Taking place on Monday at the Emirates Equestrian Centre’s new temporary location at Dubai International Endurance City (DEIC), there were a total of 92 entries competing in 5 different classes.

The season-opener saw more than 30 horses and riders coming from various stables in Abu Dhabi, and Emirates Equestrian Centre were pleased to welcome first-time competitors from a new stable in Dubai, Plantation.

There were five categories in all, and the winner of the feature classes, both the FEI Medium Dressage Class and the FEI Elementary Class was Cristina Thompson riding Tao Babalao.

Circuit-regular Charlotte Drakely and her mount Cennan Alarch took home the winning rosette for the FEI Preliminary Juniors class.

This competition was the first of three that leads up to the FEI World Dressage Challenge 2008 that will take place on December 11th, also at DEIC.

There will be restrictions on numbers of riders who can enter this coveted international Dressage competition and these three competitions will serve as qualifying rounds.

Next two competitions will be held on November 17th and 24th at DIEC and entry is free of charge.