Horse-riding in Oman

Timesofoman.com - Full Article

October 24, 2015 | By Shruthi Nair

Traditional Omani horse-riding initially started in Sharqiyah which eventually became the Omani way of riding the horse. Traditional riding has various interesting elements to it which make it different from the riding that is practised in other parts of the world. A lot of heed is paid to intricate details like the appearance of the horse, look of the saddle, the rider’s clothes and accessories, and way of seating and riding.

The Omani saddle, known as Za’ana, is different from the contemporary saddles that are used worldwide and the most essential thing that distinguishes it from the other saddles is the absence of leg stirrups. This makes it difficult for the rider to maintain balance as they have to use their heels to embrace the horse’s body in order to maintain balance.

The Omani riders are considered to be among the best in the world which is the only reason why they can pull off such a challenging tweak in the saddle...

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http://www.timesofoman.com/article/70246/HI/Horse-riding-in-Oman