The 2005 European Open Endurance Championship will be held in Compiegne, France, on August 26, the FEI confirmed last week.
The UAE are the defending champions in both the individual as well as the team event after General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence, led them to the double win in Punchestown, Ireland, in 2003.
The August event was initially scheduled to be held in Britain, but the organisers pulled out due to lack of funds and the biennial championship was allotted to Compiegne in France, the town that hosted the 2000 World Endurance Championship.
The UAE will be starting off as favourites as they defend the individual and team titles in the 160km four-star European Open.
Along with the European Open championship, Compiegne will also host their annual World Championship for young horses, an endurance event for seven and eight year-old horses.
The aim is to crown the best worldwide 7-8 year old horses and this year this event will be held on August 28. The younger horses will vie for the Studs Book trophy, according to the organisers.
The world championship for young horses will be a CEI two-star event over 120km.
The organisers will kick-start a week of action for the endurance fraternity with an inter-regional ride for young horses.
