Fantasia

In almost all Arab Countries, there is an important equestrian tradition, based on the meaning of the horse in the moslem religion.

There are several examples of sayings by the prophet Mohammed dealing with horses and their virtues.

In the whole of the Maghreb, as the regions of Africa north of the Sahara are called in arabic, there is a kind of equestrian performance called "Fantasia" in French , or in Arabic language "harrqa" resp. "barooda". These Arabic words describe the two main elements of Fantasia, "harrqa" meaning a movement, and "barood" meaning (gun-) powder. So you could translate the two words as "Moving Game" and "Gunpowder Game".

There are several explanations for the origin of these games. The most logical one seems to me a military training of the preferred warfare method of arab cavalry: quick, repeated attacks. This method was already reported during the moorish conquest of the iberian peninsula in the 8th century, when the Spanish Knights on their heavy battle horses were not able to stop the invasion from Northern Africa.

The riding style was based on the manner of galloping standing up in the stirrups. This way, the horses were able to run faster and with more endurance (today, jockeys ride in an extreme form of this stile in horse races). The disadvantage of having less balance in this position was avoided by the big stirrups and the back of the saddle has a form to support even a rider standing up in the stirrups.

I have heard, that in some Arabian countries (Saudi Arabia ?) there are even Fantasias with "mehari" (Riding Camels). I would be glad to know more details about this (Literature, Eye Witness Reports, Pictures, Videos)