Two Couples Balancing on Horses

Two couples balancing on horses

Azeem Khodabux

Sun, November 9, 2025 - 14:10

Sheikha and Noor Manuwoollah, like Rahul and Khushi Beeharry, share an extraordinary passion: horses, masters of patience, balance, and deep connection with humans.

The hooves strike the damp sand, regular as a metronome. Sheikha Nabeelah Manuwoollah holds her breath, adjusts her posture, and feels the gallop resonate in her chest. Whether on horseback or in her gym, everything is about balance for this sports coach and nutritionist: body, mind... and heart. Her husband, Noor Manuwoollah, shares the same obsession with mastery and concentration. Together, they live a passion that transcends them: horses.

"A horse is a mirror," says Sheikha. "If you’re nervous, it gets agitated. If you’re calm, it relaxes. It reflects exactly what you feel."

This fascination dates back to childhood. As a little girl, Sheikha followed her father along the beaches of Flic-en-Flac. The sound of hooves on the damp sand, the animals’ breath, the first riding lessons... all of it left a mark on her. "I remember the sticky sand under my feet, the scent of the sea, and the mane brushing against my hands," she reveals. "The first times I rode alone, I was scared, but a sweet excitement coursed through my body. It wasn’t a sport for me; it was an emotion."

She recounts the icy mornings spent preparing the horses before training, the fear of falling, the satisfaction of a perfectly synchronized gallop, and the unique feeling of riding a horse that understands her. This bond with horses has endured through the years, despite studies, responsibilities, and city life.

Fate brought Noor and Sheikha together at the gym. Noor, already a sports coach, noticed Sheikha’s consistency and energy. Quickly, they discovered a rare common interest: horses. Their camaraderie became evident, and what started as a professional meeting transformed into a romantic adventure. Between discussions about nutrition and physical development, they shared anecdotes, childhood memories, and secrets related to the stables they frequented.

Their wedding on February 7, 2021, took place just a week after opening their gym, Just Lift Gym, during a tense time: lockdown hit Mauritius. "Everything stopped suddenly," recounts Sheikha. "We had just opened; we were scared. Clients stopped coming, food supplies were limited, and the whole country was holding its breath." Noor, pragmatic, adds: "In sports as in life, falling is part of the journey. The important thing is to get back up."

Today, Just Lift Gym has become a local reference. Discipline, kindness, and passion coexist. Between sessions, the couple escapes to ride horses. The rustle of manes, the smell of freshly distributed straw, and the sound of hooves in the sand set the rhythm of these moments. "When you’re on a horse, you think of nothing else," says Sheikha. "You are forced to be present in the moment." For them, the animal is a constant reminder of patience and trust, in life and in their relationship.

A Silent Dialogue

More than ten thousand kilometers away in Timaru, New Zealand, Rahul Beeharry follows the same rhythm but with different challenges: as a professional jockey, he lives in sync with horses. His childhood in Belle-Vue-Maurel shaped this passion. While other children played ball, he observed the riders, fascinated by the mastery and grace of the animal. He remembers the misty mornings spent watching training races, the horses’ short breaths, and the scent of damp hay that filled the stable.

After a promising start as a track rider in Mauritius, he flew to New Zealand. There, he learned the demands of the job: waking up at dawn, braving the cold, facing fear and falls. "Being a jockey is not just about riding; it’s about understanding. You need to feel your horse, anticipate its breathing, its rhythm. It’s a silent dialogue," Rahul confides. "You have to build a relationship of trust."

His passion for equines captivated Khushi Jhoree, a dancer and teacher from Terre-Rouge, whom he met through a mutual friend in his new home. "I had never met anyone who spoke about horses with such love," recalls Khushi. "He lived for them. It seemed like he understood their language."

On August 24, 2025, they married in Mauritius. Staying true to his bond with horses, Rahul chose to arrive... on horseback. The image was striking: the bay horse walked slowly, guests paused, children reached out to pet the animal, some screamed in excitement, while others cried in wonder. The wind gently lifted the mane, the hooves struck the ground with a nearly musical rhythm, and the sun glided over the warm colors of the animal.

"It was symbolic," says Rahul. "The horse has always been part of my life; it had to be there." Khushi, moved, still remembers: "I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was majestic, almost unreal."

Since then, their life together continues in Timaru, where horses remain central. In the mornings, Rahul leaves very early for training. The horses await him in the fog; he prepares them, rides them, cares for them. Each day, he rediscovers that connection that has always fueled him. "I can't go a day without them."

The Silent Teacher

Khushi often watches him return covered in dust, his gaze still lost in the race: "He has that calmness of riders. Nothing disturbs him for long. Maybe the horses taught him that."

For the Manuwoollahs and the Beeharrys, the horse is not just a pastime: it is a silent teacher. It teaches patience, balance, observation, and respect. The bond between humans and animals shapes their daily lives, influences their way of loving, and helps them navigate challenges.

Their philosophy is simple: every gesture matters, every shared moment is precious. In a world that moves too quickly, horses set the pace. And those who love them come away transformed: more attentive, more patient, more human.