Dubai: Shaikh Ali Abdullah Al Qasimi believes the partnership he has forged with his new horse, Cacharel, has given him a renewed confidence in seeking out his lifetime goals.
Since acquiring the Portuguese-bred mare from Swiss Olympic show jumper Romain Duguet last summer, Shaikh Ali has enjoyed major regional successes and qualified for the 2018 World Equestrian Games in North Carolina, USA.
“I am very proud to have achieved such good results with a horse that was one ridden by a great rider like Duguet,” he says. “It has been proven that Arab athletes can adapt and reach the highest level and be competitive.
“People were wondering how an anonymous rider like myself can achieve such results with a new horse. I believe I have taken Cacharel to an altogether different level than she was capable of jumping with her previous riders.
“It proves the relationship that a rider can build with his horse. It’s about trust. Me trusting her and her trusting me,” he adds.
How did he acquire Cacharel? “It was a long journey for me, about a year looking for the right horse,” Shaikh Ali says. “I made several trips to Europe to try out horses, but most of them did not click.
“And then I heard about Cacharel and drove seven to eight hours to get to Duguet’s stables deep in Switzerland.
“The trial with the mare lasted just 30 minutes and ended up in me taking the decision to buy her. And thankfully it has proven to be the right decision. It sure was worth the wait.
“But now the wait is over, it’s forward thinking from now on.”
