In this article I would like to simply present my thoughts on the subject of Arabs and riding... At first I want to make it clear that there is no such thing as "the" Arab riding style. Of course, in the Arab world there are also the classic riding stables where dressage and jumping are taught or, above all, horses are bred, but the kitschy image of the Arab man who rides in the desert towards the sunset still exists today. After that, he no longer sleeps in his tent, but in his house, and the horse is not tied to a palm tree, but in a box in a stable, but this beautiful old picture of the Bedouin riding is not lost yet, and this one I would like to introduce you into it today. Even if the Arabs used to have a much closer bond with their horses than they do today, since they were with their animals 24 hours a day instead of driving to the stable an hour ot two after work, the Arabs are still proud of their noble animals, that Allah has given them. (Congratulations to the lucky ones who work with horses and can spend their whole day with them, they will of course have a much closer relationship to their beloved horses). Of course, this is not a scientifically based article, but something based on my personal experiences, conversations and observations of Arab riders and horse people. By Arab riding style, and what I have heard and seen from Arabs personally and from their riding videos, I understand the following:
-The horse is seen as a noble creature and treated as such.
-the horse is your horse, your partner and friend. Neither its treated like a child and also not as a slave. It is not humanized (as here in the West the animal often serves as a partner or child substitute).
- They are galloping more often and love and rides through the desert (it it is existing), where the horse can run free.
- Riding helmets, safety vests, and so on are rare. Usually you just ride in normal clothes or maybe breeches.
-Martingale, locking straps, sometimes also noseband, lacing reins and so on the horses do not know.
- Sharper bits are used more often (not always, but more than its known here).
- the riding style seems "a bit wild" and informal, attention is not paid to a 100 percent correct posture but rather that the rider is well balanced and that the horse reacts immediately to the instructions, as well as clear seat aids when riding. It is important that the horse understands what the rider wants from him - in whatever way.
-The horse is agile and trusts its rider.
-The horse is allowed to move freely under the rider and is not forced into an unnatural posture (for example the so-called "Rollkur" where the horses neck is forced to be very close to his shoulders and the horse cannot look forward without big effort and pain).
-It is mostly ridden outside, riding arenas or round pens are rarely used. But most stables have an outside riding arena, that is very big.
-It is made as easy as possible for the horse in terms of aids. Seat, leg, voice and reins are used frequently and make the horse understand the aids easily. "Invisible assistance" as required in dressage riding is not something you will find in Arabian riding. It is important that the horse understands the aids well and not that they are invisible.
- There is no constant "pushing the horse forward with your legs" or a permanent attachment with the reins - similar to western riding.
-there is no fixed way how to ride, give help or train the horse. The horse is trained to be a reliable and obedient partner with love and patience; the journey is the goal.
-the horses are lean and lively, because obesity would reduce the health and movement of the animals and the heat would cause even more problems for the horses.
-the hands are usually held a little higher than "normal" when riding, often the arabs like to ride one-handed.
-the horses naturally carry their heads high or higher than in the classic English riding style.
Now there is often criticism from the western side, mainly non-Muslims, about how "the southerners" treat their animals.
Some tourists are indignant about how thin the horses were for example in Egypt and how they were "beaten", while their own horses in the riding stables in town are already suffering from overweight and laminitis, and bite and kick when they are in a bad mood because they stayed another day in their stables without going out. We do we judge about other peoples behaviour when we ourselves do not make it even better?
In Germany, a lot of emphasis is placed on perfection and harmony when riding, which is not wrong either. However, this urge for perfectionism also creates a lot of pressure that everything always has to work out immediately and also looks harmonious.
If you look at the Arab riders, however, everything looks much more authentic. Perhaps the seat is not perfect from a European point of view, the feet a little far forward and the head of the horse too high ... the legs are not encouraged to step along very well... But is it all really that important? Isn't it much more important that the horse and rider are doing well when riding and that they form a team, regardless of the riding style?
The Arabic riding style is easy to learn and is what every person naturally practices when they start to ride without being prescribed a particular style. Especially with recreational riders. One could understand the Arabic riding style as a mix of English and western riding. The best of both ... I spontaneously think of the "Immenhof" films, in which the children rush through the forest casually and bareback on their ponies. Sometimes the Arabian riding style also reminds me of the riding style of the American Indians, who often rode bareback and only with simple reins ...
The best thing about the Arabian style of riding is that the horse is allowed to keep its pride and grace. He is allowed to have his own character and to move freely under the rider. It shouldn't react like a machine, but keep its liveliness and natural shyness. These horses' eyes are clear and sparkling, and the ears are pointy and alert. Certainly it is not about teaching the horse how to run properly, because since Muslims know that horses were created by Allah and were also created for riding, one does not worry that riding is in itself harmful. In contrast to the non-believing horse people, who think the horse must first be taught to walk under the rider, since riding is in itself unnatural and harmful (but they all ride anyway, although they claim that it is unnatural and harmful to the horse ). I am not talking about the fact that a young horse has to be broken in and get used to the saddle and rider, that's clear. What I mean is the basic assumption that horse riding is generally natural and good or unnatural and harmful.
The Arabian style of riding is relaxed and the horses radiate liveliness and grace, the horse is allowed to prance a little bit, stretch its neck and just run.
Especially here in the West people think they know everything about riding and horses and say thinks like "The horse runs on the forehand, how does it go !?" and "Gallop on the street in the heat, poor horses!" and "They are way too thin, and - look at these bits!".
Often it borders on arrogance to presume to judge other people just because they practice a different lifestyle than you do.
Do you think you like the Arabic riding style? I think it was worth an article because you usually hear negative things, or one does not even know that there is existing something like "the arab way of riding". But anyone who has ever seen the joy and grace with that a small Arabian thoroughbred gallops with his rider through the desert or by the sea will understand what I mean :-)
