Royal Equestrian and Camel Festival a scintillating experience
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said presided over the Annual Royal Equestrian and Camel Festival organised by the Royal Court Affairs at Al Fath Square in Al Wattayah on saturday, 1st January 2011.
The annual horse and camel show, this time held on a much grander scale coinciding with the 40th National Day celebrations with troupes from several countries performing, turned out to be a scintillating experience for the thousands of spectators.
The festival began with a combined traditional humble show. Horsemanship and riding is deep-rooted in Omanis. In fact, they are basic elements of the Omani culture. In this show, the horsemen and camel riders entered the arena reciting traditional song called Humble, which is usually sung by men while they are on the backs of the horses and camels. They formed a lovely portrait of consolidation and loyalty to His Majesty the Sultan.
The torches displaying figure “40” highlighted forty fruitful years since the commencement of the Omani modern Renaissance, which has been full of progress and prosperity under the reign of His Majesty the Sultan. In this show, youngsters carried torches forming the figure “40” in the middle of the field as well as in the right and left sides.
In the display of combined musical drive, in which Norwegian horses also took part, horses and camels drew carriages making beautiful formations and harmonising with music. The lights created a view of vitality and elegance.
The bulls and ostriches race was also staged. The bull coaches from India and ostriches from South Africa staged thrilling and moving races.
The races of horses, ponies, llamas, camels and white donkeys including horse endurance race, trotters display and traditional Rakd Al Ardah added joy and entertainment to the festival.
The Swiss team performed the ski-joering. The team skied on sands while they rein their horses competently in a scene that showed that the capabilities of horses are enormous and they can be beneficial to mankind as long as they can employ such capabilities.
The display of lighting archers accompanied with music showcased the state-of-the-art techniques used in the festival.
The German Anne Kruger’s show of shepherd with horses, goats and the green Land Rover displayed a comedy in which dogs rotated in surprising and quick moves while the goats moved and tried to avoid them. Canon carriages display belongs to the English military history. World-famous Mario Luraschi and his team put up a show of horses-drawn canon carriages similar to the ancient Roman carriages. Omani riders also took part in this show.
The Royal British Household Cavalry staged a display of musical ride in which 26 musicians of the Royal British Household Cavalry entered the field with their musical riding.
A display of ceremonial bull coaches, dancing horses and camels was also staged in which the concept of vigour was clearly represented. White bulls in ornamented uniforms drew ceremonial coaches with Indian folklore dancers, horses and camels. Omanis with their horses and camels also took part in this show.
The beauty horses and camels also performed. In this show, a group of horses and camels from Oman entered the field and moved ahead in an elegant manner showing their charming colours and perfect fittings.
In the Egyptian skirt dance 24 Egyptian dancers from Sharm El Sheikh performed skirt dance, which is quite popular in Egypt. The dancers clad in traditional Egyptian uniforms formed circles. Omanis with dancing horses and camels contributed to this show.
Forty-in-hand coach was also displayed. In this exceptional and rare display, a carriage drawn by 40 horses showcased an allusion to the 40 years since the beginning of Oman’s modern Renaissance under the wise leadership of His Majesty the Sultan. All 40 horses were controlled by one man while lights created a colourful scene.
Andalusia Cavalry Peralta and Domec Show were also staged. A group of Spanish riders from Peralta team on their horses entered the field, each one carrying a lady mounted in an exceptional way. A group of Domec’s team performed a thrilling show of fighting a mechanical bull.
Angel and Rafael performed flamenco and garoche dances, which are popular in southern parts of Spain. The mounted horse and camel bands display by the Royal Jordanian Camels and the Royal British Household Cavalry was staged in which riders from the Omani mounted bands along with the Royal Jordanian Desert Camels and the Royal British Household troops made fantastic formations accompanied by enchanting music.
Olivier Garcia, a French participant, also performed a show. Garcia entered the ground, moving on his horse inside a big transparent balloon, along with the children inside the balloons on the left and right side of Garcia.
Russian Cossacks horses displayed equestrian skills representing horsemanship and bravery. Riders from the Royal Cavalry, Mario Lurasche and the Russian riders performed a stunning and wonderful equestrian and trick riding. They showcased a perfect performance and full control of their horses.
The show of Jean-Francois Pingon reflected the relationship between men and horses. Jean-Francois Pingon performed his thrilling display with six horses, showing charming movements that go in harmony with the accompanied classical music.
In a rare view, the horses tread in reverse, and Jean mounting their backs and leading them without using reins to show brilliant acts.
Erik Hasta Leugo, the dancing horse on drum and the military drums band displayed an exceptional show. A horse dance moving in pace with the rhythms of the Military Drums Band was participated by 140 people for the first time.
Mario Luraschi and his team displayed Ben Hur. They performed an impressive chariot race similar to the ancient Roman chariots in a historical surrounding.
“Pierrick Show”, the miniature coach, displayed a comedy show with a man driving a small coach drawn by ponies imitating big chariots. He moved around the arena and the lighting created a cheerful and merry atmosphere.
International Olympic Dressage was displayed skilfully by an international dressage team accompanied by classical music.
The one-arm bandit show, an American equestrian heritage, was performed by John Payne of the United States. He performed an exceptional show assisted by the Red Indians with black and white liberty bulls and buffalos. The horses ascended the truck showing unmatched skills.
In the grand children’s display and Pierrick Show, children on the horses and ponies drove carriages along with children riding llamas.
A show of bicycle and stilt walkers was also staged. In this, a man drove a bicycle on a rope, exhibiting brilliant skills. Acrobats performed circus acts by using long stilts in walking. A combined show of Omani Military bands was also held. For the first time, 2,011 musicians from different military units gathered at Midan Al Fath to form a mass band, in an indication to the beginning of the year 2011.
The culmination tableau concerned all a troupes convention in a track chanting congratulations to Sultan Qaboos upon 4 decades of his rule.