By Abeer Abdalla | The Saudi Times
The thunder of hooves resounded across the sands of Riyadh’s arena, creating a symphony of power and grace that reverberated through the minds of onlookers. As the dust settled, the grandeur of the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) unfolded, merging precision, power, and prestige like no other sporting circuit. Often called the Formula 1 of show jumping, the LGCT unites the world’s top riders and horses across 16 glamorous destinations from Miami Beach and Monaco to Rome, and now, Riyadh. It is the sport’s ultimate proving ground: a stage where centimeters determine careers, elegance meets athleticism, and every jump is measured in milliseconds by the event’s namesake sponsor and official timekeeper, Longines.
When the 2025 season drew to a close in Riyadh, anticipation electrified the air. Among the competitors, Germany’s Jana Wargers felt the weight of her final approach. As she entered the brightly lit arena, her heart raced in rhythm with her horse’s powerful strides. With each turn, the stakes rose, and the illuminated towers of the King Abdullah Financial District framed the backdrop of her personal odyssey, heightening the moment’s intensity. In this theater of high drama, the Kingdom went beyond merely hosting the finale; it redefined what equestrian sport in the Middle East can look like. The Saudi capital transformed into a global stage of motion and mastery, merging heritage with high-stakes competition.
Belgium’s Gilles Thomas seized the overall LGCT Championship title, breaking records as the youngest winner in the Tour’s history with 287 points. In parallel, Germany’s Jana Wargers, aboard Dorette OLD, captured the Longines Grand Prix of Riyadh after a flawless round that electrified the crowd, one of the season’s finest finishes, according to World of Showjumping.
Yet amid the international triumphs, the spotlight inevitably swung homeward. Saudi Arabia’s own riders: Abdulrahman Alrajhi, Ramzy Al-Duhami, Abdullah Al-Sharbatly, and Khaled Al-Mobty rode with conviction and composure, embodying the Kingdom’s growing stature in global sport. Their participation reflected the country’s decade-long investment in youth training, facilities, and international partnerships that now bear visible fruit.
The event “brought together the world’s equestrian elite and underscored Riyadh’s emergence as a hub for international sport and culture.” The hospitality, production, and technical execution rivaled classic LGCT strongholds like Monaco or Doha, but with a distinctly Saudi polish: generous, ambitious, and modern.
Beyond the main arena, the Kingdom’s equestrian vision continues to expand with the Global Champions Arabians Tour (GCAT), a new circuit devoted to celebrating the pure Arabian horse. Founded in 2023 and launching across seven international cities, GCAT fuses excellence, integrity, prestige, passion, and legacy, values mirroring the spirit that animated Riyadh’s LGCT finale. The GCAT format embraces a unique blend of traditional and modern equestrian events, including dressage, endurance, and show jumping, highlighting the versatility and grace of Arabian horses. Judging criteria are set to align with international standards, ensuring fairness and consistency throughout the tour. Planned host cities include Abu Dhabi, Paris, Cairo, and Sydney, each selected to capture global attention and celebrate the Arabian horse’s enduring legacy. By introducing GCAT, Saudi Arabia not only reinforces its profound cultural connection to the Arabian horse but also demonstrates a leadership role in global equestrian sports. This addition complements the show-jumping tour by broadening the diversity and reach of equestrian events under Saudi stewardship, further cementing its position as a pivotal player in this arena.
When the last stride was taken beneath the desert lights, one truth stood tall:
Saudi Arabia has graduated from host to leader, bridging global sport with its own enduring equestrian soul.
