The competition included three equestrian disciplines - dressage, show jumping and a challenging cross country course.

Riders and horses came from across the UAE to participate in the event.

Junior riders competed in the novice level (80cm), and senior riders had option to choose either novice (80cm) or the more advanced open class (one meter).

The juniors novice class saw Karin Lindbom from EEC earn the winning trophy on her talented pony Mer Mer. Starting with a dressage score of 74% and jumping a clear round in time, she was leading the class throughout the day. With a superb ride in the cross-country and only a few time faults, she was the proud winner of the class.

Second place went to Cyndi Faber from Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club on her ever improving grey gelding Boing. The pair performed a lovely dressage test with a score of 66.5%, and produced a clear round show jumping, along with and a good round of cross-country to earn the runners-up trophy.

Third place went to Alyssa Ritter from EEC and on the stunning mare La Fillipa owned by Dhwani Soni.

The Senior Novice Class was deservedly won by the Zabeel Riding Barn’s Jo McGowan and the stallion Senator. McGowan led from the very start, with a dressage score of 67%, followed by a clear round in show jumping and a great cross country ride within the timeframe.

Second place went to Michelle Woolmer from EEC who performed an excellent test in the dressage and going clear in both the show jumping and cross-country with the talented horse Utopia.

Third place deservedly went to Franck Fogarolo riding the young EEC horse Fairytale.

Franck Fogarolo also competed in the open class on the EEC gelding Dans Boy. Starting out with 64% in a dressage test, their show jumping round didn’t go according to plan, where the pair picked up a total of 20 faults. Not to be deterred, Fogarolo and Dans Boy gave it their all in the cross country round and came out on top as the overall winners.

Next in the placings were Nathalie Homer and her horse Quatro Nevo from Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club. At first, the pair were leading throughout the day, with a top score of 64% in dressage and accumulating just four faults in the show jumping round. However, the pair picked up 20 penalty points in their cross country ride, pushing them into the runner-up position.

The one Day Event was a success, with and Emirates Equestrian Centre Manager Paul McAuley said: “One day eventing is a real challenge for the horses and riders – and this year we can really see a great improvement in the competition level”.

The next event at Emirates Equestrian Centre will be Affiliated Dressage on Monday the 8th February 2010.