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Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda, who was in Abu Dhabi to attend the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, had an Emirati-themed equestrian adventure this week as he interacted with Ali Al Ameri, aka the UAE’s horse whisperer.

“Ali and the horses were unbelievable,” Hooda, a guest of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Cultural Authority, said about his interactions with the majestic beasts.

“The control Ali had over his stallions was amazing — they responded to everything he did. Despite riding from an early age and also competitively, I was a little nervous at first as this was a leap into the unknown, but once Ali showed me all the cues it was totally different and the horses did everything I asked. He was getting the horse to sit on its hind legs, stick its tongue out, circle round me and rear up. It was a magical sensation to have so much control over Tayeb — he was so beautiful, gentle and well-behaved. It was an amazing experience,” said Hooda, who’s passionate about horses and riding.

After a basic horsemaster education session in the ranch paddock, the Highway actor hit the nearby dunes to put his lessons to the test with Tayeb and took a desert ride with Al Ameri.

“Randeep is a natural rider and he did very well with unfamiliar horses,” said Al Ameri.

Hooda owns several horses and has taken part in equestrian contests such as the Delhi Horse Show. This week, he will be seen in the film Ungli alongside Emraan Hashmi and Kangana Ranaut.