ADIHEX 2015

A taste of tradition, a heap of heritage and a collection of culture: it’s time for the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2015.

Every year, ADIHEX blends local heritage with modern culture in an exhibition dedicated to hunting, equestrian and outdoor sports. This year, from 9th to 12th September, the 13th edition of the show will feature products and equipment, cultural activities, competitions, live performances, demonstrations and more.

Cowboys and Arabians

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Horses are embedded in local culture so it’s no surprise that they play a vital role at ADIHEX. As part of this year’s exhibition, Amru Alabidi is returning with a natural horsemanship demonstration for the second year.

In his free time, this Palestinian/British oil and gas consultant
turns into our very own “Abu Dhabi Cowboy”.

Amru’s journey began six years ago when he started working with a stallion who attacked him on the first day of training. “I thought ‘I need to get more information’, so I did a lot of research, watched YouTube videos, travelled to speak to experts, took part in courses. I implemented everything and over the years came up with a system that seems to be working.”

And he’s continued to train horses “pretty obsessively” ever since. Amru’s entire concept revolves around understanding a horse by learning his language.

“Horses have shaped the world we live in today and they’ve had a significant impact on our lives, so the least we can do is to take responsibility and understand how they think and communicate to make sure that they have a fair chance of finding comfort and partnership with a rider.

“Riding is a form of communication, and I’ve seen the way people traditionally learn how to ride horses around the world. It all starts by sitting on a horse, then being told to hold the reins tight and kick the horse to go. Before you know it, you’ve been riding for 30 years and still can’t pick up on the obvious signs that a horse is in pain and is uncomfortable.”

Through demonstrations such as the one at ADIHEX, Amru hopes to explain the way horses communicate: “I want to show what their language looks like to humans and show you can establish respect and trust with any horse, even an untrained one!”

Amru feels confident about his demonstration with three-year-old Arabian mare Rihanna, who he describes as “calm, smart and not overly spooky”.

The training will begin in a round pen to establish his leadership and gain Rihanna’s respect using body movement and pressure to gain control of her feet.

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“Horse language is based on respect, which can either come from fear or trust. By getting horses to move forward, back, left and right without touching them, they see you as an alpha horse that they can respect and trust, so they lock onto you.

“To make sure she’s not fearful of me or my tools I’ll desensitise her to rope, plastic bags and the Australian crack whip. Within less than an hour she’ll be very relaxed and hopefully by the end of the first day I’ll be sitting or lying on top of her.”

On day two, Amru will do lots of groundwork with the mare to build her confidence, and will desensitise her to the saddle. The next stage will be to get in the saddle and finally walk, trot and canter in the bigger arena.

“It’s never a walk in the park to get in close vicinity with a horse who’s never been ridden. What’s more, it normally takes me two to three weeks to break in a horse and give it solid foundations, so to do this in four days is a huge challenge for me. But the outcome is very motivating.

“Even if there’s one person left in that crowd, it means they understand what’s going on and maybe they’ll have something to do with horses in the future. Maybe that one person will go on to work with ten or twelve horses over their lifetime, which means those horses will have a better experience, all because of what they learned at ADIHEX.

“You have to nurture a horse and say to him ‘I’m your partner in life, I understand how you operate and we can work together’.”

Breed of the Bedouin

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While a man straddles his horse and a falcon soars above, the picture of a typical Bedouin hunter is always complete when you see the graceful and streamlined saluki by his side.

The 2015 edition of ADIHEX wouldn’t be complete without featuring the region’s most beloved breed of dog.

This distinctive animal has been a part of Bedouin life for hundreds of years and is close to the hearts of many Emiratis. Salukis can reach up to 50kph when chasing jackrabbits, wild cats, gazelle and foxes; their stamina and speed is just one reason locals continue to use them today for hunting.

So it comes as no surprise that the canine will once again be a prominent feature at the exhibition. Defined as either smooth or feathered (because of its light, wispy hair), the body of the saluki is similar to that of a greyhound. Their skinny yet prestigious look will once again be highlighted at the show, as ADIHEX prepares for the 10th Arabian Saluki Beauty Contest.

Both male and female hounds will feature and will be divided into classes such as smooth or feathered, colour and age. The Arabian saluki beauty contest committee will judge canine entrants, who will be critiqued on their body structure, movement, temperament and appearance, before cash prizes are awarded.

Saluki handlers who wish to enter must do so before Wednesday 9th September at the Arabian Saluki Center. For more details visit: www.arabiansaluki.ae/center.html

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The Arabian Saluki Center in Abu Dhabi, located behind Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital in Al Shamkha, is dedicated to the beloved Bedouin dog. This is a one-stop shop for the breed
and invites people to visit the centre to learn more about the desert hound.

Those who visit and those who own a saluki can benefit from a variety of services, including training for hunting, obedience, racing and even preparation for dog shows, just like the one at ADIHEX. The centre has a healthy list of members from many nationalities, including Switzerland, South Africa, Australia and Brazil.

Melanie Stones runs Animal Action UAE, a non-profit organisation that aims to rehome abandoned animals. While working with Animal Action, Melanie has come across plenty of salukis.

“Salukis are regarded as the ‘UAE’ dog. They were, of course, the Bedouin’s favourite, living and working side by side in the desert. Salukis look very regal and graceful and often move in the same manner.

“Saluki owners often get together to let them off the leash in the desert because it’s what they were initially bred to do, and it is so beautiful to watch.

“We get a lot of pure salukis are picked up by the volunteers at Animal Action UAE after being dumped or found wandering on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi – often without microchips – after escaping,” explains Melanie. “Some are in good condition and some quite the opposite. They all end up making wonderful recoveries and are able to live in great homes.”

Falconry Takes Flight

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Ask anyone what best symbolises the UAE and they’ll probably say a falcon. The predatory bird is everywhere from the AED 5 note to government branding.

Its place in the country’s heritage dates back to nearly 2,500 years ago when early settlers practised falconry, using the birds to hunt for houbara and hares.

“The nomads living in the desert relied on falcons the way you and I rely on supermarkets today,” says Peter Henry Bergh, managing director and founder of the falconry service company Royal Shaheen Events.

“Falcons were used as a way to put food on the table. It was a way of life and gave them access to protein.”

As time progressed, so did falconry. Today, the practice is more of a hobby and sport rather than a tool for survival.

Hendri du Toit has been a falconer for five years. The South African talks about different species and the sport of falconry.

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What makes falcons different from other bird species?

Falcons are your ultimate hunters of the sky. They prey on other birds and smaller animals. They’re the fastest animal on the planet; the fastest recorded speed for a Peregrine was 389kmh.

How would you characterise a falcon?

Every falcon has a different personality and character. That’s what keeps falconry interesting, because every bird you train is different, so it keeps you on your toes. Some falcons train very quickly (two to three weeks) and some take much longer.

What’s the difference between Saqr and Peregrine falcons?

Saqr and Peregrine falcons were historically preferred by Bedouins for hunting. Today, because of air-conditioning, a big favourite
is the Gyr, which is the biggest falcon species.

The Saqr and Peregrine are more heat tolerant and we can fly them throughout summer.

The Peregrine, also known as Shaheen, is smaller than the Saqr. They typically have barred markings on the chest with dark brown and black on the head and moustache-like markings on the side of the face. Known as an aerial specialist, they mostly hunt other birds that are flying – they have long slender toes for grabbing prey in the air.

The Saqr falcon is bigger and can range from whitish to a dark brown, grey colour. They tend to catch mammals and sometimes take prey up to double their body size. They have strong feet with shorter toes for taking down big prey.

Why do you cover their eyes?

The hood that is used to cover the eyes of a falcon is also known as a burka. By covering its eyes, you completely relax the bird – the term ‘out of sight, out of mind’ originates from falconry. If the falcon can’t see it, it doesn’t exist so it takes the stress factor away. In my opinion, it is probably the most important piece of equipment in falconry.

What makes a falconer?

You must have a passion for animals and an interest in falcons. It takes a lot of patience to train a falcon, because they normally end up having a lot more than us. Falconry is also an expensive sport – you have to consider the price of the bird, medical bills, correct weathering or mews facilities, equipment and the time you have to invest into the sport.

We use remote control planes and drones to train our falcons, so after crashing a few of these, it becomes expensive.

You must do a lot of reading and research on the subject, get hands-on experience and learn from experienced falconers.

We’re ready to become falconers! What are the essentials we need to know?

Your time, financial capabilities, species of falcon, the food you’re going to feed it and available medical facilities. Do lots of research and learn from an experienced falconer. The health and wellbeing of the falcon is the most important thing.

How long does it take before we can become a good trainer?

The learning process is continuous. You always have to keep improving your skills and knowledge. It can take years to be a capable falconer. It also depends on how much time and effort you put into it.

Royal Shaheen Events: 04 435 6550

Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital: 02 575 5155

Need to know:

What: Abu Dhabi Hunting & Equestrian Exhibit
Where: Adnec, Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street
When: 9th to 12th September, 11am-10pm
Tickets AED 10 per day
Contact www.adihex.com

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