EQUI PAGES Newsletter, September 21, 2021: Al Shira'aa and the Challenges Facing Tournament Organizers, Thoughts on Dressage Judge Uwe Mechlem

ABBA knew it: “Money, money, money, must be funny …”! Yes, everything is a little easier when you have money. Especially when you want to organize a big tournament. We need sponsors. But where can we find them in Germany—unless we steal them? German companies aren’t currently thinking about how many of their business relationships they’d like to strengthen by inviting partners to a VIP box. Their main concerns are competition, energy costs, and—increasingly—bureaucracy, reporting requirements, and social plans. This is not meant to be a lament; it’s simply the current reality. Things have been better in Germany. Everyone who still takes the risk of organizing a tournament can feel that.

The solution?

Well, and in the midst of this dilemma, a mysterious beauty from the Orient appears—like a mirage—to pour money like water from a watering can onto the souls of the tournament organizers, who are thirsting for it. That gets the teams’ hearts racing. MONEY! So it does exist after all. But grab it quickly now, while it’s gushing like oil from a well or streams of tourists from vacation jets!

Where does the money come from? How reliable is the source? None of that matters—as long as the “cash” is there, the tournament goes ahead. Case closed.

Theoretically.

Payment Practices “Made in the Middle East”

Because, as you can read everywhere, there’s a catch: Let’s call it “culturally different views on contractual integrity.” Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the mirage with the shower of money, seems to have gone into hiding. The company Al Shira‘aa in Abu Dhabi—the oil-richest of the Arab Emirates, if you will—is undergoing restructuring. In the process, they seem to have no time to make the agreed-upon transfers. Or perhaps they’re just having a good laugh at the expense of those foolish Europeans, who, when waving around petrodollars, react much like a pack of stray dogs at the sight of a female in heat. Rumors that Al Shira’aa’s payment practices follow its own rules have been swirling through the scene for quite some time. It seems no one has come up with the idea of insisting on a prepayment arrangement—a request that would certainly not be the most pleasant part of a negotiation.

Who Is Affected by the Arab Payment Habits?

Now, Pferdesport Deutschland, the Tournament of Champions, and the German Show Jumping and Dressage Derby are all waiting for outstanding payments. One can only hope that the financial reserves of the three organizers are substantial enough to compensate for the loss of six-figure sums. Otherwise, there is a risk that the financial shortfall will be passed on—to those who worked at the tournaments. Those who set up the venues, cleaned the restrooms, or worked as caterers with large staffs. All of these are people who ensure that we, as tournament visitors, can enjoy equestrian sports. If they were to be affected, it would be doubly bitter.

What’s next?

I’m sure everyone would like to know. It would be great if, at some point, we could find sponsors again who don’t insist on setting up a separate tent for their own purposes. Sponsors who use the equestrian experience for their own purposes and who don’t just promise to contribute a certain amount, but actually put it on the table. But those are hard to find right now.

Uwe Mechlem (1935–2026)

It’s also hard to find people who are truly dedicated to the sport of equestrianism—not for personal vanity, but for the sport itself. Last week, Uwe Mechlem, a dressage judge who presided over the most important international competitions, passed away. Yet he never lost touch with reality. Uwe Mechlem possessed something—and yes, it’s worth emphasizing—that one would wish for not only from the equestrian community but from society as a whole: goodwill. Uwe Mechlem was distinguished by his positive attitude, as well as his expertise and willingness to engage in reasoned discussion. Conversations with him were intellectually stimulating, never emotional. His unifying nature—which would never have allowed for a half-hearted compromise—will be sorely missed.

With that in mind, see you next Monday!

Jan Tönjes

EQUI PAGES Editorial Team

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This article was first published on September 21, 2026. Every Monday, Jan Tönjes comments on the week’s events in our weekly newsletter on EQUI PAGES.

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