Horse Racing and Show Jumping in Oman

Horse Racing and Show Jumping

Enam Equestrian Grounds in Seeb, in winter

Oman is famous for its pure-bred Arabian horses, the origins of which date back to the Prophet Suleiman who gifted the stallion, Zad-ar-Raakib, to an ADZ delegation. This stallion is said to be the original Arab horse whence the Arabian pedegree descended. The Oman Equestrian Federation (24 490 424) organises the Annual Royal Meeting, national show jumping competitions every winter, and the Royal Equestrian Show every five years, at the Enam Equestrian Grounds in Seeb.

 It is said that the Omanis studied the pedigrees of their horses closely and know how to maintain bloodlines by specifically breeding only top class animals. Horse breeding was the main source of their income for many centuries. The breeders in Oman are trusted and renowned for breeding the best pedigrees. These horses were exported, mostly during the reign of Said bin Sultan in the nineteenth century who gifted a grey mare to William IV and a black stallion to Queen Victoria of Great Britain. 

The Omanis are a proud people and they take great pride in their Arabian horses. A pure Arabian should have a small head, proportionate to his body, with large eyes. They come in a variety of colours, however the most prized is the white Arabian. Due to the purity of their bloodlines the horses rarely succumb to illness, they also eat less then than other breeds and have great endurance. The Omani Horse Registrar gives each horse an Equine Passport which is equivalent to an identity card. The Omanis also take great pains in giving each Arabian Horse a unique name.

The Oman Equestrian Federation was formed in 1983 for the purposes of promoting equestrian events such as show jumping and dressage in the region. The show jumping events take place at EnamEquestrian Show Grounds in Seeb which have been called one of the world's best show grounds.
 
Horse races such as The Royal Horse Racing are held annually and organised by the Royal Stables in the Omani states. The Royal Court affairs website lists the scedules of the horse racing in Oman. Click here to read more>>