Ameni Esseibi is the horse mamacita

2026 is the year of the horse, and the aesthetic is inescapable—from Anita Ko’s equestrian talismans to Bella Hadid normalising the cowgirl hat as part of her off-duty model uniform. But for Ameni Esseibi, self-proclaimed “Horse Mamacita” and the first MENA curvy model, this isn’t a moment or a mood board. It’s a way of being.

Ameni has been riding for a decade, and that time in the stable has fundamentally reshaped how she approaches beauty and fashion. “Horse riding definitely changed my beauty routine,” she tells me. “When you’re outside all the time, sweating, moving, and being around nature, you stop caring about heavy makeup. I focus way more on skin now—keeping it healthy, hydrated, and protected from the sun. I’ve also learnt to embrace my natural hair texture because there’s no point fighting it when you’re riding. Less effort, more real.”

Her aesthetic now reads effortless in the truest sense: sun-kissed skin, natural texture, minimal fuss. “Fashion-wise, riding completely influenced my style,” she continues. “I’m drawn to practical pieces that still look good—boots, leather, oversized jackets, earthy colours. Comfort is a big thing, but I still want to feel feminine and strong. Even when I’m not at the stable, that horse girl energy stays. Strong posture, confident presence, and outfits that feel natural instead of forced.”

Meeting Rih El Janna 

But this grounding didn’t come easy. The 27-year-old body-positive and mental health advocate met her horse Rih El Janna in Tunisia during one of the darkest periods of her life. Struggling silently with depression, anxiety, and relentless overthinking, Ameni found herself drawn to a horse with a personality as big and unapologetic as her own.

“I remember our first encounter so clearly because she completely commanded the space,” Ameni recalls. “She had this big, unapologetic presence—the kind of horse you simply can’t ignore. She was fiery, expressive, full of personality, and that immediately drew me in.”

She named her Rih El Janna (The Wind of the Heavens): wild, fast, strong, and impossible to break. “At a time when I was struggling deeply, her strength pulled me back to life, her speed reminded me what it feels like to move forward, and her presence gave me purpose again. She didn’t just give me comfort—she gave me power.”

Healing through each gallop

Ameni uses riding as a form of therapy because it offers something nothing else does: absolute honesty. “Horses don’t respond to what you say; they respond to what you feel,” she explains. “If I’m tense, she reacts. If I calm myself, she softens. That kind of feedback taught me emotional regulation in the most natural, non-judgemental way.”

The healing process isn’t always peaceful. “When I’m with her, my body lets go before my mind does,” Ameni describes. “My breath slows, the tension I carry without noticing just drops. Mentally, it’s like someone turns the volume down. Sometimes it’s intense, sometimes she challenges me. But that’s the healing. She forces me into my body, into the present. I can’t dissociate, I can’t escape into my thoughts.”

This contrast is especially stark against the backdrop of Ameni’s work as a model. “My work is fast-paced and very outward-facing,” she tells me. “You’re always moving, adapting, giving energy, and being ‘on.’ With her, everything slows down. There’s no role to play, no image to maintain. That’s where I genuinely breathe.”

Ancestral, spiritual & present

For Ameni, this connection runs deeper than personal healing; it’s ancestral. Horses have been part of Tunisia’s history for centuries, symbols of strength, freedom, and pride in the culture. “Even though Rih El Janna is too young to ride, just being with her connects me to that legacy,” she says. “It’s like touching a piece of my ancestors.”

In Islam, horses hold profound spiritual significance as symbols of strength, loyalty, and dignity. “That framework shapes how I see them: as noble beings deserving respect, care, and patience,” Ameni explains. “Being with Rih El Janna teaches me humility and presence. She reminds me that my role is not to control, but to honour her energy and spirit.”

This understanding has transformed how Ameni moves through the world. “Being around horses has completely changed how I move and hold myself,” she says. “Their presence teaches you confidence, awareness, and how to trust your instincts, and that carries over into modelling. I walk into shoots differently now; there’s a strength and a grounded energy I didn’t have before.”

It’s also changed what she’s willing to accept. “Horses don’t tolerate nonsense, and being around that honesty makes me more selective and true to myself. I’ve learnt to value my energy and boundaries, both on set and off.”

When I ask what she wants people to understand about her connection with horses, Ameni’s answer is immediate: “My connection with horses goes beyond the everyday. It’s about learning to read energy, to respect power, and to find stillness in motion. Rih El Janna has shown me that patience, intuition, and trust aren’t just lessons for horses; they’re lessons for life. Being with her reminds me that true bonds are built on understanding, courage, and a little bit of fire.”

Now, here’s some sporty fashion inspo.