ABU DHABI An Abu Dhabi woman who has rescued several abused horses has not only given them a second lease of life but has also trained hundreds of students in equestrian education through their gainful employment.
Tina Al Qubaisi, 46, originally from the UK, told XPRESS that her tryst with horses began with a neglected pony she brought to her villa in Khalifa City in 2005.
“The horse was in a very bad shape, so I bought him from its owner and decided to look after him. It was the beginning of a life commitment. One rescue led to another and before I knew it, I had 12 horses in the garden.”
Unlikely beginning
Unable to keep so many horses at the villa, Tina said she decided to build a stable for them at the family farm in Rahba. “I named the club after my favourite horse Dhabian and thus was born the Dhabian Equestrian Club (DEC) in 2007.”
Today, the club has over 40 horses, most of them rescued. “This number is ever growing as we do not say no to any horse in need of a second chance. We take any horse that has a heartbeat and try to save its life.”
Tina said like other pets, horses too are subject to much abuse in the UAE. “It’s not that these horses are abandoned. The biggest problem is that a lot of people get horses as gifts and they do not know how to look after them properly. As with most cases of animal abuse, it stems from lack of education about the needs of the animal.”
To rectify the situation, Tina introduced several activities at DEC to familiarise people with horses, beginning with simple stable tours and fun rides around the farm, sea and desert. She struck a rare chord with the community and soon was able to add a range of other activities.
Result: the handful of students in 2007 has grown to over 800 today, with kids as young as three coming on board. This year has also seen the farm rebrand itself, transitioning from a “family-run bundle of fun” to a full-fledged operation managed by a community of horse lovers. DEC has also become the first purpose-built equestrian academy in the UAE with specialised courses for all ages.
Tina said being with horses teaches children many things. “They learn to communicate and empathise. It’s a great way to develop cognitive skills. And of course, there are the benefits of exercising. Horse riding is like swimming and works on different body parts while maintaining your balance.”
Extensive training
The academy offers three stages of training, starting from general riding lessons to intermediate and advanced competitive sports like jumping, dressage and endurance, where many of the club’s experienced students are making a mark.
For instance, Kazia Bihuniak, 12, who has been riding with the club for eight months, is into jumping in a big way. She participates in several competitions and gives regular demos to showcase her talent.
“I moved to Abu Dhabi with my parents 10 months ago and the club has opened up a lot of opportunities for me,” she said.
Kazia, who wants to become a vet when she grows up, spends her Saturdays at DEC grooming and showering the horses. “I just love being with them,” she added.
Fourteen-year-old Saif Al Mansoori is just as dedicated. Initiated into horse riding two years ago, he said he started it out as fun activity.
But he is already in his second season of endurance thanks to the club’s training.
“This place is special because it’s more like a family. They are with the rider at every stage. They also levelled me very quickly.”
While the cost of the riding classes varies depending on the level, the club provides free training to the disabled.
“Riding is good therapy for those who are less able bodied. It can help to build muscles and give coordination and balance. Horses can also be used as therapy for children with social problems or ADHD as they learn to build a bond with the horse, these skills can be transfered then into every day life,” said Tina.
