#WeLoveHorses

If you’ve ever dreamt of galloping through the dunes of an Arabian desert, a ride at Al Jiyad Stables is the perfect, short-getaway for you.

Set in a quintessentially Arabian backdrop of golden rolling dunes, Al Jiyad Stables offers an experience you will not forget. At about a thirty-minute drive from Dubai, you can escape the city into a tranquil setting in the beautiful Al Qudra desert. Whether it is a canter across the dunes on a beautiful arabian horse or a camel ride you are looking for, you will have the opportunity to see some unique Emirati wildlife at close range. The Al Marmum conservation area is home to the arabian oryx, gazelles and desert foxes amongst other animals and the best view is on horseback.

Witnessing the sight of beautiful gray Barb horses galloping forward at a full charge, while hearing nothing but the thundering of their hooves and a “single” gunshot is a scene that seems only imaginable in movies. Ridden by horsemen in traditional white attire, clouds of red dust form in their wake. The movements of horse and rider is so precise if you closed your eyes you wouldn’t be able to tell that the single gunshot occurs as a result of all riders firing their arms at the end of their thunderous charge.

Are you completely tired of the modern-day pressures of never ending emails, phone calls, meetings, traffic, crowds, noise, crowded commuter transport, polluted city air, - the continuous noise and stress of urban life and ‘to do’ lists that never get finished?

It’s time for a break! It’s time to regress back in time to the quintessential British countryside where – in one place at least – traditional English estate living continues as it has throughout time, when life was – shall we say, a bit more refined.

“The single most important thing to remember is: never dismount! The wild animals do not distinguish between you and your horse; they just see the horse, recognizable to them as another herd animal, and therefore not a threat.”

This is part of the briefing guests receive before setting out on an Offbeat Horseback Safari deep within the Kenyan African bush. That’s right – as in a safari – on horseback – together in nature with lions, elephants, leopards, hyena, buffalo – and the most dangerous and territorial of all African animals – the hippo.

Being an equestrian is more than just a hobby. It's an entire way of life. At Cavago, we know just how important the horsey aspect of your life is to you, because we’ve been there. We know what it feels like to want to ride, wherever you are in the world, and to keep the passion alive, even when you’re at home. Cavago was built for horse-lovers by horse-lovers, to bring the equestrian world in the palm of your hand. Here are 5 reasons why you should be a part of the Cavago family:

What is Dressage?

Dressage is an equestrian discipline in which rider and horse perform a series of movements in a pattern to display the horse's athleticism, strength, and flexibility. Viewers describe dressage as horse ballet as the horse appears to be “dancing” across the arena floor. Dressage is a beautiful sport that dates back to nearly 350BC where ancient greek soldiers rode their horses to battle using dressage movements we still use today.

Learning dressage can be done on any horse with any type of riding tack! If you have your own horse, there are many ways to start learning dressage virtually! Ingela Larsson has an online virtual program for riders to learn how to connect with their horses on the ground. Being able to ask your horse for precision and connection starts on the ground before you get in the saddle.