Abu Dhabi: Farah Al Khojai has a date with history as she will become the first UAE female to take part in the equestrian competitions at the Pan Arab Games, which take place in Doha, Qatar, from December 9 to 23.

The Emirati equestrienne is brimming with confidence and has high hopes after her success in the FEI World Dressage Challenge at the Emirates Equestrian Centre last week, where she finished second on her new mare Mazurka Grafin Dubai Duty Free - her final event before the Games.

Delight

Al Khojai expressed her delight with her achievement, saying: "I am thrilled to have placed second as the standard of dressage was higher than I have ever seen before in a domestic competition, which will really help to improve and encourage the local competitions in the UAE.

"It was my first professional competition on Mazurka Grafin Dubai Duty Free, who has just arrived from Germany. She really surpassed my expectations."

Al Khojai is the only representative from the UAE in the dressage competitions in the Pan Arab Games. She hopes to improve on her performance in last year's Asian Games in China, where she was promoted to the final round in her category.

"The Asian Games were a huge success for me and I was so pleased with the outcome," she said. "Thanks to my sponsors Dubai Duty Free and Equitrans, I am able to take my riding to the next level. I am focused on improving my performance in the Pan Arab Games and I am hoping to achieve a better result.

Rigorous training schedule

"Without the help and support of my sponsors I would not have been able to partake in the rigorous training schedule that I undertook this summer at the Kasselmann Stables in Germany. I am immensely grateful and in return I have worked extremely hard. I am proud to represent my country at international level and I will do my best."

One of the world's oldest sporting activities, competitive dressage involves an increasingly difficult series of routines designed to show the suppleness, obedience and strength of the horse and the control, precision and expertise of the rider.

The Pan Arab Games are the biggest Arab sporting event, with more than 6,000 athletes from 21 countries taking part.