DOHA EQUESTRIAN TOUR UPDATE: HORSES SAFELY RETURNED AS ORGANISERS PREPARE TO RESUME THE SEASON WHEN PERMITTED

Qatar continues to closely monitor the evolving regional situation, with safety and stability as the priority. While the main impact has been on airspace and international travel, the Doha Equestrian Tour remains operationally prepared to resume competition as soon as local authorities and relevant sports institutions allow.

Horse Movements:

Two charter cargo flights were exceptionally arranged to return horses and teams to Europe. The first flight with 74 horses landed safely in Liège, Belgium on Sunday, and a second flight with 73 horses arrived in Liège on Saturday. This was coordinated with the support of the Doha Equestrian Tour team, local authorities and Qatar Airways to ensure the horses traveled safely. The organising committee covered the full cost of the return flights for the horses. Some of the staff were able to travel with the horses.

Given the current situation, with the Qatar airspace still closed, commercial flights have not been operating from Hamad International Airport. To support remaining staff travel, the Doha Equestrian Tour also provided several cars free of charge to transport grooms who could not travel on the charter flights with the horses due to limited capacity. A road transfer was organized from Doha to Riyadh where the airspace is still open, so the remaining staff could travel to reunite with their horses.

Operations and Readiness:

From an operations standpoint, the Doha Equestrian Tour’s risk assessment and contingency planning have been effective, and all necessary measures have been implemented in line with the evolving situation.

Some riders, teams, grooms and horses remain in Doha at the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab. Several local riders and competitors from across the GCC are also still on site and remain committed to finishing the season.

What’s Next:

Three events remain: the Qatar Olympic Committee Cup, the Al Shaqab Cup and the Qatar Equestrian Federation Cup. The Tour will resume as soon as the government allows public sporting events and the FEI can send the required stewards and judges. We are ready to bring the Doha Equestrian Tour back on track as soon as the situation allows, and we have already demonstrated in recent days that we are well structured and prepared to restart quickly.

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Photo by DET/Lukasz Kowalski