Endurance horse trainer Esmail Mohammad believes that riders will have to cope with a tough and challenging course in today's 160-km European Open Championship.
Esmail, who prepares the horses for General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence, remarked on the eve of the championship: "Today's rain would have made most parts of the track soggy and very treacherous.
"We have had a good look at the terrain and it is quite bad for the horses as there are long stretches of loose soil," said the trainer during yesterday's trot-up.
"Apart from the track the second and final stages of 21kms each will seriously test the rider and horse. There is a very steep climb and we have tested it. It is quite demanding," he said. "Our riders have tackled steep climbs earlier but with the terrain also being bad it could be a very tricky affair and you cannot expect fast timings."
Commenting on the preparation of the UAE horses, Esmail said they had a good stint in Europe.
"Most of the team have been based in Europe and have adapted well. They looked good at the trot up but we just have to watch out for lameness due to the terrain," he said.
Esmail was confident that the UAE riders and horses could cope with the difficult conditions as many of the horses have competed in similar terrain.
He also noted that some of the riders have participated in a 120-km event at the Compiegne endurance course this year. However, he said that it would not be easy and perhaps one of the toughest tests that the UAE team will face.
"The competition will be tough," Esmail said. "The French will be very much at home here while quite a few other European competitors have come in with some good horses."
