TRIPLE TRIUMPH FOR KRISTEN VANDERVEEN AS SHE WINS THE QEF CUP GRAND PRIX
Scott Brash (GBR) was confirmed as the overall CSI4*/5* winner of the 2026 Doha Equestrian Tour as the season came to a close with the Qatar Equestrian Federation Cup, while Kristen Vanderveen (USA) delivered the standout performance of the final day with three victories, including the CSI5* Grand Prix. The Doha Equestrian Tour will return for its next season on 30 December 2026.
The Longines Arena at Al Shaqab hosted the closing day of the Qatar Equestrian Federation Cup 2026 on Sunday 5 April, as the final event of the 2026 Doha Equestrian Tour season came to an end. The QEF Cup Grand Prix decided the feature class of the weekend and confirmed the final series standings. The day belonged to Kristen Vanderveen (USA), who produced a remarkable triple-winning performance, capped by victory in the CSI5* Grand Prix.
As the 2026 season drew to a close, the Tour also looked ahead to its next chapter, with the 2027 edition set to begin on 30 December 2026. Reflecting on the season and the road ahead, Sheikh Talal bin Khalid Al-Thani, Assistant Deputy Director of the Doha Equestrian Tour, said:
“I would like to congratulate all the winners on the podium in today’s Grand Prix, Kristen Vanderveen, Bassem Mohammed and Abdullah Alsharbatly, as well as the overall winners of the Doha Equestrian Tour 2026 standings. I would also like to extend a special thank you to the team behind the Doha Equestrian Tour for making this competition possible, and especially to His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani for his continued support of the sport and his role in helping it grow into the future. We hope to welcome all these riders back again next year, along with even more international, regional and local riders for the 2027 season.”
QEF Final Day Highlights
In an outstanding performance across the final day, Kristen Vanderveen (USA) completed a remarkable hat-trick of victories, crowned by success in the CSI5* 1.60m Grand Prix jump-off aboard Bull Run’s Jireh, where she produced a double clear in 81.92 and 44.07 seconds. She also topped the CSI5* 1.50m Faults & Time with Starbucks 27 after a clear round in 73.89 seconds, and earlier in the Longines Indoor Arena opened her account by winning the CSI3* 1.35m Faults & Time with Bull Run’s Lioness in 58.67 seconds. Her triple success provided a memorable and emphatic finish to the DET’s closing weekend:
“Doha Equestrian Tour has been an incredible experience for me. It’s my first time in Doha, and it's like nothing I've ever experienced before. I brought a lot of horses, and they all really developed throughout this entire Tour. And it was special to get to finish the Tour with a big win here at the end.”
Bassem Mohammed (QAT) also delivered an important home result, finishing second in the CSI5* Grand Prix with Wathnan Issem to place Qatar on the podium in the weekend’s feature class:
“I was happy with my horse’s performance today and with myself. My horse did one of the best rounds since he’s been with me. From the beginning of the Tour, I also had a few new horses, and I finished the Tour with five Grand Prix horses at the highest level.”
Abdullah Alsharbatly (KSA) closed the season with another strong performance, finishing third in the CSI5* Grand Prix with Skorphults Baloutendro and confirming his consistency at the highest level throughout the Tour:
“My horse jumped amazing today. He is a super horse, always consistent and always doing his best. But that’s the sport, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I tried my best today, but finished third, which is still good.”
The day also featured the CSI3* Grand Prix, where Mohammed Khalifa A Al Baker (QAT) secured victory in the CSI3* Grand Prix Jump-Off 1.50m aboard Dukhan 3, delivering a clear round in 44.66 seconds in the jump-off. Also in the Indoor Arena, Zayed Ali (IRQ) took the CSI3* Table C 1.40m aboard Quirani van de Maltahoeve with a result of 64.97 seconds and three penalties.
QEF Final Day Results
CSI5* Grand Prix 1.60m Jump-Off
Winner: Kristen Vanderveen (USA) – Bull Run’s Jireh | 0 / 0 | 81.92 (First Round) / 44.07 (jump-offf)
2nd Place: Bassem Mohammed (QAT) – Wathnan Issem | 0 / 0 | 79.52 / 44.13
3rd Place: Abdullah Alsharbatly (KSA) – Skorphults Baloutendro | 0 / 0 | 83.67 / 43.52
CSI3* Grand Prix 1.50m Jump-Off | Winner: Mohammed Khalifa A Al Baker (QAT) – Dukhan 3 | 0 / 0 | 77.56 (First Round) / 44.66 (jump-off)
CSI5* 1.50m Faults & Time | Winner: Kristen Vanderveen (USA) – Starbucks 27 | 0 | 73.89
CSI3* 1.40m Table C | Winner: Zayed Ali (IRQ) – Quirani van de Maltahoeve | 3 | 64.97
CSI3* 1.35m Faults & Time | Winner: Kristen Vanderveen (USA) – Bull Run’s Lioness | 0 | 58.67
Final Doha Equestrian Tour 2026 Rankings
CSI4*/5* Rankings (Total Prize Money: €500,000)
Scott Brash (GBR) finished the 2026 Doha Equestrian Tour as the overall CSI4*/5* rankings winner, maintaining his lead in the final standings through to the end of the season. Abdullah Alsharbatly (KSA) completed the series in second place, while Harry Charles (GBR) finished third overall. Prize money in the CSI4*/5* standings was allocated at €250,000 for first place, €150,000 for second and €100,000 for third.
Scott Brash (GBR), winner of the 2026 Doha Equestrian Tour CSI4*/5* ranking:
“I’m absolutely delighted to have won the overall ranking here in Doha. It’s been a fantastic tour with consistently strong competition, so to come out on top is very rewarding for the whole team. I’ve really enjoyed my time here this year. The shows have been very well organised, the facilities are excellent, and it’s been great for the horses to get into a good rhythm over a few weeks. I think we’ve seen some solid performances and it’s been a productive start to the season. As for next year, it’s certainly something we’d love to return to. It’s a fantastic tour, and if it fits into the plan, I’d be very happy to come back.”
Abdullah Alsharbatly (KSA), 2nd overall in the 2026 Doha Equestrian Tour CSI4*/5* ranking:
“The points were really, really close. I finished very close to Scott, and there were only two points between us, so it was a fair competition. He did some great rounds and really deserved to win, so I would like to congratulate him. I finished second overall, and I’m proud of that as well.”
Harry Charles (GBR), 3rd overall in the 20266 Doha Equestrian Tour CSI4*/5* ranking:
“I’m really pleased to be in the top three overall here in Doha and a special shout out to Scott on his win. It’s been a very competitive tour, so to finish up there is something I’m proud of, especially with the level of riders and horses we’ve had all season. I think this year’s been a great experience. The shows have been run brilliantly, the conditions have been ideal for the horses, and it’s a place where you can really build momentum week to week. I’ve been lucky to have some fantastic rounds and feel like my horses have developed a lot over the tour. As for next year, yeah, I’d definitely like to come back. It’s a show that suits us, and it’s one I always look forward to. So hopefully we’ll be here again for some time next year.”
CSI1* Rankings (Total Prize Money: €100,000)
The final CSI1* standings also confirmed the season’s top three, with Saad Ahmed S A Al Saad (QAT) finishing first overall, followed by Khalid Jassim Al Suwaidi (QAT) in second and Hussain Said A M Haidan (QAT) in third. Prize money in the CSI1* standings was allocated at €50,000 for first place, €30,000 for second and €20,000 for third.
2026 DET Season Wrap Up
Inaugurated in 2025, the Doha Equestrian Tour is a premium equestrian series hosted at the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab, bringing together world-class sport in one of the region’s leading venues. Across the 2026 season, the Tour staged eight competitions from January to April, with a total prize fund of €10.747 million.
The series featured show jumping, dressage and para dressage, combining elite international sport with strong home participation across multiple levels of competition. In total, DET 2026 brought together 229 riders from more than 30 countries, including 45 female athletes.
The strongest representation came from the GCC, led by Qatar with 66 riders, followed by Saudi Arabia with 26, Kuwait with 15, Bahrain with 4 and Oman with 2. The European field included Germany with 10 riders, Great Britain with 9, France with 5, Italy with 4, Belgium and Denmark with 3 each, and Austria and Switzerland with 2 each. The Tour also welcomed riders from the Americas, including the USA with 7, Brazil with 3, Canada with 2 and Colombia with 1.
The Qatar Equestrian Federation Cup closed the season with 192 riders from 22 nations and 322 horses across CSI1*, CSI3*, CSI5*, CSIJ-B and CSICh-B competition, with total event prize money of €784,000.
--ENDS--
Lukasz Kowalski/DET
All results here