Arsalan Ansari – A Life Shaped by Horses

Australian Jumping

For Arsalan Ansari, horses have never been just part of his life, they have shaped it completely. From the first time he placed his feet in the stirrups as a boy in Iran, to the shows he now works at across Australia, Arsalan has always carried with him the same deep respect and love for horses.

“I was about eight or nine years old when I first rode,” Arsalan said. “At a glance I fell in love with horses, and after that I never really stepped out of it.”

Growing up, Arsalan was a dedicated student, but his motivation came from the stables rather than the classroom. “I was kind of a kid who studied hard, but not because I loved studying. The reward for good grades was more riding time, and that was all I wanted.”

He spent the first 12 years of his riding life under the guidance of the same coach, a former Iranian team rider at the Asian Games and a respected course designer. “He believed strongly in flatwork. He always said flatwork is your homework. I was really lucky to grow up with that foundation, not just learning to ride but learning how to build up a horse over time.”

The equestrian structure in Iran was very different from what Arsalan found when he later came to Australia. “Most horses are kept in large academies or clubs. Some of them have over 400 horses, with five or ten coaches. There isn’t a pony club system or backyard paddocks like you see here. Everything is centralised in the cities.”

For Arsalan, those big clubs became home. He rode competitively through Juniors and Young Riders, and later moved cities to study for his Masters in Electronics Engineering while continuing to ride dozens of horses each day. “I was riding and assisting another rider, competing his horses and going with him to shows. I competed successfully from Juniors through to Mini Prix, and later went overseas to Russia and France, riding and testing horses for clients. I’ve always been a showjumper at heart.”

Among the many horses he rode, one still stands out. “There was an off-the-track thoroughbred I trained myself. He had the biggest heart I’ve ever known. I took him up to the highest level and competed him in the FEI Challenge when I was a young rider. I’ll never forget that horse.”

In 2010 Arsalan and his wife made the life-changing decision to migrate to Australia. It was not an easy choice. “I had my family and friends in Iran, but I didn’t like the education system. I didn’t want my kids to grow up in that system. That was the main trigger for us. After a lot of research, we chose Australia, and we’re really happy we did.”

Arriving in Sydney, Arsalan’s first attempt to find a riding club ended in confusion. “I Googled Northside Riding Club and went there, but I couldn’t see a single horse. Just grass fields and ovals. People looked at me like I came from another planet when I asked where the horses were,” he laughed. “It was a big surprise because in Iran a riding club meant something very different.”

Not long after, he connected with Vicki Roycroft, who offered guidance and encouragement. But it wasn’t until 2015, when he returned permanently, that Arsalan found his true path in Australia. “I knew migration would be heavy, a new culture, new language, no family support. I thought I might not be able to ride anymore. But I couldn’t even imagine being away from horses, so I decided it was time to give back to the sport.”

He reached out to Equestrian Australia, and the response changed everything. “The very next day I got a supportive email from Di Saunders, who introduced me to David Lawrence and Katrina Dukats. They, along with so many others, supported me massively. That’s how I started the pathway of course design and officiating.”

Today, Arsalan is a familiar face at shows across the country, known both as a steward and a course designer. His philosophy is clear: “Safety of the horses comes first, always. A course designer is the only official who can hurt a horse if they don’t know what they are doing. So safety first, then fairness, and then competitiveness and fun. Every horse and rider should gain something when they leave the course.”

As a steward, his outlook is just as thoughtful. “Some people think we are like police, but I believe we are here to help, to guide and to support. Our role is to create the best and fairest conditions for horses and riders. Help and prevent first, then intervene if needed. Almost every rider I see in Australia deeply loves their horse, and that’s really wonderful.”

In 2020, Arsalan was close to officiating at the Tokyo Olympics, before COVID changed the plans. While it was a missed milestone, he remains focused on service rather than titles. “For me it’s about serving the sport at any level, whether it’s a World Cup show or a small country event. The horses don’t care about prestige, and neither should we.”

Arsalan believes that protecting horses must remain at the heart of everything. “Horses are social, emotional beings. Studies show they recognise human faces and respond to kindness. Jumping, when introduced positively, stimulates them physically and mentally. But our sport is only this far from vanishing if we don’t protect it. Everyone who steps into this sport, riders, parents, grooms, and officials, carries that responsibility.”

For Arsalan, it has always been about the horses. “We either build a horse up or we tear it down, there is no neutral. My aim is always to build up both horse and rider.”

We thank Arsalan for his incredible contribution to the sport in this country and we look forward to seeing him out and about at may shows to come.