Duaa Anwar

Life and Education

I was born in Alexandria, Egypt, 1979. By kindergarten, I had already lived in two more countries: Bahrain and the Emirates (Arabian Peninsula). I remained with my parents in the Emirates until 1992 when my father was asked to relocate to Kuwait as part of a job promotion.

In 1992, just a year after the end of the Gulf War, my family and I relocated to Kuwait, where I enrolled at the American International School. Three years later, I graduated, earning an American High School Diploma, and prepared to travel south to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where I would attend college.

My love of art compelled me to study design at the American University in Dubai. In 1999, I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design. Preferring art as a hobby, I am now in the process of establishing a career as a writer.

As a Writer

When I was thirteen years old, I wrote a play called "Sisters, Sisters". The play was performed on the stage of a local club, marking the first in a line of 'published' works. My passion for the written word became evident when I indulged in the writing of a full-length romance novel entitled "Forbodded". The novel was written over the course of my college years but to this day remains a manuscript in my drawers. I do not plan to publish it. I like to consider it my little personal try out at a novel.

It wasn't until I was twenty-two that I decided to write a book on a relatively new subject: the relationship between people and horses, and the wonderful traits of horses that people often overlook. Exploring this frontier inspired the birth of "I Am Equus: Understanding the Potential of Horses Through Everyday Encounters".

While attempting to find an agent to represent my work, my fortune took a new turn. I found Barb Doyen, who connected me to the editors of Adams Media. They needed a book on the Koran targeting the average American. I wrote a proposal, and it was accepted. I signed my first book deal in summer 2003, at age 24.

As a Rider

Like most horse people, my love for horses is almost innate. Not a soul in my family had ever been involved with horses, but that was irrelevant. At the tender age of four, and after seeing horses only a few times in my life, I requested that my father bring me a horse from England during his short stay in London. He came back with a wooden rocking horse.

Growing up in the city meant that horses were scarce. My non-horsey parents paid little attention to my relentless nagging for riding lessons, hoping I would grow out of it. However, when I turned 16, it became apparent that horses weren't just a little girl's dream, and I signed up for weekly riding lessons. Shortly thereafter, I became the proud owner of a part-Arab Gelding, Just Gerry.

From 1996 to 2003, Gerry pioneered me into new levels of riding harmony. I discovered dressage on his back, evolving from a stiff log to soft and seamless unity with my horse. Over the years, I delved into volumes to further my education in dressage. But it wasn't all about the riding--my partnership with my horse elevated my awareness of horses to new heights.

Yet Gerry was growing older, and it wasn't fair to pressure him farther. I retired him, allowing him plenty of freedom and playtime, and in fall 2003, bought Fanegro--a 4-year-old gelding from Germany by Florestan I. Fanegro is a big horse, sometimes quite a handful, but he comes with bags of talent and potential to go Grand Prix. In 2005, Fanegro placed second in the UAE Dressage Riders Championship at first (UK Novice) level. As of Spring 2010, Fanegro is training fourth (UK Advanced Medium) level dressage.