The Ardah of horses and camels is practiced in many Omani regions. On the day of the Ardah (the day of the festival), people gather at the racetrack to watch the performances of horse jockeys and camel drivers, which demonstrate the ingenuity of Omanis in taming animals. These performances are accompanied by traditional arts (e.g. recitation of ancient poems). The Ardah begins by presenting traditional scenes, such as horses and camels lying down, riding them standing up, holding the hand of another rider on a running horse, and other similar scenes. This is followed by a display of horses and camels covered in brocade and decorated with exquisite silver ornaments. The Ardah tradition is associated with many social occasions in Oman, such as religious and national holidays. This practice is an integral part of the culture of communities in rural and urban areas and demonstrates people’s ingenuity and passion for caring for animals. Both men and women participate in the Ardah, which is also an opportunity for traditional teams and artisans to showcase their talents. Omanis organize the Arda at the local community level in various social events in which young people also participate. Civic groups also play a major role in imparting these skills, and equestrian groups at the university teach students both horsemanship and performance skills at Al Ardah.
