(Photo: 964media)
Saddir district
50 riders compete at Diwaniyah equestrian festival
DIWANIYAH — The Saddir district in Diwaniyah governorate hosted its annual festival for Arabian horses, featuring competitions in beauty, appearance, endurance, and coat quality. The event drew 50 male and female riders from equestrian associations across Iraq’s southern and central governorates.
Large crowds, including tribal leaders and community figures, gathered to watch the contests, which were held on a specially prepared racetrack. Organizers said the track’s soil and layout played a key role in attracting participants.
Abu Sabah al-Khazaali, one of the festival organizers, told 964media, “All provincial associations took part in this festival. Equestrian festivals are still too few and often depend on the personal efforts of participants. Horses deserve much more attention to preserve them.”
He described the event as a high-level gathering nationally, noting the deliberate selection of the site and the attention to track quality.
The festival featured races for the most beautiful coat, physical appearance, and endurance, with both Iraqi and imported horses in competition.
Mahmoud Qasim, head of the Beit Al-Malla Equestrian Team, said, “Our team specializes in equestrian sports and we have been participating in domestic festivals for five years. We came from Basra with 11 male and female riders out of a team of more than 50.”
Qasim added that equestrian sports are among the most cherished and that the team travels long distances to support and enjoy the sport, which he said helps bring together riders from across Iraq and occasionally from abroad.
