‘Hisan Arabi’: The Arabian Horse, Poetry in Motion

The bloodline of the Arabian horse is perpetuated through most refined breeds of equine athletes to be found around the world today, with their muscular conformation, uniquely shaped, almost arrogant head carriage, deep chest, remarkable intelligence and sensitivity.

Their cultural links to the Sultanate were embraced by the late Sultan Qaboos, and are reflected in the magnificent Royal Cavalry, home to hundreds of horses, horsemen and horsewomen, for whom their daily duties are a labour of love. Horses, thrive on routine, with unchanging stables, bedding, feed, water buckets and exercise times important to their peace of mind, however, they have also been proven scientifically (Hausberger, 2007), to respond with exceptional positivity to spontaneous, genuine and diversity of affection, much as humans do. Renowned Arabian breeder, artist and author, Gladys Brown Edwards, wrote in ‘The Arabian, War Horse to Show Horse’, of their “romanticism, mysticism and near-divinity across centuries’’, and their rapport with those devoted to the horse’s well-being.

The Arab lends itself to pomp and ceremony with its inimitably cheeky dished head, accentuating its incredibly intelligent eyes, its inevitable high head carriage, its high stepping gait, especially when it knows it is being watched. The

Arab’s distinctive muscular development suggests athleticism, its solid bone structure strength, its deep chest hints strongly at a massive heart and lungs so endurance is yet another quality of this versatile breed.

The Royal Cavalry of Oman, though being a largely ceremonial unit among today’s ‘tanks and rockets’ militaria, invokes the same sense of history, culture and tradition, as the United Kingdom’s Household Cavalry Lifeguards; the Italian Lancieri di Montebello; the Russian Cossacks, the United States First Cavalry; the French Dragoons of the Republican Guard and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the ‘mounties.’

It is believed the first Arabians were bred throughout the 7th Century, then, through the 13th to 15th centuries such notables as the Ottoman Empire’s Sulieman the Magnificent, Mehmed the Conqueror, Egypt’s El Naseri and Muhammad Ali Pasha, ruled through their Arabian horse cavalries. The global spread of the Arabians in later centuries includes such notable breeders as Russia’s National Stud, Poland’s Slawuta Stud, Babolna Stud in Hungary, Weil Stud in Germany, Spain’s Yeguada Militar, the Darley and Godolphin Studs in England and Kellog Farms in the United States.

Oman’s Royal Cavalry has enjoyed racing success recently with Azwan winning the Clarendon Stakes at Newbury, while Nafees has been the main flagbearer for the Royal Cavalry with stunning wins in the Qatar Derby, The UAE President’s Cup, The United Kingdom Arabian Stakes and the prestigious 2018 Shadwell

International. The Royal Cavalry has also been prominent in Endurance Racing across Europe with Saleh Bin Salim Al Balushi and Raffal, after taking out the Jullianges Endurance event in France, in May of this year, also in showing, tentpegging and any number of other equestrian disciplines.

We are most likely to encounter the Royal Cavalry, and regional equine groups at ceremonial or public events however, such as the Muscat Festival, where the horses, their riders and grooms, men and women can demonstrate their skills for all to see, and whether it is simply riding at full gallop, standing on the horse’s back at a gallop, riding facing backwards, hanging off one side of, or even under the horse, or whatever, the complete trust and affinity between man and horse is clearly evident.

The Arabian horse… is like a cheeky schoolmate you can share both good times and bad, and always be friends with, but no school friend could fly on unseen wings, with, as the Arabic proverb says, “the winds of heaven between his ears.” He has a strong heart, a will to win, is poetry in motion, and offers all this and more, for so little in return. A friendly word, a gentle caress, just something to show you care.

The Royal Cavalry’s Grey colt Awzan wins the prestigious Group Three Clarendon Stakes at Newbury (UK) in 2019.

Nafees has been the flagbearer for the Royal Cavalry with stunning wins in the Qatar Derby, The UAE Preident’s Cup, The United Kingdom Arabian Stakes and the prestigious Shadwell International, under top French jockey Olivier Peslier.