By: Jean-Paul Courville
The Arabian desert of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) displays a wide landscape, a beauty beyond the typical glance, and a vast history of mythical appeal. Sunrise and sunset across the land are the most breathtaking when mounted atop an Arabian stallion – an endurance horse, a popular and intriguing passion of the local leaders in the UAE.
I grew up in the southern United States and spent many years in western USA where I enjoyed horseback riding in the old west where the stories of cowboys became legend but as a young boy I was fixated with the movie “The Black Stallion Returns” (1983) where an Arabian stallion and his young owner travel to Morocco to compete in a long distance race through the beautiful desert where they encounter a variety of Arabian culture.
The opportunities extend to Sir Bani Yas Island off the coast of the UAE. Here you can ride among exotic animals like giraffes, striped hyenas, Arabian oryx, and Moroccan sheep.
Under Sheikh Zayed’s patronage, several million trees were planted here as he recognized the need to preserve animals that were at risk from extinction, particularly within the UAE and Arabian Peninsula. His vision has led to the establishment of the Arabian Wildlife Park to assist with breeding and rehabilitation, and an environment for thousands of animals to roam freely around a large area. Sir Bani Yas Island’s name originates from the Bani Yas tribe who first inhabited Abu Dhabi.
I participated on advanced riding tour, it was epic to ride literally alongside groups of giraffes as they walked through the trees. The giraffes moved into an open area and began to trot, I was able to maintain pace next to them but I quickly noticed something was moving in the trees. I observed a cheetah moving freely, yes a cheetah after the fresh kill of a gazelle.
Original Story published in the Outdoor UAE Magazine;
Bonus: Sir Yani Bas Island
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