Doha, November 11 (QNA) - The Qatar equestrian team is competing in the Le Pouget International Eventing Competition, which began Wednesday in France and runs through November 15. 
More than 300 riders from 21 countries are taking part across various categories.
Riders Saad Waheed Al Kuwari and Mohammed Jabr Al Nuaimi are representing Qatar at the event, held at the Trois Fontaines Equestrian Venue in Le Pouget, as part of the 13th edition of Les Internationaux du Cœur d'Herault. 
The competition is a prominent event on France's eventing calendar, attracting riders from around the world to compete at various levels under International Equestrian Federation (FEI) classifications.
Qatar's participation reflects its continued presence in international equestrian competitions and provides the riders with opportunities to gain experience and improve their performance against competitors from different countries.
The event opened with preliminary horse inspections. Dressage competitions across the different categories will begin Wednesday and continue for two days, followed by show jumping and cross-country events on Saturday and Sunday. Final results, medals and prizes will then be announced.
The competition features five international categories: CCI1*-Intro, CCI2*-S, CCI2*-L, CCI3*-S and CCI3*-L.
The total prize money amounts to EUR 12,500, distributed across the five categories. The highest prize is EUR 3,500 for CCI3*-S, followed by EUR 3,000 for CCI3*-L, EUR 2,500 for CCI2*-L, EUR 2,000 for CCI2*-S and EUR 1,500 for CCI1*-Intro.
Eventing is one of the major equestrian disciplines and comprises three phases: dressage, cross-country and show jumping. It requires strong coordination between horse and rider, as well as endurance, precision and technical skill.
Competitors' performances across the three phases determine the final rankings in each category.
Le Pouget holds a distinguished position in France's eventing calendar. In 2024, it received the award for Best International Competition in France from the French eventing association France Complet. 
Its previous edition attracted around 8,000 visitors, reflecting growing interest in the sport and its international profile. (QNA)