Britain’s Household Cavalry Musical Ride of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will perform for the first time in the Middle East at Abu Dhabi’s International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX), organisers of the event announced Thursday at a press conference in London’s Hyde Park Barracks.ADIHEX will be held on 30th September - 3rd October 2009, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
At the press conference, LT Col Crispin Lockhart, MBE Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry, welcomed his UAE guests after introducing the speakers.
The first speaker gave his address in Arabic, to make his Arab guests more ‘at home’ before translating his message to a largely English audience.
“It is the regiment team of horse riders exhibit Equestrian skills in a ceremonial uniform set to music, increasingly modern music,” said Colonel Toby Browne LVO, Commander of Household Cavalry Regiment.
“It’s an invitation we felt we could not say no to,” he added.
The participation of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is seen as part of Abu Dhabi’s strategy in seeking to build bridges between cultures, and encouraging dialogue across borders.
The event “is presented only by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage to the United Arab Emirates,” said Lara Sawaya, Member of Organising Committee and Head of the Equestrian Division of ADIHEX, during the press conference.
“It is something that brings two cultures together,” she added.
“We hope all the British people in Abu Dhabi, and in Dubai, and in Sharjah and in all UAE will come and support the Household Cavalry and give us more boost do more events on a higher level in the UAE.”
The Exhibition has witnessed significant growth since its launch in 2003, reaching 21,530 square meters in 2009 from 16,281 square meters in 2008.
“I think that anything we can do to cement the relations between the Abu Dhabi and the UK is a good thing,” said General Lord Charles Guthrie, GCB LVO OBE.
“We have a passion for horses both in this county and the UAE,” he added.
The Exhibition is also meant to highlight the culture and heritage of the UAE.
“The UAE and the UK have long shared a huge respect for each other’s cultures and traditions,” said Abdul Rahman Ghanim Al Mutaiwee, UAE Ambassador to the UK.
“Although I have only just been appointed as a UAE ambassador to the United Kingdom, I have always held London in high regards, and I am very aware of course of the iconic status of the Queen’s Cavalry,” he noted.
A word was also given on behalf of the British government.
“The fact is that there is no relationship that United Kingdom has with countries in the Middle East that is more important to us than that with United Arab Emirates,” said Edward Oakden, UK Ambassador to UAE.
“We have there the largest British community in the region by far, somewhere 130,000-140,000. It’s by far our largest export market,” he added.
“We try to bring the UAE the best of British culture!”
The Abu Dhabi Sports Council highlighted the importance given to professionalism in sports.
“Our strategic priorities at Abu Dhabi sports Council are to promote sports and increase the awareness about its importance. We want to make sport practicing a lifestyle in Abu Dhabi,” said Talal Al Hashemi representative of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
ADIHEX boasts of more than 500 exhibitors from 37 countries in 2008, with a high turnout of visitors exceeding 95,000 during the four days exhibition with sales of over 85 million Dirhams.
Sawaya refuted local media reports suggesting that the British Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment would travel to Abu Dhabi to perform a ‘private show’ for one rich Arab Sheikh.
“The invitation is the part who is presenting the Household Cavalry at the ADIHEX,” said Sawaya.
ADIHEX is a public exhibition, attended by thousands of visitors and participants.
“This is a speculation on the part of the press,” said Colonel Browne.
“We were invited by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage to appear in the show,” he stressed.
ADIHEX will see the participation of companies specialised in falcon medicines and treatment, falcon captive-breeding farms, as well as manufacturers of all equestrian sport accessories, hunting equipment, rifles, fishing equipment, marine equipment, and tour and safari organisers.
The Exhibition also caters for environmental issues while promoting the use of captive bred birds for falconry instead of the endangered wild falcons with the aim of maintaining balance between heritage and environmental protection.
Also taking part at ADIHEX are the Breeding Stables of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Normandy France, Britain’s world famous racecourses Newmarket and Ascot, Arab French Horse Association (AFAC), German Arabian Association (DRAV), Dutch Arabian Association, French Hunting Association, Arab Russian Horse Association, France-Galop, Baden Baden Racecourse and Frankfurt Racecourse, International Equestrian Federation (FEI), Asian Equestrian Federation, Emirates Equestrian Federation, Al Aryam Stud, Al Wathba Stables, Al Reef Stables, Al W’rsan Stables, Boutheib Stables, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and Ghantoot Equestrian Club.
ADIHEX is held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Emirates Falconers’ Club (EFC), and organised by the EFC in collaboration with Turret Middle East; and supported by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH).
The event is sponsored by The Breeding Stables for Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Normandy France; Sorouh; and Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
The EFC and ADACH will also be participating at the upcoming falconry festival that will be held at Reading in July, where the UAE will be presenting an initiative to enlist 70 countries to inscribe falconry as world human heritage on the representative list of the UNESCO.