Two Emirati sisters who are wild about horses have opened a new home for the animals in the UAE that replicates their life in the wild.
Jamila Ibrahim set up Malath Paddock Paradise with her sister, Maryam, after hearing about an alternative way to stable horses.
The centre in Umm Al Quwain is unlike traditional stables, which keep horses in small rooms when they are not being ridden.
The horses at Malath live outside around the clock, and are brought inside during the day only once the temperature rises.
During the hotter months they remain outside when possible, which is sometimes overnight only.
Malath is believed to be only the second stables of its kind in the UAE.
The concept is based on the work of Jaime Jackson, an expert on horses in the US. After studying wild mustangs' behaviour, Mr Jackson discovered that the animals keep to familiar routes or tracks.
“He followed wild horses for months and then he noticed that no matter how big the area is, or how much space they have, the horses constantly create a little track that they go as a herd to find graze or find somewhere safe to sleep,” says Jamila, 28.
“They continue on and on the same track until something happens, and they move away and create another track.”
She heard about the concept after competing against riders who kept their horses in a paddock paradise.
“When I first came across this, I jumped. All I had in my head was if horses are jumping, you have to protect their feet,” she says.
“The lady I was talking to said all of the horses competing are barefoot.
“But in order to have a horse barefoot, you don’t just take off the shoes and keep them in a stable. They have to have the correct diet and movement.”
So, they decided to buy land to create their own track system. "You do not even need much space to do it," Jamila says.
“Instead of having a big field, you have to make it like a square and a square.
“So it is a track instead of just open space. This way it imitates natural life where you have hay across the track and one spot that has water.
“We have different terrains for them, for their hooves to walk on. There are uphills and downhills. We try to give them as much of a natural life as possible.”
When most people think of horses they picture a green feed. But they traditionally live in dry areas or mountains, she says.
Malath is working on greenery and does have some trees, but is mainly a desert-like environment. It has all the same facilities as a regular stable, such as outdoor and indoor AC-controlled barns.
But they are not used in the same way as other centres, and mainly only if it is hot.
Its horses — there are currently 28, with room for 40 in total — all live together in a herd.
Jamila says when people first hear of a paddock paradise they assume it is for retired horses, which they do accept.
But even competition-level horses can and do benefit from a paddock paradise lifestyle.
“If anything it makes them better. They are constantly moving and they are warmed up already before a ride,” she says.
The only other centre she knows of like it is in Dubai. But it is constantly full and has a waiting list. She would, however, welcome more competition.
“This is more popular abroad and hopefully we are catching up,” Jamila says.
“If other stables open this up, I would love it. I would love to see more people do this. Our priority is to raise awareness.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results:
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) | US$175,000 2,410m | Winner: Bin Battuta, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer)
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (Dirt) | $100,000 | 1,400m | Winner: Al Hayette, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
7.40pm: Handicap (T) | $145,000 | 1,000m | Winner: Faatinah, Jim Crowley, David Hayes
8.15pm: Dubawi Stakes Group 3 (D) | $200,000 | 1,200m | Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.50pm: Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (T) | $200,000 | 1,800m | Winner: Dream Castle, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor
9.25pm: Handicap (T) | $175,000 | 1,400m | Winner: Another Batt, Connor Beasley, George Scott
The years Ramadan fell in May
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
More from Armen Sarkissian
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on animal trafficking
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20front-axle%20electric%20motor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E218hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E330Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20touring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E402km%20(claimed)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh215%2C000%20(estimate)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeptember%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Sub Regional Qualifier
Event info: The tournament in Kuwait is the first phase of the qualifying process for sides from Asia for the 2020 World T20 in Australia. The UAE must finish within the top three teams out of the six at the competition to advance to the Asia regional finals. Success at regional finals would mean progression to the World T20 Qualifier.
Teams: UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Maldives, Qatar
Friday fixtures: 9.30am (UAE time) - Kuwait v Maldives, Qatar v UAE; 3pm - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
'Laal Kaptaan'
Director: Navdeep Singh
Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Manav Vij, Deepak Dobriyal, Zoya Hussain
Rating: 2/5
Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V6%20and%20electric%20motor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20power%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20700hp%20at%207%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20torque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20720Nm%20at%202%2C250rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E330kph%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh1.14%20million%20(%24311%2C000)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
