Belgium's Philippe Le Jeune took home the gold medal in the competition.

Al Sharbatly, the youngest competitor in the Rolex Top Four, was the only competitor to start Saturday's session without knocking down a single rail. He was also by far the least experienced of the group and is proud to have won the Middle East's first medal at a World Equestrian Games.

"It was a great moment for me and for my country that I win a silver medal, because it's the first time in history that someone from the Middle East can reach the top four in the World Championship," he said. "It's a great thing for my country, and I'm so proud and so happy," Al Sharbatly said.

He gifted his historic victory to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation. "By the Grace of God we are now very close to gold and God willing we'll win gold in the coming competition," the champion said.

Prince Faisal bin Abdullah, chairman of the board of trustees of the Saudi Equestrian Fund,  telephoned Al Sharbatly to congratulate him for the big victory.

A total of 121 riders started the world championships last Monday, and the event culminated in Saturday night's "Final Four", the ultimate test of horsemanship, in which the top four individuals ride their own horse over the course and then ride each of the other three.

Le Jeune emerged world champion without any faults, Al Sharbatly took the silver with eight faults and Eric Lamaze of Canada earned bronze with nine faults. Rodrigo Pessoa, the 2004 Olympic Champion, finished fourth with 12 faults.