Horseback riding has become intensely popular as a sport sought out by women and children, according to a horseback riding club in Jeddah, estimating that about half of those seeking horseback riding lessons are women. Saeed Sultan, a stable master at the club, said many women interested in the sport eventually buy horses and leave them at the club to be taken care of. They would then come every few days to ride the horses. “Women buy individual horses as pets while men buy them in herds and use them for races and without having an interest in riding them,” Sultan has observed. He said only about 10 percent of men take up horseback riding as a hobby or a sport. Wihaj Hussain, a Saudi trainer and rider, said that women dominate the sport in Saudi Arabia. She said, “Riding as a sport doesn't make you vulnerable or expose you in any way; it preserves a woman in every way,” said Hussain, who hopes to someday be able to represent the Kingdom in international tournaments. She currently trains women and children of different ages while training regularly herself. “Like a fitness trainer, I train myself while also training my students so that I never go out of practice,” she said. Areej Abudlnoor, a professional rider and investor in horses, said: “I invest in these creatures because I believe in them. They are also a gold mine.” She praised the beauty of Arabian horses and said their kind was worth a lot more in a race than any other kind of horse. “Betting on a horse might seem like betting on the unknown but it is a piggy bank explosion when the horse you bet on wins,” she said. Schools seek these clubs for yearly memberships for their students while also giving them the opportunity to participate in local and international tournaments after they are fully trained. __
