The Equestrian

"A love for horses runs in my blood. Don't forget that horses have been bred for centuries by Arabic tribes, they were used for hunting and fighting and they symbolise our history. Horse riding is more than merely sitting on a horse's back. It is nobility and chivalry."- Mohammed bin Rashid

Horses have played an important role in the history of the Arab world, particularly in combat, where their speed, agility and stamina were often the decisive factor. Although the camel was a more integral part of Bedouin life, the horse was traditionally more highly prized, being a symbol of wealth and nobility.

As a member of one of the Gulf's leading families, it was only natural that Sheikh Mohammed should be introduced to horses at an early age and that he would come to honour and respect them in accordance with their cultural status.

Sheikh Mohammed learned to ride as a child. He and his brothers were taught by their father, Sheikh Rashid. Sheikh Mohammed was a promising athlete, an accomplished player of tennis and football, but equestrianism was, and remains, his true sporting passion.

Sheikh Mohammed first visited a racecourse in 1967, in England. He and his brother, Sheikh Hamdan, watched Royal Palace win the 2000 Guineas. 10 years later, in Brighton, Hatta gave Sheikh Mohammed the first of many victories as an owner.

Despite great success, it was not until Sheikh Mohammed established Godolphin, in 1994, that the racing world really began to acknowledge his passion for - and understanding of - horses. It soon became clear that it was not just money that had brought him success. Once he had taken the groundbreaking step of bringing his horses to Dubai for winter training, it quickly became apparent that this was a man who knew a great deal about horses and how to get the best out of them. Godolphin allowed him to ensure that his ideas were fully implemented, something which had not been possible previously.

The success and growth of Godolphin coincided with, and undoubtedly assisted, the rise in Dubai's international profile. At the time it was established, owners tended to race their horses only on their own continent. Sheikh Mohammed wanted to race his horses all over the world and to encourage others to do the same. The world's richest horse race, the Dubai World Cup, was established in 1996 with this aim in mind. That first World Cup was won by an American horse, Cigar, and the race continues to attract entries from around the globe.

Sheikh Mohammed has earned international recognition as a horse owner, as evidenced by the Special Eclipse Award he received in 2001. What is not so widely known is that he is also an exceptionally gifted rider. However, his chosen field - endurance racing - has yet to gain the international popularity of traditional horse racing.

Endurance racing is the equestrian equivalent of a marathon. Most endurance races are well over 120 kilometres in distance and take several hours to complete. The riders need to establish a strong bond with their horses and be able to read their condition quickly and accurately, as there are stringent veterinary checks at regular points in the race and if the horse shows signs of deterioration the rider is asked to retire from the race.

Arabian horses have proved exceptionally well suited to these rides, because of their legendary stamina. Riders from the UAE have also excelled in this sport, with Sheikh Mohammed as captain of the national team. Although they only began participating seriously in the mid-1990s, UAE riders are considered to be among the world's best. Indeed, Sheikh Mohammed's sons, Sheikh Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan, topped the world rankings in 1999 and 2000 respectively and Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed won the World Endurance Championship in 2002, becoming the youngest rider ever to do so, and the first Asian world champion. 2003 saw Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed start competing in senior races on a more regular basis, and he was part of the UAE team for the European Championship.

His sons are quick to credit their father's role in their success. He is widely acknowledged to be a master tactician, recognising exactly the time to demand maximum effort from the horses, and when to hold them back. He led the UAE to victory in the 1999 European Championship in Spain/Portugal and was captain when they retained the title in Italy, in 2001. In the 2003 European Championship in Ireland, he was captain once again, and won the race. He is also a leading figure in the campaign to have endurance racing included in the Olympics.

Sheikh Mohammed's major endurance racing victories include: