There will be only 75 riders allowed in the total quota for the jumping competitions in London 2012. Each National Olympic Committee (NOC) may enter up to four competitors. Thus, just to qualify for the event, riders and teams have to be in the very top level of their sport.
The long road to qualification started in October 2010 with the first qualifier at the World Equestrian Games held in Lexington, US. In 2011, the first three out of four qualifiers have already been completed in Aachen, Germany, at the European Jumping Championship in Madrid, Spain and at the Pan-American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The Saudi Arabian Equestrian team has all but qualified; the team needs all its riders simply to complete the games in Doha without losing either competitor or mount. That result should ensure qualification — but then comes a finger-nail biting six-month wait.
Competitors and NOCs will not be informed if they have earned a slot among the lucky ones to compete at the Olympics until June 2012.
Already the team has come to international notice as one to watch. 2011 marked the first ever visit of the Saudi Arabian Equestrian team to the Spruce Meadows “Masters.”
The Saudi culture, so rich in equine history, is now making a determined push to be a real power in international show jumping. There is an opportunity judge for yourself, because Sky Sports is featuring "The Kingdom of the Horse" for the UK, Ireland and Europe via satellite:
Monday, Jan. 2: 08.00, 12.00 and 15.00 Sky Sports 4.
Tuesday, Jan. 3: 04.30 Sky Sports 3, 09.00, 15.00 Sky Sports 3 and 17.00 and 20.00 Sky Sports 4.
Wednesday, Jan. 4: 00.00, Sky Sports 4.
