UAE Para Dressage programme puts two riders in the saddle for LA2028
26 June 2025 22:37
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Royal Stables in Abu Dhabi has achieved a significant milestone in its Para Dressage Performance Programme, launched earlier this year to develop a UAE national team for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games. Since April, several Emirati athletes have joined the pioneering training pathway, and now, two of them have completed their FEI classifications, putting them firmly on the road to LA 2028.Fatima Al Bluoshi and Wafaa Aldahmani, both 31 years old and from Ras Al Khaimah, have been undergoing intensive weekly training at The Royal Stables since enrolling in April, alongside their fellow athletes. Their regimen includes riding lessons, theory sessions, simulator training, physiotherapy, and sports psychology. The programme is built on a holistic approach designed to nurture both technical knowledge, athlete fitness and mental resilience.Alongside the training modules, the athletes are supported by experts in sports physiotherapy, psychology, and nutrition to enhance performance and optimise well-being.In June, Fatima and Wafaa travelled to Wellington Riding in the United Kingdom, where they undertook their official FEI Para Dressage classification assessments. Fatima, who has lived with spina bifida affecting her lower limbs since birth, wasclassified as Grade III, while Wafaa, who experienced lower limb paralysis following contracting Polio as an infant, was classified as Grade II.Their time in the UK also included daily training, attending the Concours Para- Équestre de Dressage International, and connecting with members of TeamGB's multi-gold medal-winning Paralympians. The trip provided invaluable opportunities for technical development and international exposure.Dr. Russell MacKechnie-Guire, Technical Lead for the UAE Para Dressage Performance Programme, accompanied the athletes on the trip. An internationally recognised expert in equine biomechanics and performance analysis, Dr. MacKechnie-Guire said, "This was a defining moment for the athletes and the programme. The FEI classification is essential for any para dressage rider aspiring to compete internationally, and to see Fatima and Wafaa approach this with such professionalism and determination was exceptional.""The experience of training daily, watching elite competition, and engaging with Team GB's riders gave them, and us, a clear picture of the standards we are working towards. It is the start of an exciting journey, and both athletes have shown they belong on this path."The Para Dressage Performance Programme remains open to aspiring Emirati athletes of determination and continues its talent identification and development efforts, with several other athletes already participating in training sessions at The Royal Stables.
Laura Richardson, Performance Manager, said, "Fatima and Wafaa's progress is inspiring, not just for the equestrian community but for the UAE as a whole. This programme was created to break barriers, and in just two short months together, we have already achieved the first key milestone on our exciting journey to LA 2028."
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