Emma shares her story...

Ride Egypt came about unintentionally. I never intended to start a company; my initial goal was simply to rescue three horses on a beach and give them a better life.

My journey in Egypt began with meeting Belal, my beloved black stallion, but my deep love for horses goes back long before that.

Growing up in the New Forest, like many kids, I did stable work in exchange for rides. We moved a lot during my childhood, so riding was intermittent and resulted in a gap from 15 to 30. During this time, in Richmond, London, I fell deeply in love with a grumpy old ex-show jumper named Fletch. This relationship taught me the intense love for horses and the heart-wrenching devastation of losing them as unfortunately, he had to be put down due to an old injury that needed extensive surgery and my vet believed he couldn’t endure six months of box rest. To this day, I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much and for so long.

Fast forward 12 years, I was working as a technician for various TV channels. In a seemingly happy relationship, my boyfriend abruptly broke up with me via text message, leaving me devastated. However, I’ve always believed that changing one’s view can change one’s mindset, so, I booked a cheap all-inclusive holiday to Sharm in Egypt for five days. While all-inclusive hotels suit some, my restless nature couldn’t settle for lounging by a pool. Knowing this, I found a local stable where I could ride stunning Arabian stallions in a picturesque national park for a full day with lunch for £125. Despite not having ridden in 12 years, I signed up for two days.

When I arrived at the stable, they asked about my riding abilities. I mentioned my background in show jumping, albeit not a skilled one, and that I considered myself a “rider.” This perspective proved valuable later when starting my own business and dealing with my own clients…. They brought out a magnificent black stallion, reminiscent of movie scenes, but embarrassingly, my skills were too rusty, and I had to be led by a rope. I quickly learnt that there’s a vast difference between being an arena rider and handling a hot-blooded horse in the desert and though the ride left me unable to walk for three days, it rekindled my love for horses. My guide was kind and patient, and we became firm friends. So much so, that when I returned home, we stayed in touch and I discovered he had his own horses in Dahab, a Bedouin village outside Sharm.

Back in the UK, thoughts of the black stallion and my friend persisted. That summer, I visited him and his horses for a few days. However, his skill with horses didn’t translate into business acumen. While they looked fine initially, by the end of summer, his horses were in poor condition. He explained that he walked them daily for 45 minutes each way to the main tourist beach, where they’d spend the day under the sun, waiting for riders. The beach was lined by luxury hotels so I suggested approaching the hotels directly for collaboration. Since he didn’t know how, I decided to don the one dress I had packed in my suitcase and approach them direct.

The rides gained traction, so much so that before long I was investigating “how to start your own horse riding holiday”. With a basic website, I reached out to agencies and after eight months of daily emails, FAR AND RIDE responded, agreeing to work with me if I was stop with the daily e-mails.

I began with nine horses in a small fishing village. We quickly outgrew that space and fate led me back to the stables where I met Belal, completing the circle.

The turning point was my move to Luxor with six horses eight years ago. We became self-sufficient farmers, growing our own horse feed. Surrounded by history, like temples and the Nile, Egypt’s rich narrative unfolded.

We expanded to Cairo, ventured into swimming with horses in the Red Sea, and explored Fayoum National Park. Egypt’s offerings seem boundless and we are just at the beginning.

For more information about the Tombs, Dunes, and Kingdoms rides and to book your once-in-a-lifetime equestrian adventure, please visit Ride Egypt’s official website at www.rideegypt.com