Aneesa Al Mahmood: “Representing Bahrain in Dressage is a Dream Come True”

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

The countdown is on to the FEI Asian Championships 2025, set for November 24 to December 7 at the Thai Polo and Equestrian Club in Pattaya, Thailand. The event will gather Asia’s top riders across Dressage, Para Dressage, Jumping, Eventing and Endurance—and, for the first time, Bahrain will have representation in the Dressage arena through Aneesa Al Mahmood.

Speaking exclusively to The Daily Tribune, Al Mahmood described her selection as “a dream come true” and a moment years in the making. “It’s something we’ve been working towards for a very long time, and to finally see it happen feels unreal,” she said. “To represent Bahrain at this level fills me with pride. I hope it opens doors for more riders from Bahrain and the region to believe it’s possible.”

Al Mahmood is currently based in the Netherlands, training under acclaimed classical masters Rien and Inge van der Schaft. Their influence, she says, has been transformative. “They’ve helped me refine the smallest details—balance, feeling and harmony—but also patience and clarity,” she explained. Observers note that such grounding in classical technique could prove decisive as she steps into continental competition.

Her passion for the sport dates back to watching the 2008 Olympics as a young girl, an experience that sparked a lifelong pursuit. “That feeling never left me,” she said. “The connection with the horses still gives me the same spark.”

At the centre of her preparations is Handsome, the horse she credits as her true partner. “He has such a big heart and always gives me his all,” Al Mahmood said, expressing gratitude to Shaikha Noora bint Hamad Al Khalifa and the Alfursan team for their support. “Keeping him happy and confident is the key to going into the arena as one team.”

Beyond Pattaya, Al Mahmood hopes to help build stronger foundations for Bahraini dressage. “With the right basics, passion and dedication, Bahraini riders can go far,” she said.