RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – Muhammad set up a small tent to sell refreshments to passersby near the equestrian club. He has placed his horses in one of the stables of the club to stay near them at all times.
Muhammad al-Zaher, 35, from Raqqa in northern Syria, is torn between his hobby for breeding horses and preserving what he calls the sport of the ancestors and princes and his harsh circumstances that make their breeding unbearably difficult. Nevertheless his deep love for horses makes them indispensable.
Al-Zaher said he inherited several horses from his father and grandfather, making him more attached to horses and having them in his life. However, he decided to turn it into a source of income when the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) restored a part of the equestrian club in Raqqa.
The AANES was first formed in 2014 in the Kurdish-majority regions of Afrin, Kobani and Jazira in northern Syria following the withdrawal of the government forces. Later, it was expanded to Manbij, Tabqa, Raqqa, Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor after the SDF defeated ISIS militarily there.
Horse breeders in Raqqa in north Syria demand support, such as fodder, medicine, and financial support since they care for the horses at their own expense. The AANES designated the equestrian club in northern Raqqa for this sport, but it needs restoration and repair, according to a horse breeder.
Al-Zaher told North Press, “After the destruction of the club in the war [against ISIS], it sustained much damage. Despite restoration efforts, it is still not well serviced for the horses.” This sector needs more care since it is just like other sports, not to mention the scarcity of horses in this region.
The equestrian club in Raqqa is the only one in northeast Syria where they practice horseback riding. It contains about 100 horses belonging to the locals in Raqqa.
Following the partial restoration of the club, Muhammad al-Madad, 26, a horse breeder in Raqqa, found the opportunity to practice his hobby and at the same time care for his horse after he was hired as a trainer at the club.
He said what makes him lose passion for this hobby is that “There is no interest in this sport by supporting parties.” He believes “if there were activities held in the club, it would have attracted more fans and people who want to learn horseback riding.”
Al-Madad added that, as horse breeders, they need a rehabilitation of the club where their horses are placed. There has to be a suitable place to hold events to attract people and interest in this sport.
The trainer has to spend almost four million Syrian Pounds (SYP, which equals about $ 450) to care for only four horses used for training, not to mention the expenses of fodder, medicine, and vitamins.
“The relevant parties should support horseback riding, like the rest of the sports in the region,” he said.
Khalaf al-Omar, 55, a horse breeder, told North Press that the expenses of caring for horses differ based on their breed. He said that the expenses of caring for one ordinary horse could reach 600,000 SYP (equals about $65 ), whereas a racehorse requires more than a million SYP (equals about $ 110) per month.
Peasant associations in Raqqa provided bran at 1000 per kilogram, whereas in the black market it is sold at 1300 SYP, which “there is not so much difference between the two prices,” according to al-Omar.
He, too, demands to rehabilitate the equestrian club and provide support, such as fodder and medicine for horses and to attract more interest in the sport.
Majed al-Saleh, manager of the equestrian club in Raqqa, said the club needs repairing of doors, racetrack, arbitration rooms, and restoration to reduce the amount of devastation left behind by the war.
The club lacks many services in order to be suitable for horse breeding, holding sport events and races. The horse breeders repair a few things there at their own expenses but cannot repair everything.