Princess Haya gets Longines Award

Princess Haya received the honour in recognition of her outstanding elegance as a competitor, a leader and a woman working tirelessly for the good of equestrian sports.

Princess Haya receives the Longines Ladies Award from dignitaries. — Supplied photo

London — Princess Haya bint Hussein, wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has been awarded the prestigious Longines Ladies Award in a ceremony attended by the leaders of the global equine sports industry at Hampton Court Palace in the UK on Wednesday night.

Former Olympic showjumper, two-term president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), FEI honorary president and Classic-winning racehorse owner, Princess Haya received the honour in recognition of her outstanding elegance as a competitor, a leader and a woman working tirelessly for the good of equestrian sports, said Juan-Carlos Capelli, vice president and head of International Marketing of Longines.

Princess Haya said: “It is a massive honour to be the winner and the recipient of this award. I have so many people to thank and in every way I accept this award on behalf of the many women who have helped me along the way. The fact is that horses bring out the best in people and it’s all about working together. Nothing that I have ever achieved have I done alone.”

Princess Haya received the award consisting of a Longines pocket watch: The Longines Equestrian Pocket Watch Horses Trio 1911. The Longines Ladies Awards recognise the success and achievements of elegant women at the very highest level of the global equine sports industry.

The jury featured three leaders in world equestrianism: Ingmar de Vos, president of the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale); Louis Romanet, chairman of the IFHA (International Federation of Horseracing Authorities); and Nathalie Belinguier, president of the Fegentri (International Federation of Gentleman and Lady Riders). Romanet paid tribute to Princess Haya’s role.

“She was a very good and very elegant show jumping rider before becoming an outstanding President of the FEI for eight years. Princess Haya was elected as the first President of the International Horse Sports Confederation which we created together in 2014 as a formal vehicle of cooperation between the FEI and IFHA.”