UAE riders Nadia Taryam and Abdulla Al Marri have their eyes firmly set on the upcoming Olympic Qualifier to be staged in Ghantoot next month, where one team can bag a spot at Rio 2016.
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Four riders will be chosen to represent the UAE in the Olympic Qualifier, to be held from February 18-21, and the Emirates’ finest are using the four World Cup Qualifiers, taking place in the country these four weeks, to prove they – along with their horses – are up for the challenge.
Last weekend in the UAE capital saw the first of those four World Cup Qualifiers take place at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club. It was a big show with fences as high as 160cm and it provided the first real test for Taryam, Al Marri and other Emirati riders eyeing a playing in Ghantoot.
Al Marri had one fence down in the Grand Prix and made it through to the second round, but it proved a tall order from his long-time mare, Sierra Joter.
He did however win two classes throughout the weekend, with his horse Narcissist in the young horses division.
“Sierra is a horse I had as a five-year-old and I brought her up. I hope Narcissist is on the same track,” Al Marri told Sport360° in Abu Dhabi.
“The Olympic Qualifier in Ghantoot is a month away and we want Sierra to peak there. There is no other priority but that.
“I think the results in these shows (World Cup Qualifiers) will factor in when it comes to the federation choosing who will compete in Ghantoot. But I feel I’m in a good position to be one of those riders chosen.”
Taryam, who last year had won the Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi with her stallion Calawo, was unable to repeat her success in this season’s event as she picked up five penalties in round one, riding Larina 114. But the Sharjah native was still happy with her ride and is hoping she can do well in the upcoming shows in her home emirate as well as in Dubai and Al Ain to prove she is worth a spot in Ghantoot.
“Whoever is in good form from the UAE team will get to be on the team in the 5* show. It’s based on results and who’s doing best. It’s a big thing, it’s something to look forward to and get your horses ready for,” said Taryam.
“So far, I had one mare (Larina) who I just jumped now (in Abu Dhabi), she had one down in the Grand Prix. It’s her first season back, she had an operation, so she had a year off. So this was her first big show back so I’m really happy that she did the Grand Prix.
“So I’m looking forward to the next shows. I have my other stallion Calawo, who hopefully will be jumping the bigger classes next week (in Sharjah).”
The Qatari team, who pulled off an impressive one-two in Abu Dhabi through Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al Thani and Bassem Mohammed, are also focused on the Olympic Qualifier next month.
“We’re planning very well for this. We’re preparing our horses. Not the horses we rode here in Abu Dhabi, we have better horses for that show in Ghantoot. We hope to do well there and qualify for the Olympics,” said Sheikh Ali.
