Luxury resort Siyam World has built a ranch on a private island in the Maldives that is home to four rare breed Indian horses for guests to ride. Jenny Southan reports
Siyam World is located on the Noonu atoll, 40 minutes’ direct seaplane ride from Velana International airport. Keen to stand out from its competitors, last autumn the resort opened its own giant floating water park; now it has announced it has unveiled its own horse ranch in the middle of the Indian ocean.
The Siyam World Horse Ranch will occupy 15,000 sqm of the 54-hectare island, and will feature stables, large fenced paddocks, fields and four rare breed Indian horses – meaning Siyam World guests can experience sunrise or sunset horse-riding along 4km of white sand beach. Photoshoot packages are also available to get the perfect Instagram shots.
Following a comprehensive approval process by the Maldives Ministry of Fishery and Agriculture, the four horses arrived on the island in December 2021 – becoming the first horses ever introduced to a resort in the Maldives.
There’s Noor, a six-year-old full white mare; Jasmine, a six-year-old white and grey mare; Habibi, a five-year-old black stallion with white spots; and five-year-old full brown mare Kanbulo. All are rare Marwari horses from the Jodhpur region of Rajasthan in India.
Experienced “hostlers” have been employed for each horse, overseen by a specially trained equestrian vet – permanently based on-island, and on-call at all times. Regular checks by the Ministry of Fishery and Agriculture provide ongoing additional independent oversight of the animals’ welfare.
A standalone brand under Sun Siyam Resorts, Siyam World Maldives is a five-star all-inclusive island resort with a mix of Pool Beach Villas, Beach Suites, Beach Residences and Over-Water Villas – complete with their own water slides.