Beezie Madden, Laura Kraut and McLain Ward are the three American riders who\’ll be part of a 35-rider contingent contesting the big-money classes at the first Maktoum Challenge in Dubai. The invitational show, with prize money of $1,250,000, will take place on Jan. 11-13.
The three received invitations because they\’re among the top 20 in the FEI Gandini World Rankings. Madden stands ninth, Kraut stands 17th, and Ward stands 20th.
The financially endowed show is the creation of Princess Haya, the former Jordanian international show jumper who\’s now married to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai. Sheikh Mohammed owns scores of Thoroughbred race horses and is a prominent player in endurance, as both an accomplished rider and as the host of numerous international competitions, including the World Endurance Riding Championships, in Dubai. Prince Haya is also one of the three candidates to be the next president of the Federation Equestre Internationale.
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The other invited riders, based on their world rankings, are: Marcus Ehning (Germany), Rodrigo Pessoa (Brazil), Markus Fuchs (Switzerland), Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (Germany), Nick Skelton (Great Britain), Jessica Kurten (Ireland), Ludger Beerbaum (Germany), Gerco Schroeder (the Netherlands), Marco Kutscher (Germany), Christian Ahlmann (Germany), Lars Nieberg (Germany), Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (Sweden), Michael Whitaker (Great Britain), Steve Guerdat (Switzerland), Bernardo Alves (Brazil), Ludo Philippaerts (Belgium), and Otto Becker (Germany).
Another four riders have received wild-card invitations—Francois Mathy Jr. (Belgium), Ian Millar (Canada), Jean-Marc Nicholas (France), and John Whitaker (Great Britain). A fifth wild-card rider is yet to be named.
Another five Arab League riders will complete the international field.