World of Showjumping
World of ShowjumpingWorld of Showjumping
Menu

Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi: “My horses’ happiness comes first”

Monday, 07 October 2024
Interview

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ. "Without Enjoy and the vision from Sheikha Fatima, my family’s support, and the help from William Funnell, all this would not have been possible," Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi tells WoSJ. Photos © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ.

 

Text © World of Showjumping

 


 

The United Arab Emirates’ 21-year-old Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi impressed at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris with the 10-year-old Enjoy de la Mure (Vigo Cece x Sable Rose). As the youngest rider in Versailles, Al Marzooqi jumped clear in the individual qualifier and finished 19th overall after a solid round over the final course that according to the masterminds behind it – France’s Gregory Bodo and Spain’s Santiago Varela – was the biggest track they’ve ever built.

“I was very lucky to have all my family there to support me, it was an unbelievable experience,” Al Marzooqi tells World of Showjumping about his time at the Games. “Enjoy and I are not so seasoned at 1.60m level, but I have full confidence in him. Going into the ring in Versailles, I felt like I could rely on him a 100%. On the first day – in the team qualifier – we were clear until the last line, where I got a bit excited. However, the individual qualifier went really well and we were clear. In the individual final, I think we lacked experience through that combination where we faulted. However, I'm very happy with the way Enjoy jumped throughout the week. Without Enjoy and the vision from Sheikha Fatima, my family’s support, and the help from William Funnell, all this would not have been possible.”

Despite his young age, Paris was not the first time Al Marzooqi represented the UAE with great success. In 2023, he claimed individual silver and team bronze at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, with Dalida van de Zuuthoeve (Thunder van de Zuuthoeve x Leader M van de Zuuthoeve), and at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Al Marzooqi jumped to individual silver with La Corina Lala.

Following in his father’s footsteps

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ. "I had the love for horses from I was young and I really enjoyed spending my time with them," Al Marzooqi tells.

The UAE team’s European base is at William Funnell’s Billy Stud, while their home stables are in Abu Dhabi. “The latter is our main base for the team,” Al Marzooqi explains. “I am based with my father, we have our own place where we train. I have a couple of younger horses that we own and we also have the support from Al Shira’aa Farms. Sheikha Fatima has sent us a couple of horses to produce, including a few very good ones like Enjoy and Chacco Bay (Chaccato x Heops). In total, I have twelve horses to compete with at the moment.”

Al Marzooqi’s father Abdulaziz Ali Al Marzooqi, who himself is a passionate rider and has been the chef d’equipe for the UAE team, is also his trainer. “I started riding because of my father. He never forced me into this sport; I had love for horses since I was young and really enjoyed spending time with them. When I was about 12, my father asked me what my goals were in the sport; if I wanted to do it professionally or not. Since doing this sport on the highest level is a big commitment, also financially, he wanted to make sure that I was serious – which I was, I'm really in love with the sport.”

I'm really in love with the sport

“My father is always by my side at the big shows. He knows me inside out; he knows how I think and he can give me some small comments that he knows I can cope with. When I went to William, it was easy for me to understand him, because he and my father have a similar mindset. William’s experience with jumping at the bigger levels has for sure helped me a lot, and it made our path easier with Enjoy. First and foremost, William tries to simplify everything and keep the horses very happy.”

For the last two years, Al Marzooqi has combined riding with his studies in the Sorbonne University. “My parents were adamant that I keep studying as well, so I have just finished my bachelor degree and have applied for the masters. We have a small campus in Abu Dhabi and they have a special pathway for athletes, which helped me a lot in getting ready for the Olympics,” he tells.

Watch and learn

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ. "I love to watch the top riders and apply what I see to my horses," Al Marzooqi says.

Spending time in Europe has been essential for further developing Al Marzooqi’s riding career. “I came to Europe for the first time when I was 12, in 2015,” he recalls. “With the help of my father and the support from Al Shira’aa, I have been coming over every year since. It has really developed me as a rider. When I first came here, it was very interesting for me because I had never done an international show. Competing for the first time internationally was something really special; it was an honour to represent my country.”

Competing next to world-class riders in Europe has been beneficial

“I've been watching the top riders from I was very young, looking at their videos when at home, and at the European shows, I used to just sit in the warm up and watch. Everyone rides differently, there are many different approaches, varying ideas. I love to watch the top riders and apply what I see to my horses. I try to see what suits them best, and follow my feeling on each of my horses, keeping everything as simple as possible. Competing next to world-class riders in Europe has been beneficial, and our show circuit in the UAE is getting bigger and bigger as well, with more of the top riders coming over in the winter.”

Changing the sport in the region

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ. “The sport has developed massively in the past ten years with Sheikha Fatima’s leadership," Al Marzooqi says.

“Sheikha Fatima’s strategy and her vision of supporting the local riders has changed the sport in our region,” Al Marzooqi says about the female force behind Al Shira’aa. “I was very lucky to be one of her choices and I have had her support since I was jumping the children’s classes all the way up to the Olympics. Her vision got us through. I am also thankful for the support from our Rulers, The UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.”

Sheikha Fatima’s strategy and her vision of supporting the local riders has changed the sport in our region

“The sport has developed massively in the past ten years with Sheikha Fatima’s leadership. Our point of view has changed from trying to win a 1.30m class to developing horses to their prime. The horses are a huge part of our life, through our culture and obviously also through our religion as well. The horse is mentioned in the Quran, which is something really special and they mean a lot to us. For us as international athletes and riders, horse welfare is a priority. As an example, before the Olympics, keeping Enjoy feeling good and at his best, was my only focus. Winning is great, but my horses’ health means more to me.”

Enjoy de la Mure

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ. "He is the best horse I've ever had, for sure," Al Marzooqi says of Enjoy de la Mure.

The 10-year-old stallion Enjoy de la Mure was Al Marzooqi’s ride in Paris, and in September the two took to the top of the podium in the FEI Zangersheide Sires of the World in Lanaken, Belgium. “We bought him last year, it was actually the same week as the World Championships in Lanaken,” Al Marzooqi tells. “I didn't qualify for the finals back then, so I flew immediately to Spain, to Eduardo Alvarez Aznar, where I tried Enjoy with William. As soon as I jumped a small course with him, I knew he was the one we had been looking for."

He is a horse of a lifetime for me

"We bought him and took him to the UK, where I rode him for about six weeks before we flew him to Abu Dhabi. There, we did two more weeks of training, getting to know him. It was almost two months before our first show together and he was immediately placed in a two-star Grand Prix. He won a two-star Grand Prix two weeks later and since then, we have grown together, going from strength to strength.”

“He loves his treats, he is like a teddy bear,” Al Marzooqi describes Enjoy’s personality. “I think he knows me as well as I know him; he knows when I need him the most. He is always very happy and excited to jump and he loves to get into the ring. He is the best horse I've ever had, for sure.”

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ. "We try not to rush it with him, and I focus on keeping him happy," Marzooqi says about Enjoy de la Mure.

Winning the Sires of the World in Lanaken ahead of his childhood idol Christian Ahlmann was a special occasion for Al Marzooqi. “It was a nice competition with great sport,” he recalls. “I saw Christian’s round from far away, and I thought it would be very tough to get his time. However, I wanted to try my best without going too crazy with Enjoy. I know he is a naturally fast horse. I just need to give him time, like to the double, I had to give him a good distance and then we managed to take one out in the last line – and he did it really easy. Being on a podium with Christian Ahlmann means a lot to me, he is someone I look up to.”

I love my horses and their happiness comes first

“This is the least I can do for my country, and I hope this is just the beginning for us,” Al Marzooqi says about his recent success. “Our plan is trying to qualify for the World Cup Finals and also do some Nations Cups. I'll try to save Enjoy for the next Olympics, because he is a horse of a lifetime for me. I really need to take care of him, and his health is the most important thing for me. We try not to rush it with him, and I focus on keeping him happy. I enjoy seeing my horses develop and I don’t want to push them to the maximum. Everyone wants to win, and I am not saying that I am not competitive, but as an athlete, I love my horses and their happiness comes first.”

 

 

7.10.2024 No reproduction of any of the content in this article will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.com. If copyright violations occur, a penalty fee will apply. 



This photo has been added to your cart !

Your shopping cart »
This website is using cookies for statistics, site optimization and retargeting purposes. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website. Read more here.