UAE show jumpers grabbed the third place and won the Bronze at the 15th Asian Games currently being held in Doha, Qatar, from December 1 onwards. (Saudi Arabia clinched the Gold followed by Korea which got the Silver).

The UAE team comprised Sheikha Latifa Al Maktoum, Abdullah Mohammed Al Marri, Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi, Mohammed Rashid Al Suwaidi and Mohammed Al Kumaiti.

Mohammad Al Kumaiti did the trick in the last minute with a clear round on his grey gelding Almutawakel cleared the final fence. He was so excited that he dropped his reins and put up both his hands in the air.

Before the competition started, the UAE Team Manager Ahmed Ali Al Junaibi had said that the UAE team, particularly Sheikha Latifa Al Maktoum and Abdullah Al Marri, were taking part in the competition to gain ''international exposure and experience". But the two jumpers, along with the others in the team, did not disappoint the country and the cheering crowd. They put up a brilliant show in the face of stiff competition from established equestrian teams from Saudi Arabia, Korea, Qatar, Japan and Malaysia. Qatar finished fourth.

A delighted Sheikha Latifa spoke to the media in Doha after the victory: "When we came, we just wanted to get some experience. We were not concentrating on getting medals because this is the Asian Games. We are very happy."

Abdullah Al Muhairi, who rode a beautiful clear on the third day after accumulating eight faults on the second the day he was so happy and "we can't believe it. It has been a great experience for us."

Mohammad Abdullah Al Marri said: "We are very young and so we are very inexperienced. We are so happy and we bond well as a team. We have achieved more than we set out to do."

While all four UAE riders qualified for the individual competition for Tuesday, only the best two can enter. So Sheikha Latifa and Mohammad Al Kumaiti, with good scores will vie for individual medals.

A five-rider UAE team of Saif Omar Thabet on Mexico de Poncenat, Rashed Al Rumaithi on Lazlo De Normal, Abdul Rahman Al Habsi on Marquis de Dun, Rashid Ahmed Al Hosani on Jerico Des Bejuy and Abdullah Al Shuabi competed in the dressage element in equestrian discipline on Wednesday at the 15th Asian Games currently being held in Doha, Qatar.

Dressage, which tests horse's obedience, takes place on the first day, followed by a timed 2.5km cross country ride on the second day, which is a test of courage and team work between horse and rider.

Eventing is an intense three-day test of horsemanship which asks that horse and rider perform three very tough disciplines. Rather than being an expert at one discipline, winners in eventing tend to be good all-rounders.

Eventing discipline is still in its infancy in the UAE but the riders are putting in great efforts to achieve the maximum results. Asian Games is also a platform for them to have an international exposure and experience.

On the final day, competitors take part in a show jumping competition. The UAE riders have tremendous experience in the show jumping discipline having already participated in several international competitions.

The UAE Team manager Ahmad Al Junaiby admitted that the UAE riders started off three months ago in eventing. "They have come to Doha for the experience. "