Maida’n Salah: Juanita, the Arabian Thoroughbred
There is nothing better than sitting in the soft sand at sunset just taking it easy and contemplating life, when from the bottom of a dune you start to notice a plume of dust rising. The next thing you know a Saudi man comes out of the dust astride a magnificent Arabian thoroughbred. It is an incredible and fluid display of horsemanship seeing the Arabian thoroughbred galloping up the sand dune with ease.
The horse’s owner noticed our group from his desert camp where he spends much of his time training Arabian thoroughbreds for racing. He prefers to train them in the midst of the desert. If they can perform well up and down the sand dunes with ease, he knows his horses can take on any challenger.
Although he spoke no English, he was a kind man and when he spotted our group and recognized us as primarily foreigners, he thought we might enjoy seeing an Arabian thoroughbred up close and personal.
The horse he brought to us is a female named Juanita. She is three years old and this year during Ramadan 2008/1429 she will run in her first competitive race. Juanita was well-trained and although many Arabian thoroughbreds are visibly high-spirited, she was quite docile in nature. She gracefully allowed all in our group to come and admire her and scratch her behind her ears. Her owner also encouraged all of us to take her for a short ride. I could not resist that opportunity for one of my dreams since as a young child even was to ride an Arabian horse in the desert feeling the wind at the back of my neck. Although I did not get to race with Juanita I could still feel her power as we strolled at a leisurely pace into the sunset.
Her owner shared that it is a tradition in Maida’n Salah to race Arabian thoroughbreds in the desert during Ramadan. During the Eid al Fitr holiday residents and visitors will share a special meal in the desert. After everyone has taken their fill, the races will begin. It will be a full afternoon and evening with the best dishes, races, traditional music, song and dance as everyone joins together to celebrate the spirit and joy of Eid al Fitr.
It was with regret that our group said good night to Juanita and her owner but as the sun set, we realized it was time to go. However this was a sunset I’ll always remember.
Filed under: culture, gender, horses, islam, pets, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, travel, Uncategorized
AA- Carol,
Awesome pics…I really like your name written in the sand. However, it would have been truly cool to see ‘American Bedu’ written in Arabic like that.
Salam Alaikum Brnaeem,
Glad you enjoyed!
Okay…next trip! LOL
I liked the image of your/my name too! I’m not sure how you made it come out so perfect, mashaAllah.
Thanks Alajnabiya! I enjoy writing in the arabic script as I think it looks so graceful and “sandwriting” is both fun and enjoyable.
I was amazed at the sandwriting! I think it is real art! And I was going to ask who did it, wauw bedu!
There is of course something better than architecture, and that’s a real Arab horse!!!
What a dream come true! And a beautiful mare.
Arab horses are spirited, but not brainlessly overwrought: they are always intelligent. And very interested in humans, one of the reasons I like them so much. Wouldn’t it be great to see her at the ramadan race? You must go there and report on it! (now the blog is resulting in other people starting to tell you how to spend your life)
How very nice of the trainer to show her to you!
The photo’s of the yellow sunset, and beautiful athmospheric perspective are very beautiful! The first one is Poster quality!
Another great post. Travel, history and horses. It doesnt get any better than that. Three of my favourite things in one post.
Thanks for sharing your pictures with us. My favorites are of the arabian horse and the ones of the sunset.
I am really enjoying these posts. I am sure there are more history and historical sights to be discovered in Saudia. Those segregated alleys you mentioned in previous post… does this means that during pre-islam the culture have already practice gender segregation. If they did, then strict and rigid practice of gender segregation the country is practicing now is not islamic in origin.
Thanks ya’ll! I’m so glad everyone is enjoying them and not getting bored…as you are seeing, a lot was packed into the all too short weekend and I have more to come. I’m happy everyone is enjoying the photos as while I do enjoy photography I do not consider myself a photographer.
Umfifi, as I understood from the guide, the segregation was practiced during Islam when pilgrims would be returning from Hajj, find Al Ula and stay. But you raise a very good question…I do not know specifically if the Nabateean’s practiced segregation or not. I do know they did not follow Islam.
I’m really enjoying the posts, and the pictures are great! I hope it was as much fun as it looks like it was!
Absolutely, Lofter!!
Ah, to be galloping into the sunset on my fiery black Arabian stallion ….in the middle of nowhere. I can almost hear the sound of the hooves thundering across desert sands.
The name Walter Farley keeps coming to mind for some reason
he he….I like your comment Jewaira!
Reuter’s decided to pick up this piece:
http://www.reuters.com/article/blogBurst/domestic?bbPostId=CzCso0daZ4bnXBEZgr4vZTMqJBCELFf3U6KF8B6ZZJGXaut3g