Camels..has anyone else ridden one?

TrasaM

TrasaM

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Just wondering is any more if you horse people had ridden a camel. My first up close meeting with them last year was in the UAE on a desert safari.. We were taken to a desert farm with lots of camels. I stayed at the back feeling a bit reluctant to go near or touch as they seemed so big. Then decided to take my courage in my hand and approach one. I ended up totally smitten with a lady camels neck wrapped around my legs whilst I stroked her neck and head. I always thought they'd be smelly and grumpy and was so surprised at how gentle they can be. And those eyes, so lovely. One of them were being a bit aggressive to some of the group so it got chased away by the handlers. We then got a chance to have a ride but to my disappointment it was just a brief photo opportunity as I was having a little fantasy about disappearing across the dunes:D It's a long way down but there is something to be said about getting on them from the ground. Has anyone else had a go at riding them? I know there is a place in the UK which keeps them and you can go and ride them. Has anyone else tried this?
 
Ive ridden many times Abroad and it was great. No not done it in the uk but I too love camels and have been searching to try and buy one here. Turned out to be a scam and luckily I didn't loose money. However if you've got the doe defo import one. I live an hour away from the place in Cornwall who does it and next year I'm going for sure!!! They are fantastic animals and I imagine great to go trekking on just no jumping :-D
 
partypremier said:
Have never ridden a camel (although I bet they are better than some of the horses I've had to ride for others).
There are 2 for sale in HH this week if you are having withdrawl symptoms.
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Really..that would surprise the hubby when he gets back! :D not sure the livery offer from my friend extends to a camel. Can just see the chaos that'd ensue when it arrived! Mind you maybe the Arab has a residual memory somewhere of humped ones. But don't think coblet would be impressed :D
 
kymw90 said:
Ive ridden many times Abroad and it was great. No not done it in the uk but I too love camels and have been searching to try and buy one here. Turned out to be a scam and luckily I didn't loose money. However if you've got the doe defo import one. I live an hour away from the place in Cornwall who does it and next year I'm going for sure!!! They are fantastic animals and I imagine great to go trekking on just no jumping :-D
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They can move quit fast though when they get going. Would love to find out what it feels like then they go fast :D There's a clip on you tube showing one doing dressage. :D
 
I raced camels in Victoria, Australia. The people that I worked for had a business doing camel treks and exhibition races. It was great fun and the camels were lovely to deal with.
There is something very odd about waking up and looking out over a paddock of camels though - it looked a bit like Jurassic Park!
We did think about bringing some over and setting up over here, but the reality was that the funds needed to start everything up were just beyond us.
Shame, but I have some great photos and fab memories!
 
partypremier said:
page 109 is it a hoax do you think?
£5,500 each no phone number just an email.
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Beat me to it! I was just going to post that H&H has had an advert for 2 Bactrian camels for a few weeks, now. The Bactrians have 2 humps and are indigenous to Mongolia.

There are several at Hamerton Zoo Park in Cambridgeshire. I don't think they are ridden, but I would think you could ring them and ask about their care and diet. I was visiting the park last week and saw several in their huge barn. They are appreciably larger than my 18h Shires.
 
My ex owned a camel when I was in Australia with him - we didn't have a saddle for it so he chucked me on it to ride bareback - not flipping easy on a 'one hump' camel!!! New horses didn't like 'Ivan' much at first and it always looked a bit odd seeing him out in the paddock with the horses. Unlike horses, (if I remember correctly) its the males that come into season.
 
Unicorn..how on earth do ride a single hummed one bareback apart from with great difficulty? In front , behind or on top? Don't suppose he took a picture ? :)
 
I use to work at a desert resort and we had 5 camel to look after. They absolutely lovely, some were actually more affectionate than the horses and loved being groomed and bathed. Didn't like riding them tho.... Too high!!
 
Tai.Ni.Po.Ni said:
I use to work at a desert resort and we had 5 camel to look after. They absolutely lovely, some were actually more affectionate than the horses and loved being groomed and bathed. Didn't like riding them tho.... Too high!!
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I was really surprised how friendly they are. I tried coaxing the one I befriended to follow me back to the jeep. Where were you based?
 
Bone rattlers and the reins were like holding a snake..........if you remember those jointed movey snakes by the tail as a kid. Wierd. I didnt like it and to get off they may have well just tipped you forward!
 
I did when I was about 5 or 6 when we went to Egypt on holiday. I hated it, burst out crying and got offered to ride on a lovely white donkey instead..... Which was great, but the guy refused to give me back and my Dad ended up having to pay about £200 in the end.

He still jokes he should have just left me there. :o
 
I rode one in Morocco on a beach. I laughed when it stood up, I laughed when my OH took my pic. I didn't laugh at all when the little Moroccan guy who owned it starting jumping around behind it, smacking it with a whip and throwing stones at it's bottom. In fact I completely lost my sense of humour when it suddenly bolted along the beach at full tilt (tilt being the operative word), obviously heading for Africa and freedom. I grabbed for the reins, and riders...there were NO REINS!! Aaargh, death by camel...
After about a mile it cantered a u-turn at an alarming angle and lurched back to the starting point, by then I was hanging off it's side, hyperventilating and had a serious case of camel-lag. Take my advise, if you happen to rock up in Essaouira and a little Moroccan blokey offers you fun ride on nice camel...don't do it!!!!!
 
Haha crikey gala that sounds exhilarating!

I rode one in Tunisia in the Sahara desert, it was great! Even got my BF to ride one (my camel's younger brother in fact!) but couldn't get him on a horse?! There were guys in traditional dress charging around on stunning Arabs, they offered you a ride which I declined anyway but the ride actually means you get on WITH the guy in front, basically on their lap, no didn't fancy that!

I did fancy a bit of 'trot' but we stuck at a walk.

All the camels were rather grumpy and STUNK I have to say. They were well looked after and the people seemed quite respectful of them though.
 
I rode one across the desert in India. His name was Henne and if he was in the horse world he would have hit 19hh, scabby, ugly and uncomfortable but abit of a dude. The others would all dutifully follow each other whilst he liked off roading up and down the sand dunes steepest bits. I'll stick to horses!
 
gala said:
I rode one in Morocco on a beach. I laughed when it stood up, I laughed when my OH took my pic. I didn't laugh at all when the little Moroccan guy who owned it starting jumping around behind it, smacking it with a whip and throwing stones at it's bottom. In fact I completely lost my sense of humour when it suddenly bolted along the beach at full tilt (tilt being the operative word), obviously heading for Africa and freedom. I grabbed for the reins, and riders...there were NO REINS!! Aaargh, death by camel...
After about a mile it cantered a u-turn at an alarming angle and lurched back to the starting point, by then I was hanging off it's side, hyperventilating and had a serious case of camel-lag. Take my advise, if you happen to rock up in Essaouira and a little Moroccan blokey offers you fun ride on nice camel...don't do it!!!!!
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Made me chuckle! And re-jogged my memory of my sister on a camel. The leader let go and said camel also bolted....I wish I was old enough to vividly remember my sis being bolted with round the Pyramids! It was an allround interesting day there.....
 
I have, many years ago while on holiday in Egypt.

The most difficult part was just after I got on and when he was made to stand up, and also after the ride, when he's getting down again. But it's not that hard if you follow the owner's instructions to the letter...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbuIROzwokA&feature=related

Try to find a good guide though, not like this one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1T0UdIgCfo

Their movements are enormously big. The walk was in a very slow forward and backwards rocking motion. The trot was very easy to sit to. It was ridiculously hot that day, so mine refused to canter - lol!
 
Yup did a mini camel trek in Morocco. We did get to go a bit fast which was great but the rocking motion made me feel a bit seasick! Pretty stinky and the getting off and on was q a challenge!
 
Health and safety does not come into the equation :) I only got to do a short walk on one but I did have a very big grin the whole time. It might have just been relief to be out of the jeep speeding across huge dunes which I found not at all funny and very very scary.
 
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Mine was a village in India and my OH had been with my son and thought it would be a treat for me as we headed across the plain at full pelt, it was so uncomfortable it sort of run. The guy had a big whip but soon we left him behind I thought it was the end! OH who cant ride thought it was great.
 
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