ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Around two dozen horses of various breeds took part in a one-day festival in Sulaimani on Friday, showcasing their abilities and highlighting the importance of preserving Kurdish horse breeds.
The event was held for recreational purposes, with no prizes awarded. Most of the riders came from Sulaimani province, while others travelled from western Iran (Rojhelat).
“These are Kurdish horses that have taken part. They prove themselves to be true Kurdish horses during performance,” Diyar Osman, the festival supervisor, told Rudaw’s Nizar Jaza.
“Several individuals have managed to bring good horses to Kurdistan to benefit from them and have successfully preserved their pedigree,” he added.
Horse owners at the festival highlighted the financial costs and personal commitment involved in raising and caring for the animals.
“We have participated with five horses. A horse is not a bird you can just keep locked in a cage at home; horses require a lot of money and you have to be with them constantly,” Tahir Sagirma, a horse owner, told Rudaw.
“A horse cannot be reared by hired workers or handlers - you have to do it yourself and with your own hands,” he added.
Osman said maintaining a single horse costs around 400,000 Iraqi dinars ($263) per month.
Diyar Shriyati, a rider who brought four horses to the festival, praised the resilience and temperament of Kurdish horses, describing them as calm and enduring animals.
“A horse rider doesn't become a true rider until he has fallen. I myself have fallen off horses over a thousand times until I became a rider,” he said.
“Kurdish horses are different, resilient, durable, and do not get tired easily,” Shriyati added.
