Riding Asil Arabian in the Tunisian Desert, by Louis Bauduin

“I would like to come back to the Tunisian horse named Jehol Sahraoui (Ouaffar x Kalthoumia by Sabour), a deep bay born at Mr Heinz Gerd Bergmann… I had the opportunity to ride this stallion in 1989 during a visit to the Ghobber, who were at the time semi-nomadic breeders in the Maknassy region.

I had gone riding with the chief of the tribe Rhida Ghobber, his brothers and cousins including Youssef and Amara Ben Ghabri. I still remember the look on the face of my friend Jean-Claude riding beside me while filming with his eyes the superb steed in full action. I still remember hearing Rhida shout from behind me: “Luis, can you imagine going like that for thirty kilometers?” We were swarming on the horizon of this desolate landscape at very high speed.

Jehol knew only one pace: the gallop! Prancing as we were still treading, my reins elastic and his mouth soft, this devil of a horse seemed to sink into the ground before skidding gradually in a spray of sand when I released the reins slightly. Here the expression “a swimmer” took all its meaning. I was not in the best of shape and was still undergoing treatment at the time, but, with the help of the surroundings, I could easily believe I was the master of the universe.

The following year, five of us friends left the Paris-Orly airport with saddles and bridles for a ten-day trek in southern Tunisia. Our guide Amara entrusted me with an excellent horse named Marzouk (Ouaffar x Barkana by Oramino and Kalthoumia by Sabour). He had a very assertive character and his action was very efficient. He was trained to amble. This horse suited me perfectly. Amara had the gift to associate mount and rider. Jean-Claude Rajot was riding a five year old bay called Salsabil (River of Paradise, photo below with Jean-Claude riding) who had just won a two thousand meter race on Saturday and a thirty kilometer race on Sunday before our ride. Benoît Mauvy (Robert’s grandson) was riding a four year old chestnut, Rimel, who had also won a two thousand meter race in his category. The latter galloped continuously during the first two days. The six stallions were all between 1.43 and 1.50 meters tall and did not wear horseshoes.

This part of Tunisia was very well endowed in excellent horses.