Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — The board of directors of the Riyadh-based Equestrian Club has been reconstituted with Prince Bandar Bin Khaled Al-Faisal as chairman. Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Turki Al-Faisal and Prince Abdullah Bin Khaled Bin Sultan are appointed members of the board, according to a royal decree.

Saleh Bin Ali Al-Hammadi is the club’s director general and secretary.

The Equestrian Club, which was established in 1965, organizes races in Riyadh and Taif with the participation of top-notch Arabian horses.

There are more than 28,000 horses in the Kingdom, owned by 8,000 men and 100 women, said a report carried by Al-Watan Arabic daily.

Saudi Arabia holds the top position in producing high breed Arabian horses, the newspaper said, adding that 3,137 of them were born in 2016 alone at 14 horse breeding centers across the Kingdom.

The Saudi government gives top importance to horse breeding and races. Saudi Arabian Television used to give live coverage of equestrian events in Malaz and Taif attended by horse lovers within the Kingdom and abroad.

The Kingdom has established a new racecourse named after King Abdul Aziz in Janadriya, 40 km northeast of Riyadh. It is located close to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. This world-class racecourse and equestrian center can accommodate more than 5,000 spectators.

Equestrian races in Janadriya begin in September and continue through April with races conducted on Friday and Saturday evenings. The races in Taif are conducted in the evening on Fridays during summer.

Kuhailat Al-Ajouz, Hamdaniya, Saqlawiya, Tuwaisa, Shuwaima, Kurush, Al-Karri, Kuhailat Al-Aadat, Muannaqiya, Shawafa, Abiya and Dahma are some of the famous Arabian horses.

“The most distinguished characteristics of the Arabian horse are a finely chiseled head, dished face, a long arching neck and high tail carriage,” said an expert. Its entire appearance exudes energy, intelligence, courage and nobility, he added.

In general, Arabian horses have a short and straight back (they usually have one vertebra less than common breeds), perfect balance and symmetry, a deep chest, well-sprung ribs, strong legs of thick density and a more horizontal pelvic bone position.

For thousands of years, they were bred by the desert tribes in the Arabian Peninsula. The Bedouins used them as mounts for long treks and quick forays into enemy camps. In the harsh desert conditions evolved the Arabian horse with its large lung capacity and incredible endurance, the expert said.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, had instructed his followers to look after horses and treat them with kindness, thus influencing to spread the fame of the Arabian horse around the world. He said special attention should be paid to the mares because they ensure the continuity of the breed.

Harsh climatic conditions required the nomads to share food and water, and sometimes even their tents with their horses. As a result, Arabian horses developed a close affinity to man and a high intelligence.

Over the centuries, the Bedouin tribes zealously maintained the purity of the breed. Because of their limited resources, breeding practices were extremely selective. Such practices, which eventually helped the Arabian become a prized possession throughout the world, have led to the beautiful athletic breed we know today, the expert said.