Dari Bernama: 11-Year Old Adam Aims To Become Equestrian Rider

DUBAI, May 16 (Bernama) At the young age of 11,  Mohammad Amirul Adam Mohd Zahed already knows what he wants to do in life.

He wants to become an  equestrian rider and enter competitions worldwide.

In fact at the tender age of seven, Adam has already shown passion for horses, soccer is not for him nor other sports mostly associated with young boys of his age.

It was this passion for horse riding that led his father, Mohd Zahed Terence Abdullah and mother, Nora Hashim, to enrol the young Adam in the Jebel Ali Equestrian Club, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Adam is the only Malaysian taking up horse riding at the club and most likely the only Malaysian child to do so in the UAE.

Nora said it all started when Adam was seven and had to choose some school activities, he chose horse riding instead of soccer.

Eventually he became fascinated with it, said the mother of four, who has been in Dubai for more than 10 years.

"He was happy when he joined the club and wanted to do more and more and eager to reach a certain level. Seeing this we allow him to pursue his interest," said Nora to Bernama in an interview.

ANXIOUS MOMENT

There were some anxious moments though when Adam fell from a horse once but the incident did not stop the gutsy young boy from pursuing his passion.

He was "out of action" for a few weeks when his hand became swollen after the horse stepped on it when he fell down.

According to his father, a broadcast consultant, after falling down Adam got up and continued riding the horse. It was only later that he felt the pain in his hand.

That incident was quite an experience for Adam, but he said, it would not deter him from riding.

"Despite hurting my hand, I still want to ride, I want to go further into riding and enter competitions."

He said that his mother got frightened though when he fell down. And did she want Adam to stop riding after that incident

"No, she encourages me to ride again and I want to ride again. My father told me to go for what I want and never stop pursuing my ambition," Adam said.

LESSON AT AGE SEVEN

Adam has performed in one show where he has to ride a horse without a saddle.

"It is harder riding a horse without a saddle because you can't control it. With a saddle you can easily sit and can control the horse," said Adam simply when asked the difference between riding a horse with and without a saddle.

If Adam gets encouragement from his parents, his trainer, Farhang Sadeghi, has high regards of his young charge.

According to Farhang, who is also the clubs general manager/partner, Adam has improved by leaps and bounds ever since he started lessons at age seven and is now an "intermediate rider" and can go for "short canter" without any problems.

The canter is a 3-beat movement and characterised by a moment when all four legs are off the ground called suspension. The canter is faster than the trot and slower than the gallop of suspension after each stride. It starts with the hind leg then leads to the front in a rocking motion.

GOOD RIDER

"We have beginners horses and intermediate horses, and Adam is now able to ride intermediate horses," Farhang said, adding that it would normally take a couple of years for a person to be able to do this, to have enough balance in order to easily handle a horse.

He described Adam as a very committed young boy who never misses a lesson and if he does, he would try to catch up and make up.

"Students like these will definitely improve, because they love horses, they love to come, (to ride) to enjoy and when you love something you will definitely go for it. In a couple of years Adam can become a good rider," he added.

Indeed that is what Adam loves and that is what he is pursuing with the full backing of not only his parents but his sister Nor Nadia, 15, brothers Mohammad Aliff, 14 and Mohammad Afeef, 8.

When asked whether or not he has any other ambition, without any hesitation, Adam said: " No, I only want to be a horse rider, and enter competitions worldwide."

It is not very common for young boys to take up horse riding but Adam has proven that with passion and the love for riding, a person could go far and perhaps even represent the country in international events with the proper guidance and support - Nor Faridah Abd Rashid