• The children's pony camp at JA Equestrian Centre, where swimming with horses is the highlight of the two-morning session. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    The children's pony camp at JA Equestrian Centre, where swimming with horses is the highlight of the two-morning session. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • A child jumps off one of the horses into the calm sea
    A child jumps off one of the horses into the calm sea
  • Michelle Coetzee, equestrian manager at JA Equestrian Centre, is originally from South Africa and has been working at the stables for more than two years
    Michelle Coetzee, equestrian manager at JA Equestrian Centre, is originally from South Africa and has been working at the stables for more than two years
  • Painting the horses is another popular activity
    Painting the horses is another popular activity
  • The ponies are painted with non-toxic, pet-safe, washable finger paints
    The ponies are painted with non-toxic, pet-safe, washable finger paints
  • Children can ride in pairs during the swim, which is a 'novel experience', says Coetzee
    Children can ride in pairs during the swim, which is a 'novel experience', says Coetzee
  • Grooming time for the horses. The camp also teaches children stable management skills
    Grooming time for the horses. The camp also teaches children stable management skills
  • The horses are well-kept and managed at the stables in JA The Resort, Dubai
    The horses are well-kept and managed at the stables in JA The Resort, Dubai
  • The pony camp also features gymkhana, for which children can win rosettes
    The pony camp also features gymkhana, for which children can win rosettes
  • Parents watch as their children swim with the horses
    Parents watch as their children swim with the horses
  • Jumping off a painted horse in pairs, a highlight of the camp
    Jumping off a painted horse in pairs, a highlight of the camp
  • Away from the stables, the camp's activities include mini-golf and the resort's Splash water park
    Away from the stables, the camp's activities include mini-golf and the resort's Splash water park
  • Coetzee watches on as children enjoy swimming with the horses
    Coetzee watches on as children enjoy swimming with the horses
  • A young girl swimming with a horse
    A young girl swimming with a horse
  • The camp caters to children of all riding skills aged six to 12, as all rides are guided
    The camp caters to children of all riding skills aged six to 12, as all rides are guided

Weekend

Saddle up for a children's pony camp in Dubai

Children learn stable management skills, but are also able to swim with and paint the animals

Farah Andrews
Farah Andrews

April 21, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

Never work with children or animals, they say, but Michelle Coetzee does exactly that on a regular basis when she runs the children's pony camps at JA Equestrian Centre.

The equestrian manager at the stables in JA The Resort in Dubai hosts groups of children aged six to 12 for the two-morning camps, run throughout the year on long weekends and school holidays.

Highlights from the camp include stable management, painting the ponies and a gymkhana, but the main attraction is swimming with the horses.

"Everyone enjoys swimming with the horses," Coetzee tells The National of the activity, which is run as part of the camp or for groups of people of any age, as long as they weigh less than 75kg.

"It is tranquil, adults love swimming with the horses and floating in flat, warm water," she says. "Then the kids can dive in, swim with the animals and on top of them. If there are two of them, they can ride together. They have a blast.

"It's an novel experience. It actually sold me on my job here. I moved from South Africa for the role and when I saw the photos of the horses swimming among the boats, I thought, 'I can live there!'"

Another popular activity is painting the horses, which children do with non-toxic, pet-safe, washable finger paints. Coetzee deliberately chooses the white pony for children to get creative with, so that it stands out. She jokes that the light-furred stable dog Gemma also frequently gets in on the colourful action.

Children of any skill level can take part in the camp, as all rides are assisted and the gymkhana is divided into different skill groups, with rosettes handed out at the end.

Away from the stables, mini-golf, use of the resort's Splash water park and milkshakes at Smokin' Gun restaurant are all available at the camp.

The camp runs for two mornings in a row, from 9am to 12.30pm, and costs Dh400 ($108) a day. It runs annually from October to June, breaking for the hot summer months.

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

While you're here
While you're here
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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