(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Gallops of Oman, the sultanate's first ever horsemanship challenge launches today, following the opening ceremony to be held under the auspices of His Excellency Ahmed bin Nasser al Mehrzi, Minister of Tourism at Al Rakah Camp, near the village of El Mintrib.
Everyone attending the opening ceremony will be able to see for themselves Arabian horses and also cheer on the riders from countries such as France, Denmark, Spain, Italy and Oman, who have established their expertise in equestrian sports including endurance and racing. With 110 horses, the start line will be a spectacular sight, not to be missed. At the end of the fifth and final stage, the horses and riders will cross the finish line at Qudaymah.
From February 17 - 21 the Gallops of Oman will bring together 110 adventure-seeking riders from across the globe, who have signed up to ride the length of Sharqiya Sands and appreciate the stamina and power of the Arabian horses that they will be riding. In total, 22 teams of 5 people, including two Omani teams made up of male and female riders will set off on a journey of a lifetime.
Azhar al Wardi, one of the Omani riders taking part in Gallops of Oman said ''I'm very proud and excited to be taking part in this exciting event, here in Oman. We are thankful to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said for giving his blessing to this event. Although my teammate Fatima al Manji and I have ridden competitively at many racecourses at home and abroad, Gallops of Oman is going to be a completely new challenge for us.''
Gallops of Oman is a test of horsemanship which will bring all riders to push their boundaries and expand their riding capabilities. Handling the desert heat, mounted on unknown horses and working together as teams are only some of the factors that will mark the event will as a true test of horsemanship. All the horses will be monitored by a team of leading veterinary experts along the route at official check points, to ensure that the horses remain in peak, physical condition.
The riders will be divided into teams of five people, including a team captain. Not only will each rider need to demonstrate the care of their horse and their own riding ability, but crucially they will also need to motivate their team members and develop an understanding of the desert as they make their way along the 180km track. Anyone attending the opening ceremony will have the opportunity to see the horses and riders at the start of their challenge.
The opening ceremony will be held at Al Rakah Camp, close to the village of El Mintirib, near Bidiyah where admission is free. 4x4 vehicles will be required to access the desert camp. For more information, visit the official website www.gallopsofoman. com
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