Equestrian-Saudis spending big on show jumping ahead of Paris Games

FILE PHOTO: Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Equestrian - Jumping - Individual - Final - Equestrian Park - Tokyo, Japan - August 4, 2021. Harry Charles of Britain on his horse Romeo 88 competes. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's splurge on big name soccer signings has generated plenty of headlines but the Gulf kingdom has also been splashing the cash in show jumping's equine transfer market ahead of deadline day for next year's Paris Olympics.

Harry Charles, who competed for Britain in the individual and team events at Tokyo 2020 and hopes to be a medal contender next year, told Reuters the market had been "a bit crazy" of late.