The WEC Adventure - 2005
Madiya

January 17
Sheikha Madiya. Last night I got a call from Grace Ramsey. She is here this winter training for Sheikha Madiya Hasher bint Al Maktoum . They were having a celebration for Madiya and invited us over. Sheikha Madiya is the FIRST and ONLY woman UAE National Endurance rider. It's an amazing thing really.

Two years ago Grace met the young Madiya when she came to Grace with a sick horse. Grace was training at a different stable at the time. Madiya had rented her own stable nearby, purchased a couple horses (not knowing anything about the sport, or performance horses at the time). Madiya had no help or support with her dream at the time, she was a 22 year old girl, entirely on her own, but determined to make a life with horses, and learn how to do Endurance. Grace said I tried to wear her out, but she just kept coming back for more. Finally I realized there would be no stopping her, so she'd better learn how to do it right. She took on the challenge of training Madiya for Endurance.

They all realized that in order for Madiya to really learn the sport, she had to get away from UAE and come to the US where she could start with the basics. She spent the 2004 season living with Grace R. and Jan Worthington. They put her in two 25-milers, two 50 milers, and then drove her to Idaho for her first 100 mile ride. They came to the Abu Dhabi Arabian Nights ride. Madiya finished the 100, and became an instant celebrity back home.

She is the youngest daughter of a family of 6 - the only one in her immediate family interested in horses and Endurance. She is the neice of HH Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum (Dubai crown prince, UAE Minister of Defense) - the Sheikh primarily responsible for getting Endurance started in the UAE. She has a quick bright smile, very likeable, no pretenses, just a nice young woman with beautiful dark eyes... Both she and her horses are in training - she works out every day, trying to lose weight and gain fitness. She's definitely a renegade - it's not exactly 'acceptable' for women here (especially royalty) to be competing with men on the Endurance course.

The celebration was in honor of her finish at the Nations Day Cup - once again, the first UAE woman to compete in a UAE ride. Roast lamb in a bed of rice and spiced lentils - nothing extravagant, but very good. Dwight Hooten and his wife (Lisa?) were also there - they live in the neighboring village, Dwight works for the Dubai Veterinary Hospital, and helps several of the stables with training/veterinary issues.

Madiya is a very special story.

...What else.... normal issues with everybody. Horses, personalities - mostly things are settling into a routine, which is always good for group dynamics. The OC only granted one room per Federation at the Bab al Shams, so that led to some interesting dynamics - determining WHO gets the 5* hotel room, and who gets the chalet rooms (sort of like dormitories). A first test for every group! The Endurance City is pretty much complete, they're still paving parking lots, putting in a new petrol station at the entrance, miscellaneous things - but generally good progress.I guess that's it for now - more tomorrow I hope,

Steph