Horse Breeding

Omanis take pride in their horses which symbolise the nobility and longevity of their culture. Horses are mentioned in the Holy Quran in Sura Al-'Adiyat which runs "By the steeds, that run with panting breath. And strike sparks of fire, and push home the charge in the morning, and raise the dust in clouds the while, and penetrate forthwith into the midst of the foe en masse.

It is said that the first horse to come among the Arabs was named Zaad ar-Raakib and in his book "The Genealogy of Horses" Al Kalbi mentions that the Prophet Solomon gave the Azd tribe (of the people of Oman) a horse from among his stock.

Ibn Batuta, writing in the 14th century, mentions the export of thoroughbred horses from Dhofar, and Marco Polo, writing earlier, in the 13th century, also refers to the export of fine Arabian horses from Qalhat and Dhofar.

In the Sultanate of Oman there are currently about 2,000 horses, of which approximately 350 are pure-bred Arab horses, 150 are thoroughbreds, and 1,500 are pure-bred Omani horses.

The Omanis' love of horses can be seen in the way they deck them out: the neck ornaments, the silver bridle, the sweat cover placed on the back and the undercloth to prevent chafing, the silver collar-piece, and finally the reins. There are annual horse races at the Royal Stables, and throughout the year in the regions especially on religious and national occasions.

Besides the races the riders participate in polo matches, tent-pegging competitions, trotting races, show-jumping, dressage and carriage processions.

His Majesty the Sultan pays special attention to all aspects of horse-breeding, preserving bloodlines, and equestrian sports of all kinds. A Directorate-General of the Royal Stables has been established under the Diwan of Royal Court which supervises the breeding and rearing of horses using scientific methods in conformity with international standards.

In addition the Royal Horse Racing Club was established to oversee the planning and development of equestrian activities, as well as organising the Royal Oman Horse Show which is held every 5 years. The Racing Club also distributes horses every year to citizens who are prepared to care for them and organises the annual Royal Horse Race meeting which takes place under Royal patronage.

The Oman Equestrian Federation arranges other race meetings and equestrian events, with the aim of preserving this valuable heritage. The Royal Stables possess numerous breeds of horses known for their excellence in racing, dressage, showjumping and polo, in addition to a troupe of cavalry horses.

Following directives from His Majesty, a horse-breeding department was set up in Salalah which concentrates on the breeding of pure-bred Arab horses. In general, the Royal Stables breed a variety of pure bred and thoroughbred horses from the finest bloodlines available.

The Royal Stables is a member of the World Arab Horse Organisation (WAHO)