A Medieval Islamic Horse Warrior Photoshoot

Anyone who knows me will know about my passion for horses — riding them, training them, looking after them —just being with them — and often including them in my creative art work. 

With riding, I’ve always loved the art of dressage (doma in Spanish) most of all. Though what draws me is the classical form, not what is typically seen in modern competition. The late Portuguese master Nuno Oliveira is someone whose riding skills I greatly admire. I’m also fond of another Portuguese tradition known as ‘working equitation’, which feels more in tune with a natural way of riding a horse.

So it was no surprise that, when I was introduced to the ancient Islamic tradition of riding — known as Furūsiyya (فروسية in Arabic), meaning “horsemanship” — that it caught my interest. Furūsiyya included skilful riding, the mounted use of weapons, and the care of horses — which in ancient times, formed the backbone of cavalry training across the medieval Muslim world from Spain to India. 

“Furūsiyya has three essentials, and none stands alone. The first — its foundation — is the rider’s skill, his goodness, and the strength of his bond with the horse, built on firmness and fairness. The second is his knowledge and use of weapons. The third is his courage and moral resolve in battle.”

— by Ibn Akhī Ḥizām, who served as master of horses for Caliph al-Mu'tadid (r. 892-902) in Baghdad

When I learned that my friends had a collection of the attire that the ancient Muslim warrior horsemen would have worn, I immediately suggested that we do a photoshoot. Happily they agreed.

My aim was for the final pictures to echo the style of European Baroque painters — rich in tone, full of atmosphere, and somewhat dramatic in mood. As with all my creative work, I aim to capture emotion rather than simply record. And as I was seeking to do portraits, I did not try to capture movement, it wouldn't have been appropriate.

The models — my dear friends and those magnificent great beasts — posed beautifully. Thank you all!

P.S. Several weeks later, I made a large, varnished canvas print of the ‘hero picture’, so it had the feel and appearance of the oil master painters of medieval Italy and Spain. The effect varnished canvas gives to a photographic print is quite special — not easily seen in a digital online pic — just take my word!