Horses’ health is always a winner in the long run
A series of endurance races that are due to start today will award the first past the finish line and riders with the healthiest horses.
The competition is being held in honour of the Year of Zayed and combines two endurance cups held at Boutheib Endurance Village in Abu Dhabi by the grandsons of the Founding Father.
The Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan and Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Endurance Cup will award gold, silver and bronze to the first three in an international 120.7 kilometre two-star race.
Unusually, the top three healthiest horses will receive gold, silver and bronze cups in a move that is part of an initiative the event’s organisers are trying to promote.
“We initiated something called the Boutheib Protocol so that riders protect their horses and do not over-exhaust them to reach the finish line faster,” said Mustapha Mafoudi, the equestrian technical co-ordinator of the race.
When a horse reaches the finish line, its pulse and overall well-being is examined.
The Boutheib Endurance village has been holding a wide range of equestrian championships since it opened its doors in 2004.
The two royals have been training at the village since they were children. Sheikh Zayed has been holding his own endurance cup at Boutheib for 13 years, and Sheikh Hamdan for seven years.
The two sheikhs will also be competing in an 80km endurance race today.
On Tuesday afternoon, a team of French timekeepers were busy setting up the heart-monitoring devices and related gadgets that will be used to examine the horses to assess their health after the races. “The first time we implemented the healthy horse award four years ago, the chief of the veterinary clinic described it as a historical day because the clinic was absolutely empty,” said Francois Kerboul, a competition judge.
“There was not a single horse that required medical aid.”
The horses are taken on to the stage to receive the award.
“They are in good condition so why not include them?” Mr Kerboul said.
The first 80km endurance qualifying race will start at 7.30am today.
The races can be followed on the Yamamah app, and at www. atrm-systems.fr.