Riyadh: Over the past four years, more than 280 Saudi riders have taken part in the Longines Global Champions Tour, as part of the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation’s plan to expand the base of Saudi riders, increase their participation, and strengthen their engagement with international competitors in this major global event.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the Riyadh final round of the Longines Global Champions Tour and Global Champions League for show jumping began Thursday, featuring 40 riders from 19 countries and 17 international teams.

The Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation has also included a two-star international show jumping event alongside the main tournament, consisting of six rounds over three days.

This year’s Riyadh final round featured the participation of 82 Saudi riders in the accompanying events. On the first day alone, 140 riders from various countries took part, including Morocco, Syria, the United Kingdom, Poland, France, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Palestine, Qatar, Egypt, Iraq, Yemen, Kuwait, Algeria, and the Netherlands, in addition to Saudi Arabia.

The current edition of the tournament recorded the highest participation of Saudi riders to date, with 82 male and female competitors, compared to 63 in 2022, 58 in 2023, and 80 in last year’s edition.