{"id":37564,"date":"2025-12-09T05:04:19","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T05:04:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/?p=37564"},"modified":"2025-12-09T05:19:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T05:19:54","slug":"uae-president-commends-talented-young-emirati-horsewomen-heres-who-they-are","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/09\/uae-president-commends-talented-young-emirati-horsewomen-heres-who-they-are\/","title":{"rendered":"UAE President commends talented young Emirati horsewomen\u2014here\u2019s who they are"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Young Emirati girls participated in the Union Parade, confidently guiding their speeding horses as they saluted the nation\u2019s leaders and carried out impressive, well-controlled stunts. Dressed in traditional Emirati clothing, the riders showcased both their abilities and their national pride before the UAE President.<\/p>

Among them was 11-year-old Fatima Ahmed Al Rumaithi from Al Samha, Abu Dhabi. Raised in a Bedouin setting, Fatima spent her childhood riding camels alongside her father, a skilled competitor in camel racing.<\/p>

Her love for horse riding started when she was just four, after enrolling in a private stable. She continued her training until 2018, when sessions stopped because of the Covid-19 outbreak<\/p>

Following her break, Fatima resumed her training in the summer of 2025 at Bodhib Stables. There, she caught the attention of a fellow rider\u2019s mother, who suggested she be introduced to Captain Ali Al Ameri at Rahaal Stables.<\/p>

Captain Al Ameri, known for his deep expertise in horsemanship, immediately noticed Fatima\u2019s talent and began mentoring her personally.<\/p>

I didn\u2019t feel scared while performing \u2014 I was actually thrilled,\u201d Fatima shared. \u201cThe greatest reward for me was seeing the UAE President smile and applaud. Horse riding has taught me determination and dedication, which I believe are essential for success. I plan to keep training, and Captain Ali has assured me he will continue helping me grow.\u201d<\/p>

The rigorous practice leading up to the Union Parade equipped her with the skills needed for the standing maneuver \u2014 a demanding move that relies on balance, precision, and a strong bond between horse and rider.<\/p>

Two other young riders, sisters Latifa Yahya Al Kathiri, 11, and Wadima Yahya Al Kathiri, 12, also took part in the parade. Hailing from Abu Dhabi, they began riding at ages five and six, inspired by their admiration for the grace, power, and intelligence of horses.<\/p>

What started as a simple childhood interest gradually turned into a committed passion once the sisters joined Bodhib Academy for formal equestrian training.<\/p>

\u201cHorses are part of who we are \u2014 part of our culture and our daily lives,\u201d the sisters shared. \u201cThat connection is what motivated us to pursue riding seriously. Our family supported us because they believed the sport helps build bravery and self-confidence. We were eager to learn, step by step.\u201d<\/p>

As time passed, they worked with many different horses, eventually becoming comfortable riding and managing various temperaments. Their enthusiasm pushed them to explore multiple branches of equestrian sport rather than stopping at the basics.<\/p>

Latifa and Wadima trained in endurance riding and successfully completed several 80-kilometre qualification races. Though they are still too young to join senior events, both sisters aim to keep developing their skills so they can compete for top positions in the future.<\/p>

They also ventured into show jumping, winning first place in their first two competitions.<\/p>

More recently, the sisters have begun learning advanced trick-riding techniques, including challenging standing moves on horseback.<\/p>

\u201cWe were inspired by Fatima Al Ameri, the first Emirati woman to perform a stand on a horse,\u201d they said.<\/p>

Their training now includes the foundations of horse handling, starting with groundwork to better understand equine behaviour and communication. \u201cWorking with horses in this way gives us a special sense of connection,\u201d they said. \u201cWe face difficulties, but they only make us more determined.\u201d<\/p>

Their journey has lasted nearly three years so far. For Latifa, one of the hardest experiences was a fall and the recovery afterward. \u201cI had a small injury and was told to rest for a month,\u201d she said. \u201cBut after a week, I got back on the same horse to conquer my fear. Now, I\u2019m confident riding and training all kinds of horses.\u201d<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UAE President praised a group of skilled young Emirati horsewomen for their dedication and talent. Their achievements highlight the rising role of Emirati girls in equestrian sports, inspiring pride across the nation. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37566,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[34],"post_template":[],"top_category":[],"class_list":["post-37564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uae","tag-dubai-buzz","pmpro-has-access"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37564","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37564"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37564\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37584,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37564\/revisions\/37584"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37566"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37564"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37564"},{"taxonomy":"post_template","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_template?post=37564"},{"taxonomy":"top_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/top_category?post=37564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}