Five local riders from the AlUla area are getting ready to mix it in a world-class field of 200 skilled riders from 40 countries at the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup 2023, AlUla’s flagship endurance event taking place on Saturday March 4.

The Endurance Cup is a 120km endurance event, held in partnership with the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation (SAEF) and Federation Equestre Inernationale (FEI), that gets underway at Fursan Village.

Local rider Oday AlHarbi could not wait for the event to get started. Speaking from the Fursan Village stables where he was preparing with his ride Zaamah, he said: “I cannot describe the feeling of being part of this Endurance Cup, preparations are going really well and I am very happy.

“We are extremely grateful to the Royal Commission of AlUla for giving us this opportunity. We received training, and they formed a team for us as part of the programme. They supported us in every way and we really appreciate it.”

Another AlUla rider, Hasan Breiket, took time from his pre-event preparations with Cieraz Arvor to add: “We are really happy to be participating in this year’s Endurance Cup, and we are very grateful to the Royal Commission of AlUla for their support. Everything about this year’s event is incredible and we are ambitious to make it to the top three.”

The five local riders are participating as part of the development programme under RCU’s equine strategy which offered training, advice and technical support as well as extensive competitive experience.

Underlining RCU efforts to empower and involve the AlUla community as part of its wider equine objectives, over 40 locals will also work in stewarding and vet assistance roles after being shortlisted from a group of over 80 youths for a rigorous training programme in collaboration with the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation ahead of the event.

Share