Aleppo first horse race festival since 6yr old civil war

CAIRO – 25 May 2017: Southern Aleppo countryside hosted a horse race festival for Arabian horses, the first of its kind in Syria since the beginning of the civil war. Syrians took part in the horse race for thoroughbred Arabian horses sponsored by Al-Fajer Horse Association held on May 12.

Chief Deputy of Al-Fajer Association Mohamed Yehia Nenaa told Egypt Today that festival aims at urging international horse organizations and other concerned associations to preserve livestock and to support Syrian Arab horses, in addition to encouraging the Syrian people to practice equestrian sport.

Nenaa affirmed, “We obtained all the necessary permits from the Aleppo City Council to hold the festival.” He added that 20 participants from Aleppo, Hamah, and Idlib took part in that race. Despite the state of war, the festival was a positive experience, he commented, expressing his delight in the neighs of the horses and the full moon that night.

The Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) donated approximately $1000 to the festival, but the logistic preparations of the event were entirely carried out by local coordinators, Nenaa added.

The race was held under the theme of “Equestrian Brings Us Together”. The 20 Arabian participant horses are authenticated by the United Nations, while another 10 horses, pending the UN authentication, took part as well.