For my project I decided to interview one of my favourite equestrian riders. Alya Meshar Almheiri is a 10-year-old horseback rider in Dubai, who documents her equine journey on a couple social media platforms. I personally started following her a couple years ago on Instagram and watched her grow and succeed upon her riding and confidence. Horseback riding has its up and downs, sometimes even only downs but it’s always very important to keep a connection with your horse, and Alya represents that well. As she’s an Emirati horse rider aiming for the Olympics, I love to watch her journey and relate to her upon my riding as well.  

Here is Alya below and one of her horses, Magic.

A COUPLE OF HER MANY SHOWS :

Here are the Nationals ( National horse show Dubai) in her country:

EventsEvents List8th FBMA International Show Jumping Cup 

And, Alya performs in many other horse shows but has not been performing in many since there’s COVID. She mainly show jumps around 1 meter, but she focuses on other main equine such as dressage.  

 

 -HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS I ASKED HER OVER DM ON INSTAGRAM-

1.Why are you passionate about your job or role?

Alya: I’m passionate about horse riding because I love animals and it’s really fun and exciting.

2. What obstacles have you faced to get you where you are today? 

Alya: I’ve had some hate at the way I ride or when I’m learning something new. And not being allowed to compete in official shows this season because of covid those are obstacles I faced so far.

3. What advice would you pass on to someone interested in what you are doing? 

Alya: The advice I would give to someone is don’t give up and keep trying if it’s something you love doing it will keep you motivated.

4. As a horseback rider have you grown to doubt yourself overtime or has the feelings of failure gone down? 

Alya: Yes, I used to doubt myself, but I don’t anymore because over the years I’ve learned a lot more about riding. (I still do but not often)

5. Have you ever thought you were going to make it this far in your equine, and how would you describe it so far? 

Alya: No, I did not think I would get this far in riding and I’m very grateful for how far I’ve come.

6. Would you be open to further contact from Riverside students and if so, how can someone contact you? 

Alya:You can DM me here (Instagram) or other social media platforms.

 

 -SOME OF MY INNER RESPONSES-

After looking over Alya’s interview answers I concluded that even though she is in Dubai or another rider is all the way from France we can all still relate to each other. I never realized that such different people can think and do the same towards a lifestyle, and in this case it’s horseback riding. Hearing from amazing people like Alya and having a conversation with them is such an amazing experience, and I love being able to conversate with such extreme level equine riders.  

Since Alya is quite young I have learned from her that anything can be done or is possible if you really dedicate yourself and surround yourself will others who have the same mindset as you. It’s a known saying but after following Alya and her equine journey she proves that it can really be done. I can also reflect my riding with hers if I am struggling on a skill or trying to improve on my equine, and it’s really great to see such a young rider with great skill. I can definitely see Alya in the Olympics one day and I will continue to follow her journey towards it.  

-CITINGS FROM CITATION MACHINE-

Picture of Alya jumping- (2020). Facebook. Retrieved February 23, 2021, from https://www.facebook.com/TipperaryEquestrian/photos/alya_meshar_almheiri-looking-sharp-and-just-in-time-for-the-holidays-happythursd/10155828699346702/

 Another picture of Alya jumping – Meshari, A. (2020). Log into facebook. Retrieved February 23, 2021, from https://www.facebook.com/alyariding/posts/tomorrow-is-our-first-day-of-distance-learning-have-any-of-you-started-yet-_____/1082874465425241/ 

 Picture of self doubt with the answers and questions- When self-doubt consumes you – identify and stop it. (2021). Retrieved February 23, 2021, from https://mymoodpath.com/en/magazin/self-doubt/

Picture of overcoming obstacles – Amadeus, F. (2020, February 05). Removing obstacles to success for women in the workplace. Retrieved February 23, 2021, from https://www.phocuswire.com/removing-obstacles-women-in-the-workforce

Pictures of social media icons –

From website – McFadden, C. (2020, July 02). A chronological history of social media. Retrieved February 23, 2021, from https://interestingengineering.com/a-chronological-history-of-social-media

Picture from – Stock Images: PressureUA, S. (2021). Social media apps LOGOTYPES printed on a Cubes stock photo. Retrieved February 23, 2021, from https://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/pressureua?assettype=image&mediatype=photography

Alya’s Instagram: alya_meshar_almheiri