Gallops of Oman: Discover an Unknown Paradise
The Sultanate of Oman is a magnificent and peaceful region situated in the Gulf. It is also known as the Switzerland of the Arab countries.
As with many of its neighbours, the equestrian tradition is deeply rooted and the Arabic horse is king. This first steadily paced equestrian trail, open to all horseback riders will take place from the 14th to 23th February 2014, and is a wonderful opportunity to discover the equine and touristic gems of the region: The Gallops of Oman.
If the name of this trail sounds British, the organization is well and truly French. Led by Bady Kebir – organizer of many horse riding trails abroad and Benoit Perrier – manager of the Polo Club in the Domain of Chantilly, the Bucéphale Organisation will arrange this first expedition surrounded by experts and in particular Bernard Gallego (Cheval Nature – former Paris Dakar) for the technical part. The logistics – selection of horses, camping, transfers, security etc. will be in the capable of hands of the Sultan’s Royal Cavalry! In other words, a well-organized adventure covering 200 kilometers in 5 stages which will lead the horseback riders in teams of two to five from the doors of the EL Mintirib desert to the shores of the Arabian Sea.
As the core of this organization is a team from the world of polo, the adventure will be dotted with many festive and particularly convivial moments as the fans of this sport know only too well how to concoct, especially when camping. The traditional Omani folklore which is very rich, musical and colorful will be very much part of our expedition. When the trail finishes, we will organize a polo match for those who practice this sport and wish to participate, riding excellent Argentinian horses, and followed by a party in the Sultan’s sumptuous stables.
A special package will be proposed for non-horseback riders who wish to accompany the trail. It will consist of a camel safari, 4×4 tours, walks in the dessert and of course sharing camp life.
This event is also a pretext to discover a variety of spectacular landscapes combining the desert, the mountains and the Arabian Sea. The trail in itself will last five days on horseback and will mix adventure, desert and the horses in a test where the rider won’t know his horse or the area he is traversing (no reconnoitring, then!) The challenge will be to manage one’s horse, understand the desert and avoid its traps while travelling 200 kilometers through magical scenery, discovering a friendly country with its ancestral traditions. The aim is to arrive at each point in a given time range.
The challenge will be made of teams of two to five horseback riders who will be joined by personalities that are seasoned riders. The horses lent by the organization to the participants will be pure blood Arabians selected by the royal stables and trained in endurance. They will be monitored by a veterinary team all along the trail, especially at the obligatory check points on the way and examined at each camp site.
To participate in this adventure, you must master the three gaits and be in good physical condition. The trail costs 3300 euros (all inclusive, round trip flights included) or 1800 euros for the non-horseback riders. It’s already time to note these dates for this unique experience from 14th to 23rd February 2014!