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The 2026 international showjumping calendar opened with a statement in the Persian Gulf. The inaugural tour of the Doha Equestrian Tour delivered €538,000 in prize money across the opening weekend at Al Shaqab's world-class facility, launching a four-week series worth over €3.3 million total. With 240+ riders from 32 countries competing, this is positioning itself as a serious third pillar of the winter circuit alongside WEF Florida and the Mediterranean tours.

Grand Prix Drama: Charles Edges Brash by Three-Tenths

The €200,000 CSI4* 1.55m Grand Prix came down to the tiniest of margins. Harry Charles (GBR) and the 16-year-old veteran Casquo Blue stopped the clock at 38.20 seconds, beating compatriot Scott Brash on Hello Folie by just 0.28 seconds. Charles leveraged Casquo Blue's massive stride on Al Shaqab's expansive arena, trusting the experienced Chacco-Blue gelding to maintain a flat-out gallop through the final line without dropping rails.

"Not many times have I beaten Scott Brash in the jump-off," Charles admitted post-competition, acknowledging the rarity of outpacing the only rider to ever win the Rolex Grand Slam. German course designer Olaf Petersen Jr. set a track Charles described as "well designed and challenging." Only 6 of 33 starters went clear in round one, producing an 18% clear rate and a competitive five-horse jump-off.

Historic Podium for Asian Showjumping

The story beyond the British 1-2 finish was Thailand's Janakabhorn Karunayadhaj securing third place aboard Maxwin Kinmar Bespoke. Finishing double clear in 40.14 seconds, Karunayadhaj, the first Asian rider to compete in the Hickstead Derby and a Paris 2024 Olympian, stood on the podium alongside two British Olympic medalists at a major CSI4* Grand Prix.

Monaco's Anastasia Nielsen rounded out the double-clear finishers in fourth (ESI Rocky, 40.50s), while France's Ines Joly took fifth with four faults (Crack d'Aiguilly Z, 40.86s).

Speed Specialists Dominate Supporting Classes

While the British controlled the technical Grand Prix, the 1.50m and 1.45m divisions told a different story. Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Alsharbatly claimed the CSI4* 1.50m Jump-Off aboard Boeckmanns Lord Pezi Junior, breaking the 40-second barrier with a 39.95s jump-off round and doubled up by winning the CSI2* 1.30m class on Dr Scarpo the same day.

Italy brought pure speed to the 1.45m classes. Emanuele Gaudiano, one of the fastest riders in modern showjumping, won both the CSI4* Special Two-Phase (31.12s on Vasco 118) and the 1.45m Faults & Time on the same horse. Compatriot Roberto Previtali provided the perfect foil, finishing second in multiple classes and reinforcing Italian dominance in the speed divisions.

CSI4 1.55m Grand Prix Podium:

FEI Results - CSI4* Grand Prix

The 2026 season accelerates with multiple 5* events running simultaneously as the Middle East circuit heats up and Europe's indoor World Cup season begins.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ CSI5-W Basel 🇨🇭 (Switzerland, Jan 8-11)

Europe's elite indoor circuit launches at Basel with the first World Cup qualifier of 2026. Western European League points on the line for riders chasing World Cup Final qualification. Basel's tight indoor arena contrasts completely with Al Shaqab's expansive footing, demanding technical riding over pure speed.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ CSI5 Doha Equestrian Tour - Tour 2 🇶🇦 (Al Shaqab, Qatar, Jan 7-10)

The series steps up to CSI5* status. Expect strategic horse rotation from the British contingent, saving top mounts for the €2 million Amir's Sword finale (Feb 11-14). Al Shaqab's outdoor arena rewards forward rides and stamina.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ CSI5 Abu Dhabi 🇦🇪 (UAE, Jan 7-11)

Running concurrently with Doha Tour 2. Parallel scheduling forces strategic decisions on Gulf venue prioritization. Top-ranked riders who skipped Doha Tour 1 targeting early Longines Ranking Group A points.

⭐⭐⭐ CSI3-W Kuwait 🇰🇼 (Kuwait, Jan 7-10)

⭐⭐⭐ CSI3 Wellington 🇺🇸 (Florida, USA, Jan 7-11)

⭐⭐⭐ CSI3 Ocala 🇺🇸 (Florida, USA, Jan 6-11)

This week gets a 6.2/10 for a routine opening to the season. A single CSI4* event is standard fare for the first week of January as riders settle horses and the major circuits prepare to launch. The Doha Grand Prix delivered professional sport with Charles and Brash producing the expected quality, while Karunayadhaj's podium added an interesting storyline. Petersen Jr.'s 18% clear rate was textbook course design. The week served its purpose as a warm-up before next week's three simultaneous 5* events bring genuine competitive depth and the intensity the sport requires.

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