Changing the Rein: Here’s How Alyaa Al-Sharif, the Saudi Showjumper is Shedding Light on Horse Treatment
All around the world, horses are whipped to run, but it’s not the only way to tame a horse. Animals undergo so much pain and violence in this modern world. While there are so many organizations and initiatives that protect animals, is anyone really taking care of racehorses? The Saudi Arabian showjumper and trainer, Alyaa Al-Sharif, swears to teach people how to treat and train their horses.
Who’s Alyaa Al-Sharif?
Alyaa Al-Sharif grew up surrounded by racehorses, as her family breeds racehorses in and out of Saudi Arabia. For seven years, she trained to be a showjumper. Being around racehorses, she has seen their struggle; once the horses are no longer good for racing, they get abandoned and aren’t cared for. Heavily disagreeing with how they’re treated, Al-Sharif got an equine psychology diploma. She dedicated her time to promoting animal welfare and ethical training, trying to make a change.
In her experience, a lot of people agree with her that the harsh treatment of horses needs to stop. Yet, there are other people who contribute to the pain the horses feel. As a showjumper, she’s never been unkind to a horse, no matter how difficult it was to ride it. When she sought advice on how to tame her horse, people would tell her to hit or shout at it. However, she thought that when treated kindly, the horses responded better.
Now, Al-Sharif takes the horses out of the stables they’re abandoned in and takes care of them in her family’s stables. It’s where they live in nature, run freely, eat, and play. Luckily enough, she’s had help from aware trainers who supported her in developing her own method to deal with horses. Furthermore, she trains people to ride morally, without scaring the horses, helping them connect with their horses.
She uses positive reinforcement instead of hitting the horses and gives them a treat when they behave well and follow orders. Matter of fact, her first training was on a three-year-old horse. Success followed afterward and she took in eight more horses off the track. Under her care, horses reach their potential.
Al-Sharif’s Dream
With her future ahead, she dreams of saving as many horses as she can. Opening her own center to help people who struggle with taming their horses will definitely aid in making her dream come true. She wants to make the center, “A hub of horsemanship and gain the trust of people regarding their horses.” That’s not the end of it. The center will offer workshops about the behavioral problems of horses and how to deal with them.
As a horse lover, she takes joy in witnessing them blossom. Following her methods and succeeding, it proves to people that kindness goes a long way.
