Peak performance in Muscat

Omani capital celebrates fortieth Renaissance Day at Royal Festival of Equestrian and Camels.

Middle East Online

By Dr Hussein Shehadeh – MUSCA

One of the greatest traditions of the Sultanate On the first day of the New Year, one of the greatest traditions of the Sultanate, galloped with double vigour in the presence of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said. The Royal Festival of Equestrian and Camels held at the Al Fath racetrack in Al Wattayah on the 1st. of January underlined his keen interest in preserving one of the country’s most cherished traditions. The Sultan believes that horses and camels are part of the glorious history of the country and has ensured that local horse and camel breeds are well taken care of through several Royal grants. The special interest shown by the Sultan to horses and camels has helped riders win several international competitions. For example, Omani rider Sultan Bin Hamoud Bin Sultan Al Toqui won a silver medal for his performance in the show-jumping competition at the First Youth Olympic Games in Singapore last year. He was part of a five-rider Australasia team and his performance played a crucial part in the team’s overall medal-winning show. Historically, the Sultanate has been known for possessing the best pedigree of Arab horses. In ancient times, horse breeding was a main source of income and a large number of Arabian horses were exported to other countries. With the dawn of the Renaissance in 1970, the Sultan gave a big boost to breeding and care of Arab horses. In mid-1970s, a Royal Stud Farm was set up in Salalah as part of the Royal Stables to breed top quality Arab horses and thoroughbreds. What’s interesting about Arab horses in Oman is every stallion and mare has a name and registered in Omani Horse Register. The Sultanate cooperates with regional and international horse bodies such as the World Arab Horse Organisation of which Oman was a founding member. In 1983, the Oman Equestrian Federation was formed to promote events such as show jumping. So, the festival that took place on Saturday was a tribute to the Sultan for his 40 years of wise leadership and his interest in and encouragement to Omani traditions and heritage. The festival was truly international and spectacular in many respects. Several famous equestrian and camel groups from Egypt, Jordan, the US, the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, Argentina, Russia, South Africa and India took part in the event. It had an air of music too with music bands from all branches of the armed forces and police playing traditional Omani melodies and other numbers. These events were not restricted to horses and camels alone. Many kinds of animals from participating countries exhibited their skills to the delight of audience. For example, bulls from India, ostriches from South Africa, ponies, ilamas, white donkeys, etc all raced to the applause of the gathering. The way each participating country showed off its traditional cultural legacy, the festival epitomized what the Sultanate stands for. The Royal Equestrian and Camel Festival began with a combined traditional show. Horsemanship is deep-rooted in the Omani history. They are basic elements of the Omani culture. The horsemen and camel riders entered the arena reciting a well-known traditional song called Hambal, which is usually sung by mounted singers. The participants performed an incarnation of solidarity and loyalty before the Sultan. Then, a tableau of torches displaying the figure "40" illuminated the background. The tableau highlights achievements brought about in the past 40 glorious years of the Sultanate’s renaissance. It represented various aspects of progress and prosperity that the country has enjoyed during the reign of Sultan Qaboos. The team of young torch carriers proceeded from the middle of the celebration grounds and diverged right and left in a symbolic allusion to the spread of development in all the Sultanate’s regions. That was followed by a display of combined musical performance staged by Norwegian horse riders and carriages. Then horses and camels treaded the grounds, with harmonious thudding to the accompaniment of musical tunes, while vivid background lights danced in a scene of vitality and elegance. A rather comic bull and ostrich race was staged. Bull carts from India and ostriches from South Africa took part in the race. Another show included fantastic displays of horses, ponies, llamas, camels and white donkeys. The show also included an endurance race display, a trotters display and traditional Rakd Al Ardah (horse pageant) racing. A Swiss team performed a display of ski-joring. The team skied on sands holding to speeding, harnessed horses in a breathtaking scene that showed that the high capabilities of horses and their benefits for mankind. Then, a display of light simulation of archery was staged to the accompaniment of musical tunes. The display showed the state-of-the-art techniques used in the festival. This was followed by the Anne Kruger show, a comedy display by the German Anne Kruger's show of shepherd life, with the horses at centre stage, the goats and the green land rover. While the dogs performed quick moves, the goats tried to avoid them. Then the dogs herded the goats in response to the shepherd’s signals. Canon carriages representing the English military history entered the festival grounds. World-renowned Mario Luraschi team re-enacted the olden Roman carriage games. Omani riders also took part in this show. A convoy of the Royal British Household Cavalry put up a show in which 26 musicians took part. An Indian display of ceremonial bull coaches, dancing horses and camels was staged. The animals, draped in decorated uniforms, pulled the coaches, while folklore troupes danced and mimed slogans of peace and prosperity. Omanis, riding horses and camels, also took part in this show. A horse and camel pageant was then performed. In this show, a group of show horses and camels from Oman entered the festival grounds in a colourful beauty show. Then an Egyptian ‘skirt dance’ was staged. Twenty-four dancers from Sharm El-Sheikh took part in the dance, which is very popular in Egypt. The dancers, clad in traditional Egyptian uniforms formed circles. They waved their skirts roundly and the skirts gleamed with attracting colours. Omani dancers participated in the show. A forty-in-hand coach was then staged. In this exceptional, rare display, a carriage drawn by 40 horses performed in allusion to the 40 years of the prosperity brought about by the Sultanate’s modern renaissance. All the 40 horses were controlled by just one man, while colourful formations flashed in the background. The Andalusia Cavalry Peralta and Domec Show staged a performance. A group of Spanish riders from Peralta team entered the festival grounds on horseback, each one carrying a lady mounted in an exceptional way. Then, a group of Domec's team entered the arena and staged a thrilling show of bullfight, where a mechanical dummy charged at the matador. Then, Angel and Rafael performed flamenco and garoche shows, which are popular in southern Spain. Mounted horse and camel bands from the Royal Jordanian Camel unit and the Royal British Household Cavalry staged a performance alongside riders from the Omani mounted bands and the Royal Jordanian Desert Camel unit and the Royal British Household troops. The musicians played enchanting music adding a cheerful touch to the spectacle. Then, an Olivier Garcia show was performed. The French team entered the arena differently, namely inside a big transparent balloon. A group of children appeared inside balloons on the left and right side of Olivier Garcia. A display of equestrian skills with the Russian Cossacks horses was later staged. It represented the bravery of men and the excitement of horsemanship. Then, riders from the Royal Cavalry, Mario Lurasche and Russian riders performed stunning riddles. The participants showed their capacity to exercise full control of the horses. A show by Jean-Francois Pingon was staged. This show reflects the relationship between men and horses, a relationship governed by trust. Jean-Francois Pingon performed his thrilling display with six horses in harmony with musical tunes. In a rare view, the horses treaded in reverse, while Jean mounted, leading them without using reins. The Erik Hasta Leugo show followed. It represents a horse dancing and treading on drums. The horse advanced in pace with the tunes of a military band. As many as 140 people took part in this show which was performed here for the first time. Ben Hur display was staged in which Mario Luraschi and his team performed an impressive chariot race similar to the Old Roman chariots. The race, performed with historical images in the background, was a solid representation of vigour, courage and equestrian skills. The Pierrick Show, a miniature coach display, was staged. This is a comedy show. A man drove a small coach drawn by ponies imitating big chariots. He moved around the arena and the lighting generated a cheerful and merry atmosphere. International Olympic Dressage was staged. The show was played skilfully by an international dressage team accompanied by a classical music band. The horses moved in set and elegant motion.