“Teamwork
makes the dream work”
Your highness “Thank you for everything” Please accept this book as a token of our appreciation for the opportunity you have created for everyone at Al Aasfa2 riding school.
“Teamwork makes the dream work” It is with great honour and pleasure, myself and Abdullah work together as a team to educate and help bring the students dreams and aspirations to life.
“Fall down seven times, stand up eight” Everyday we are consistently inspired by the passion, dedication and enthusiasm of all the students. Always eager to learn and willing to get back up and try again, no matter how scared or unsure they are feeling inside their heart. Something we hold very close to our heart at the school is to respect the horses. Every student is encouraged to be aware of the horses feelings, always look ahead to guide the horse on a safe path and to help each other. I speak for myself, Abdullah and all the riders at Al Aasfa2 school. Words can’t express the memories we have shared and how much we look forward to creating more. Without your vision and belief in us, none of this would be possible. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your passion goes beyond words. We feel your love and hope that we are making your ideas and aspirations in creating an amazing riding school a reality.
Thank you Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
RUNNING HORSES The love of charging horses surges in my blood. I love even the mention of their name. Those who don’t know horses don’t appreciate them, as those ignorant of falcons would roast them. The flashing hooves of fighting horses Spark fire and kindle flame. i have cared for them all of my life, I love them, I can’t be without them. If my horses miss me they go out looking for me. They can find me just by the scent of my clothes. I have given them what I’ve lived of my life, and I will gift them the remainder.
Dream big,work hard, stay focused,and surround yourself with good people.
Be Somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody.
A Leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
POSITIVE ENERGY This burtling universe cannot stand still or look back at those slipping behind. It has alwayes been so impelled, positive energy behind the source of its life. Work makes us feel alive, and with positive energy we need change all that we need to change. Positive energy is stored within us. All it takes is for us to acknowledge it. Within you is the spirit of a giant. When it is strong, your voice will echo throughout the world.
LIVE EVERY MOMENT LAUGH EVERY DAY LOVE BEYOND
WORDS.
“A Horse Has a Voice. But Doesn’t Use Words. A Great Rider Connects With The Horses Energy. Speaks To His Soul And Listens.” Stephanie & C.S Charma
COMING TOGETHER
IS A
BEGINNING, STAYING TOGETHER IS PROGRESS,
AND
WORKING TOGETHER
IS
SUCCESS.
All women are sisters LOVE encourage protect celebrate one another.
GREAT IS THE VICTORY, BUT THE FRIENDSHIP OF ALL IS GREATER.
Future champions are not born. They are made.
TRUE LEADERS DON’T CREATE FOLLOWERS, THEY CREATE MORE LEADERS.
Abdullah Alkaabi giving support to the riders during 40km qualifier at Dubai International Endurance City.
To get ahead in life, you have to learn to saddle your own horse.
BEFORE
Stephanie & Magic Glen Ashmiah
Each morning we dig, Our hooves in the sand, Blow salt-steam Beside rippling dunes. When my rider holds me to the middle, i want to buck and kick and scream! He pats my neck Says, Easy, boy. You want to win this one, Don’t you? I prance and paw Snort and shake Then settle in just behind the leader’s flankOf course I want to win! Which is why I’m going to Do what my rider asksWait wait wait wait wait And then I’ll thunder past!
Our main goal in the UAE is to create hope, life and happiness for everyone.
AS SOON AS I SAW YOU, I KNEW...
AN ADVENTURE WAS GOING TO HAPPEN...
AN ODE FOR MY HOMELAND My homeland is a place of peace, a land of greatness, powerfull men, and noble, generous, people. Our Emirates, home to lions, was created by our forefathers to be a land of immortal glory. My homeland, our young people protect you a strong army, led by a giant. We sacrifice all for your sake. May the Emirates, this symbol of will, carry on forever. This homeplace of Arabism, this land of generosity, may its president and flag always stand proud.
“You Gave me your time. The most thoughtful gift of all.”
Girls compete with each other. Women empower one another.
Children close their ears to advice but open their eyes to example.
we don’t want to tell you our dreams, we want to show them. Horse riding doesn’t take talent. it takes passion and dedication.
I learned a lot about life with my feet in the stirrups.
“we need to be reminded sometimes that a sunrise lasts but a few minutes. But its beauty can burn in our hearts eternally.�
My walls are full of horses.. Appaloosa Dapple Gray. When i close my eyes at night I hear them munching hay. Born from paper posters They prance proudly ‘round my bed. And when i wake each morning I hear hoof beats in my head.
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
A horse will never say a word to you but that shouldn’t stop you from talking to them.
“When we see the face of a child, we think of the future. We think of their dreams about what they might become, and what they might accomplish.�
Al Aasafa2 School, advanced riders preparing for 40km qualifier at DIEC. All Riders & Horses passed.16/10/2014
What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create.
“Treat your family like friends and your friends like a family.�
“LEADERSHIP
IS THE CAPACITY TO TRANSLATE VISION INTO REALITY.”
Advanced Boys
The Best way to
predict the
future is to
create it.
Dedication isn’t something that comes naturally to many people, but when someone has a passion for something, that dedication comes easy.
40km Qualifier at DIEC
Abdullah Alkaabi and Al Abjer
IF YOU CAN
BELIEVE IT, THE MIND CAN
ACHIEVE IT.
Friends don’t get jealous of each other or begrudge the other for finding success. They celebrate every victory together.
“ A horse never runs so fast as when he has other horses to catch up and outpace.�
Advanced Girls
“ The most precious gift you can give someone is the gift of your time and
attention.�
A true horseman does not look at the horse with his eyes, he looks at his horse with his heart.
“She’s a dreamer, a doer, a thinker, she sees possibility everywhere.”
“Watch carefully, the magic occurs, when you give a horse, just enough comfort, to be themselves.� Stephanie and Camilla
“ Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.�
DUBAI DESERT TRIATHLON 2015 WINNING TEAM AL AASFA2 SCHOOL.
BADER MIRZA, STEPHANIE GOUDIE, ISMAIL SSENYANGE SELFIE WITH RASHID THEYAB
HOLD ONTO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY. If it tries to buck you off, just hold on even tighter.
“It is not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves, that will make them successful human beings.�
Hind Kilan Al Janahi Al aasafa2 school rider
I began trick riding in 2011 and later moved on to Endurance training. I joined Al Aasfa2 riding school. I was very grateful for this opportunity and always looked forward to my riding lessons. I was always motivated by my great coach Stephanie. She is very respected and admired by me and my fellow riders, we all appreciate her patience and constant words of encouragement. I have learnt all my endurance techniques from her and I thank her and owe all my achievements to her. I decided to join The Pink Caravan as I really appreciate their aim to raise awareness about Breast Cancer and the importance of early detection and screening. I was fortunate to visit the different emirates and meet some lovely people. As a UAE National, I was honored to meet His Royal Highness Sheikh Mohammed during a Pink Caravan ride. He greeted me and the other riders who were spending the day riding across Dubai along with his daughters, the royal princesses, Sheikha Salama and Sheikha Shamma. We are all very humbled by his generous gesture of waving at us and walking with us for some time and supporting us riders . Overall, I am really grateful for the experience and proud of myself for all the endurance training that I have done over the years. I plan to continue riding for as long as I can. Hind is the rider on the right
“This Passion for riding is really something that is hard to describe. It’s something that is such a part of your life. It’s something that you need, almost like air or water. There’s a special moment. You have a ride one day on a horse that’s just magical. Where it’s just you and the horse, and you feel the motion and the power of that gallop. All of your senses attack, everything fires. You feel like you just conquered the world.”
“Shoug on her fisrt day horse riding. Today she is in the advance group, preparing to do her first qualifier.�
Youngest Advance Rider, Rowan. 7 Years Old
Working for Alaasfa2 stables is truly an honour. Relocating from the United Kingdom to Dubai, I fell in love with the Arabic culture. The community, the stable and the team all contributed to making me feel like I was ‘home’ and I took my shahada with pride. I was brought up around horses. My father was a British Champion show jumper. It was he who instilled this omnipresent love for horses and inspired the infallible dedication to the equine world into the heart of my five sisters and I. We travelled all over the country competing in show jumping competitions. There was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to be around horses forever. I obtained my degree in Equine Training and Management to ensure my destiny. The smell of leather tack, fresh hay and molasses stays with me from childhood, reminding me that happiness does have a smell. Dark, cold and eerie winter mornings, me and my sisters would wake to feed the horses and turn them out to the fields before school. Having a horse to care for taught us so much about responsibility, love and life. I encourage students to develop their own connection with the horses, as this is an important aspect to becoming a great rider.