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Story highlights
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are taking place in France
Games are held every four years and last two weeks
Endurance race over beaches and countryside is 160km in distance
UAE won gold in individual event, Spain won team title
What more could a horse enthusiast ask for than a beautiful ride along the sea shore?
One of the world’s toughest horse races took place on Thursday at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games – the venue for the event known as an ‘equine marathon.’
Held over a distance of 160 kilometers with just 10% of the course made up of road, riders race along beaches and countryside in a bid to win one of the most prestigious titles at the Games.
The Normandy shore played host to the race as crowds flocked to watch the riders.
Four years ago, Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton needed just over seven and a half hours to complete the course on her horse, Nobby.
This time around, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates won gold on his mare Yamamah in a time of 8:08:28.
The race, which started in the town of Sartilly, Manche, looped around a UNESCO World Heritage site with the Bay of Mont Saint Michel providing a stunning backdrop for the event.
While the scenery was something to behold, the weather was not, as rain hampered the riders throughout.
In the team race, Spain retained the title it won four years ago in convincing fashion.
Its three riders finished in a combined time of 28:56:02.