A Personal Narrative on My Journey
through the Middle East

The entrancing music and chanting was the visual and auditory finale of our visit to Sharjah. While the music was reminiscent of my visit to the Shammar tribe in the Jezirah, this Sharjah performance was dominated by more heavy percussion similar to what one might expect in North Africa.

Following the presentation of horses of the Amiri Arabian Stud of Bahrain refreshments were served and before long it was time to say good-bye but after boarding the busses the mares were led by the busses for one more view to our pleasure. Then it was off to the Bahrain race track where first a delicious luncheon was served then a special race was run appropriately named the WAHO cup, a 1600 meter race won by the 5 year old chestnut Bahrain stallion Al Jellaby 857 (Al Hamdaany 652 x Al Jellabieh 734) bred by the Al Roudha Stable. After the race meet it was time to board the planes for return to Abu Dhabi.

Saturday was a day trip to Sharjah by invitation from His Highness Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Upon arriving guests first toured the Sharjah Gallery to see an exhibit on Arabian horse art ad. The luncheon was served at the new Sharjah Women’s Club, a luxurious facility located on the shoreline of the Persian Gulf. A special arena and grandstand was set up on the white sand beach for a unique presentation of Shaikh Sultan’s horses complete with dramatic music and na by Patrick Swayze. Black stallions roared into the ring Bedouin style then a systematic presentation of champion broodmares and stallions was displayed. In this presentation, two of the horses were Al Khamsa horses: the mare JA Habala Halima (Ra’adin Inshalla x *Simeon Sasson) and her daughter Mahouba (x AK El Sennari). At the conclusion of the presentation there was a tug boat in the channel behind the beach which let loose thousands of colorful balloons into the sky. The presentation was a dramatic eyeful.
 

At right the Al Khamsa mare JA Habala Halima (Ra’adin Inshalla x *Simeon Sasson) presented as one of the prized brood mares of His Highness Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

The evening took visitors to the Old Coral Souk for shopping and where traditional Arabic dance and music were observed while all enjoyed an Arabic meal. It was again interesting to hear the pulsating rhythm of drum beats but this time there were some unusual instruments employed which I had not seen before including an instrument reminiscent of bag pipes but instead being a large goatskin covered bag with flute at one end. As the sun set I new it would soon be time to leave.

Sunday was the final day. By invitation from His Highness General Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Defense Minister, busses left for Dubai for a parade of horses at the splendid Zabeel Stables. Also visited was the Dubai Equine Hospital, Central Research Laboratory and Dubai Feed Mill. Afterwards luncheon was served at the Dubai Golf and Racing Club. The week was consummated in a lavish shopping visit to the extraordinary Gold Souk.
 

This extraordinary modern shopping mall was seen enroute to Sharjah. It is typical of the palatial grandeur in contemporary Arabian architecture one notices throughout the Emirates. Though photographed from our super bus in passing the gold and silver inlay in the tiling of this architecture sparkled brightly against the deep blue sky and blue-green water.

One of the exciting things about attending a WAHO conference is the exchange with people from all over the world. There is so much listening to do. There is more to hear than to say. Many of the people from other countries know more about our horses than perhaps we realize with the exception of the Al Khamsa horses that we identify which still seems a curiosity to many. To the traditional Eastern breeders the philosophy of what we are about is not new because it is originally their history. It is very old and they share our concern for preserving the traditional Middle Eastern lines of Arabians which they feel too are not yet fully understood or appreciated. But at this conference all that is best in any Arabian, and is agreed upon as true to culture is very much admired regardless of how it is arrived at. As guests departed for various parts of the globe it was clear that this was an exceptional display of friendship, generosity and true Arabian hospitality all in the name of the world’s greatest equine, the Arabian Horse.

Some final reflections. It is not fair to judge the Middle East by anything one traveler such as myself reports in an article or two. This trip was simply my introduction to the bigger picture which takes a lifetime to paint. But nonetheless, I must reflect on some general impressions. Attending briefly both the extreme northern and extreme southern parts of the Arabian peninsula, one realizes that the inevitable path of modernization has established itself moved slowly from the south heading towards the north, perhaps fueled by oil trade and other increased commerce with the modern, developed nations. This wave of modernization can be likened to a very slow lava flow which creates great initial change and melting together of old an new. When it cools it leaves new soil upon which to plant while at the same time leaving artifacts of history beneath which it is hoped will eventually be rediscovered. In the north much that is ancient is still visible, not yet covered up but facing, no doubt in the future, the impending flow. This can’t really be judged as good or bad if one realizes that this is the cycle of life. But one feels a sense of lament for what moves into the past as things change. What is significant about this point in time, however, is that the history which is remains exposed for our learning still exists to behold in the East, not yet completely covered. Many of us in the West thought more of it was gone than actually is. I urge any of our readers to save a little over time and take the opportunity to make a trip or two to the Arabian peninsula and surrounding Middle Eastern areas. Looking into the eyes of our beloved Al Khamsa horses in our own back yards will quickly remind us of the antiquity and significant past we are trying to preserve without making that journey. But making that journey will remind us of why we must make these horses our future.

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