Guest Post: Interview with Layla

I am absolutely thrilled to introduce Layla, a German Muslim rider who is the blogger behind https://reitenmithijab.blogspot.com/

What is your name, how old are you and what is your ethnic and religious background?

My name is Layla, I am 23 years old, and I am a converted German Muslim. I was born in a Catholic family, but I decided to convert to Islam when I was 16 years old. I learnt to know Islam from my Muslim friend and she explained me everything I needed to know. After that I read the Quran and decided to become Muslim.

How long have you been horse-riding for, and what inspired you to first start?

I am riding horses on a regularly basis since I am 6 years old, for about 18 years now. My parents took me to a horse-riding club from time to time when I was four years old. I think it was “love at the first sight”. Of course, I read all horse books that I found. I think I had over 80 different horse books at home when I was a child and a teenager.

How has your experience been as a rider wearing a headscarf and being a different ethnic group?

I know the different reactions to a Muslim rider and a non-Muslim rider very well, because I experienced both. When I converted to Islam and came to the barn to visit my horse, the people looked at me like an alien had walked in. It was the first day I wore hijab. Most people just stared at me and didn’t say anything. Some people asked me, “why I did this”. And one reaction of one man I remember very well: He looked at me with a degrading look and said “Hey, when you will become German again?” I just answered: “I AM German. I am just wearing a headscarf now and converted to Islam.”

I have had my own horse for a long time when I converted to Islam, this made things much easier, because nobody could forbid me to ride horses with a hijab, because it was my own horse. But I found a lot of difficulties in finding a new barn for my mare, when I moved to a new city several times. Some people didn’t take me seriously or just didn’t like the presence of a Muslim in their stables. But also without having a horse of my own, I always found an opportunity to ride horses. But it was more difficult.

In the beginning, when I visit a new stable, at home or on holiday, the people at the barn are looking at me as I am the new cleaning lady or a woman who lost the way and suddenly found herself in a horse ranch. But after they learn to know me and see how I ride, they begin to treat me as a normal person and are impressed of my way to deal with hijab and horse riding and how I ride “with these clothes”. And sometimes they ask me questions about my converting story and my hijab.

What do you think has been your greatest achievement?

With regard to horse riding with hijab I think my greatest achievements are that I always tried to improve my horse-riding outfit so that it is consistent with the rules of correct Islamic clothing and at the same time comfortable for riding. I do not like compromises, not in my religion and not in feeling comfortable with my clothes especially when riding. So I found a good solution, where I do not need to compromise. Alhamdulillah, and the success is all from Allah.

And I am happy that I participated in a horse race years ago. It was just for fun, I wanted to let my mare run as fast as she wanted, and I wanted to show the people that Muslim women can ride horses too! And I won the third place in my first race alhamdulillah. The full story of my horse race you can read in my blog, its too long to tell here. (http://reitenmithijab.blogspot.com/2020/11/ )

What do you love about horse riding?

Hard to say, I love everything about horse riding! The horses, working in the stable, brushing the horse, taking care of an animal, the sport and the way of this natural movement, the connection between a rider and his horse… But what I enjoy most is riding out with the horse in the nature, just me and the horse. And I love to ride fast!

Where do you ride? Tell me a bit about the horse that you ride.

This question is a bit difficult, because due to some private circumstances (half a year abroad in Tunisia and the birth of my children and taking care of them, moving to a new home…) I did not have much time for riding horses this and last year. But whenever I can, I go riding in a stable in my city, they practice western riding and I love it. I ride quarter horses there and every time I go there, I ride another horse. That’s great, so I learn to know new horse characters and how to deal with them :-D

But until last year I have had my own horse, a very stubborn but lovely mare. She was a bit crazy and wild, and almost nobody dared to ride her because she was so fast, and it was hard to stop her when she runned. But I loved her so much. My mare and I did not like to ride in the riding area, but rather we preferred to ride in the forest or open landscape. I also loved to do trail riding with her for a few days. Last year, I took my mare back to her breeding farm where she was born, where she lives on big pastures. I did this because my family and I want to emigrate, and it was no longer possible for me to keep her and take care of her how she deserves.

How do people react to your appearance at competitions or at your yard?

For the people there, I am more interesting than the horses or the competition LOL. :-D

But I do not care, I just do what I love. And I love to surprise the people and do the opposite of what they think. When they think I do not speak German I speak German very well ( it’s my mother tongue), when they think I cannot get on the horse with my skirt I show them how fast I am on the horses back with the skirt. And when they think I will fall off the horse because my hijab is flying in the wind and because of this, the horse will be scared and buck me off his back… I show them that this will not happen (in shaa Allah) and tell them that this has never ever happened before.

What advice would you give to a rider that doesn’t fit the stereotype?

Keep going and do not care of what people say or think about you. If you have the opportunity to ride horses, do it. And concentrate on your dream, not on peoples’ opinions.

What challenges have you faced as a rider?

I think the hardest challenge as a rider is to learn to know yourself and your weaknesses. The horses teach you patience and perseverance.

What has been some of your favourite moments when riding?

Oh, I just love to gallop up the hills very fast and see the sun while galloping and don’t know what’s behind the next hill. When the horse is snorting, the sun is shining, the wind is blowing my hijab and my skirt, and I smell the grass and the trees and the sweat of the horse, I am just happy. These are my favourite moments. I wish I could do this every day.

Thank you so much to Layla for that heartwarming interview, I am so proud of her and it’s truly an honour to know her. I hope that we can meet one day!