Presley Boy, a favorite of the team, trots out for one of the regular veterinary inspections that the horses undergo to maintain them in the peak of condition. (AN photo by Roger Harrison).

In their preparation for the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Saudi Equestrian team have one more hurdle to jump to be able to qualify. The Pan Arab Games, currently running in Doha, Qatar, turns to equestrianism on Dec. 27 through 30.

There will be only 75 riders allowed in the total quota for the jumping competitions in London 2012. Each National Olympic Committee (NOC) may enter up to four competitors. Thus, just to qualify for the event, riders and teams have to be in the very top level of their sport.

The long road to qualification started in October 2010 with the first qualifier at the World Equestrian Games held in Lexington, US. In 2011, the first three out of four qualifiers have already been completed in Aachen, Germany, at the European Jumping Championship in Madrid, Spain and at the Pan-American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The Saudi Arabian Equestrian team has all but qualified; the team needs all its riders simply to complete the games in Doha without losing either competitor or mount. That result should ensure qualification — but then comes a finger-nail biting six-month wait.

Competitors and NOCs will not be informed if they have earned a slot among the lucky ones to compete at the Olympics until June 2012.

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