From 30 June to 2 July 2017, Horse Country hosted the Sardinia Endurance Festival – the only Italian stop on the international circuit H.H. Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Festival – where the best pairs from the best-known breeding and from the most prestigious stables of the world competed.
The event, in collaboration with the Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, of the UAE sheik Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and its Director Ms. Lara Sawaya has scheduled two main competitions: one entirely dedicated to women who have competed for the H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance Cup and the other reserved for the categories CEI 2 * (from 120 km) to win the H.H. Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed At the Nahyan Endurance Cup. Also at an international level, the riders had the opportunity to try their hand at the 90 km CEI 1 *, while on Sunday 2 July they ran all the distances of a regional nature, from the 25 km beginners to the CEN/B of 90 km.
The Sardinia Endurance Festival was broadcast live by YasTV – leader of sports communication in the United Arab Emirates – and kicked off at sunrise on Saturday, July 1st, continuing for all Sunday, July 2nd, ending with the winners’ awards ceremony. The circuit provided three rings: red, 36 km long, white and yellow, 25 km long, on the grass and sand plains typical of the Gulf of Oristano. The territory has allowed fast but safe gaits, in a race in which the well-being of the horse was the priority.
The Endurance race started from the grass field of the equestrian centre, where all veterinary checks took place. The facility also offers two sand fields (for the warm-up and the practice of the western and English riding) and a 6000 square meters covered field to ride all year round. The riders found a pleasant and comfortable environment where they could relax, in order to compete in the best conditions. This also applies to the horses, who had at their disposal over-sized stables (4.25 x 4.25) to rest before and after the race.