Too Hot To Trot

Legendary veteran riding instructor, proprietor/owner of Twin Palms Riding Centre, Anki Holmstrom, celebrated her birthday on New Year's Eve.

Anki has been in Bahrain for 29 years. She has always been passionate about animals, but as a child she was not allowed to ride horses - they were far too dangerous!

So instead, she would sneak off to the fields nearby and jump bareback and bridle-less onto wild ponies, gallop flat out round the field until unceremoniously dumped, then get onto another one and do it again!

Anki quickly learned that you couldn't ride the same horse twice in one day!

Something Anki will always say whether you can ride, or you're just beginning, is the need to 'feel' your horse. There is only one way to get that feeling - by riding and listening to your horse.

At 11, Anki's family allowed her proper riding lessons at a nearby school, at which she also worked for extra lessons. Learning in an area of some 15mx25m - and jumping large horses - gives an indication of the early expertise necessary to make turns and correct approaches to fences. Soon people were giving her horses to ride. Her riding prowess and popularity growing, Anki went on to work at different riding schools and was sent on instructor courses to obtain the relevant qualifications.

Itchy feet and circumstances took a very young Anki to Malaysia in 1979 where she carried on teaching, amongst many, the prime minister! Breeding her own specialised line of German Shepherds alongside owning four racehorses and training many others, all hurdlers, she found time to take her jockey licence.

She admits that the start gate is a 'seriously scary place' to be ... and that coming from Anki means it's probably terrifying!

In 1982, accompanied by three of her dogs, she came to Bahrain. Having sold everything equine in Malaysia she took a short break from teaching.

She started again a few months after arriving, at the Delmon Riding School and later moved over to the Shakhoora Riding Centre.

Eventually, Anki decided to build her own riding stables and the Twin Palms Riding Centre (TPRC)was completed in 1990, turning into the biggest riding school in Bahrain.

At the start Anki had seven horses - Ceasar, Enshalla, Tony (the most incredible pony), Arrac, Zain, Pinocchio and Max. And so a new chapter in her life began! But after building TPRC and moving into the premises in June, Anki had to return to Sweden for an instructor course. Upon her return she rescued seven starving horses ... and then on August 2 the first Gulf War broke out.

During the summer, many expat families leave for holidays, but suddenly, everyone else was leaving! Many were unable to return, so Anki was left with her horses, new found rescue cases, some other 10 liveries ... and very little income.

Her pupils changed from children to pilots and soldiers but it was essential to find extra income to feed her horses. Anki turned her hand and profession to become an estate agent ... well, the war correspondents needed to live somewhere!

During the last 29 years, Anki has seen it all here; floods, fires, war, sickness and recovery - there are stories of Strangles and the flu epidemic, of escaping horses, thrills and spills, new life, death, tears and tantrums, coupled with huge success, happiness, fun and laughter.

Edith Gariazzo, who now lives in the UK, said: "Whilst I have some excellent instructors in England, none are able to make that special connection with you, none can bring out the absolute best in you like Anki can. She has a sixth sense that just 'knows' exactly what you and your horse are capable of doing and gets you to do it!"

I also asked for comments from a few of her friends.

Yvonne Addison: "I have known Anki for 25 years and watched her teach hundreds of people how to ride. She is without doubt an exceptional teacher as well as to me and many others who have passed through this island, a very loyal and trusted friend."

Instructor Hillary Picton, now in England, remembers fondly, many years ago, trying desperately to get a very difficult horse Major into a trailer to take to the national show. After hours, and at the point of giving up, Anki hurled a torrent of Swedish at Major who literally leapt straight in - no-one to this day knows what she said!

Majella Kettle will always recall the look on Anki's face when her beloved Caesar jumped up on top of the water tank at the Dilmun - classic, where was the camera?

Anki and fellow Swede Maggie, celebrated their joint half century birthdays with a marquee erected in the stable front paddock. Two hundred guests from all parts of the world attended. A video was shown in which friends were asked: What sort of thing would Anki be if she were ... an animal?

The top reply was horse/tiger. For me it would be an elephant - there is nothing Anki will ever forget about you as a person or any horse she has owned or looked after!