UAE Dressage Team Passes Veterinary Inspection Ahead of Asian Games Competition

All four horses representing the United Arab Emirates have successfully completed veterinary clearance and familiarisation sessions in Tokyo, with competition commencing tomorrow at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026.

The UAE dressage team has concluded its final preparations ahead of tomorrow’s opening of team and individual competitions at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026. All four horses representing the nation have successfully passed veterinary inspection and completed essential arena familiarisation sessions in Tokyo.

The UAE team comprises Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri riding Lotus-S, Mohamed Jassim Al Serkal with Zen Liquidity, Bianca Schütz aboard Le Grand Ayden HB, and Natalie Lankester with Tesla DXB. Following a ten-day quarantine period in Aachen, Germany, the equine athletes have spent subsequent days acclimating to their new environment ahead of competition.

Today’s arena familiarisation session proved invaluable, allowing riders to work their horses in the main competition venue and assess conditions before official competition begins. This preparation is particularly significant for athletes transitioning across continents and time zones.

The UAE will compete amongst nine nations contesting the team event, with 45 horse-and-rider combinations expected to participate across both team and individual categories. Following the official competition draw, the UAE has been positioned fifth in the team starting order, providing a strategic position within the schedule.

Team classification will be determined by combining the scores of each nation’s three highest-scoring combinations, with medals awarded upon conclusion of today’s competition. The format ensures that every nation’s strongest performances contribute to their final standing.

Competition will progress on Saturday with the second Individual Qualifier round, determining which of the 45 combinations will advance to Sunday’s Individual Final. The top 15 combinations will progress to this prestigious final round.

The UAE’s participation marks a significant milestone in the nation’s equestrian trajectory. The team returns to Asian Games dressage competition following its historic debut at Hangzhou in 2023, where the national team achieved a sixth-place finish. This progression demonstrates the UAE’s growing strength and commitment to excellence within the sport of dressage at the highest competitive levels.

Source: WAM