the world due to its handling a heavy load, it can handle unlimited number of horses per race, and it can handle more than 20 horses each 5 seconds on the arrival gates or vet in gates. This system is robust and it has managed successfully Endurance races more than 13 years in U.A.E.

Intl. Endurance Equestrian Events has already conducted endurance rides world wide in countries such as Qatar, Egypt ,Malaysia and now in recently world endurance championship ( WEC) 2008 in Malaysia. Now in K.S.A. it will perform its job in The Prince Khaled‘s Cup Endurance Challenge 2009.

Saudi Arabia: The Al Khalediah Festival Cup

On 27th January 2009, the FEI CEI *** 120 KM Prince Khaled‘s Cup Endurance Challenge 2009 will be a door opening event to the FEI World Class Endurance in the K.S.A.

In the challenge, riders will have to plot through various terrains, undulating slopes and sandy areas in the subtropical cool air in the morning and night. The Looping will be marked with flags prominently at strategic points to guide the riders for looping distance and direction. Along the trails, there will be designated water points providing drinking water and ice water for cooling at approximately every 5km. Throughout the course, riders will need to go through compulsory stops after each loop called Vet Gate, for cooling their horses, whilst ensuring the safety and welfare of their animal from the checks performed by a highly expert team of endurance veterinarians.

This is a joint adventure between the Al Khalediah Arabian Horse Festival and Intl. Endurance Equestrian Events. It will take place at Al Khalediah Farm, Tebrak, which is 90km from Riyadh on the road to Makkah (Holy place), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (K.S.A). With its excellent facilities and infrastructure, the venue is set to provide excellent facilities suited to overseas and local participants, officials and visitors.

Endurance sport is still fairly young in K.S.A. and as part of the state‘s efforts to promote sports tourism, the staging of The Prince Khaled‘s Cup Endurance Challenge 2009 will help boost this sport in the Kingdom.

More information at Alkhalediah Festival