Baghdad hosts third Sumer International Arabian Horse Festival as calls for end to ban on Iraqi participation in global events grow

BAGHDAD — The Third Sumer International Arabian Horse Festival concluded in Baghdad on Monday at the Iraqi Equestrian Federation grounds, showcasing a gathering of Arabian horse breeders and attracting regional participation from Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iran.

The festival featured intense competitions across various age categories, culminating in several horses securing top honors. The mare Nuwara claimed gold in the one-year-old category, Camelia topped the two-year-old category, Rashida won in the 4-6 years category, while six+ category went to Kahilan.

Aqil Muften, President of the Iraqi Olympic Committee, expressed optimism about lifting the international ban on Iraq’s participation in global equestrian events, a restriction in place since 1985.

“We have been working for over a year to lift the ban on Iraqi horses competing internationally. A committee has been formed, including representatives from the Equestrian Federation, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Directorate of Veterinary Medicine. We’ve made significant progress with the International Federation for Equestrian Sports and Group VII, and we will soon share the good news about lifting this decades-long restriction,” Muften told 964media.

Regional Group VII is a division of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports that encompasses countries from the Middle East and North Africa, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Its primary role is to promote and coordinate the development of equestrian sports within these nations.

Since the late 1980s, Iraq has faced an international ban preventing its participation in global equestrian events. This prohibition stems from concerns over the spread of glanders—a contagious disease affecting horses, mules, and donkeys, which can also be transmitted to humans. The outbreak of glanders in Iraq, coupled with regional instability following conflicts such as the Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf War, led to the imposition of these restrictions. As a result, while Iraq is permitted to import horses, it remains barred from exporting them for regional and international competitions.

Ahmed Al-Damstani, a Bahraini parliamentarian and member of the Arabian Horse Beauty Committee, praised the quality of horses at the festival.

“The scenes we witness here indicate that Iraq possesses truly beautiful and exceptional horses. These horses have a noble and authentic lineage. We hope Iraq will soon overcome the ban and participate in international events,” Al-Damstani said.

Ahmed Subaih, owner of Dijla Stud for Purebred Arabian Horses, shared his excitement after securing first place in one of the competitions. “We are grateful to have participated in this distinguished festival dedicated to purebred Arabian horses. Winning first place was a wonderful experience. We hope the ban will be lifted soon, allowing us to compete with these magnificent horses in Arab tournaments,” Subaih remarked.

Efforts are currently underway by Iraqi authorities, including the Equestrian Federation and the Ministry of Agriculture, to establish comprehensive equine health protocols and databases. These initiatives aim to address international concerns and work towards lifting the longstanding ban.