Homs-Sana
In the mountainous al-Qabo village in the western countryside of Homs, we are stopped by a beautiful scene of a group of purebred Syrian horses on a farm built of black basalt stone in the form of arches that bring back our memory to the ancient past of our ancestors.
SANA’s camera visited the farm and met its owner, horse breeder Maan Jaafar, whose horse “Burkan Al-Jabal” won first place in the Latakia Sports City competition for purebred Syrian horses two weeks ago, ten years after the competition was suspended due to the events that the country has experienced.
On the reasons for his interest in horses in his only farm in the Jabal Al-Helou area, Jaafar explained that he and his brothers inherited horse breeding from their fathers and grandfathers for decades, but they wanted as young people to develop and improve their breed in order to preserve their Syrian horses, which are globally distinguished from the rest of the other horses, according to the certificate of the “Waha” International Horse Organization, which We see her stamp on each neck of the farm horses.
Jaafar indicated that raising horses is a family ritual that the family dedicates to all its members out of love for the horses, which they named after their sons and daughters, and these in turn, despite their young age, were raised in their love and permanent friendship as a member of the family to the extent that they became semi-specialist doctors to treat any kind of diseases and perform surgeries Necessary for her when she suffers fractures, bruises, or others.
Jaafar pointed out that what distinguishes Syrian horses from others is their great endurance, their stable colors, the composition of their harmonious structure and their pure blood, which makes the demand for them globally, unlike English or French horses, which need a change in blood characteristics every period.
Jaafar indicated that the Syrian horses are internationally known for their five horses, namely Umm Arqoub and Al-Shwaimi in relation to the points that highlight its color, the Saghlawi, which is distinguished by its flat back, the Hamdani, and finally Al-Abayah, according to a narration that says that this horse carried the mantle of its owner, which fell from him during his escape, rushing from the face of another tribe that was chasing him and on which it was built The traditional song “Oh, Rider on Al-Obeya.. Go around and rest a little.”
Regarding the age of the 43 horses on the farm, Jaafar pointed out that their average age is from five to ten years, which is the peak of the production stage. Great interest from the state and educators before the crisis.
With regard to the state’s interest in raising horses at present, Jaafar indicated that the Directorate of Agriculture represented by the Horses Office supports this sector by providing it with barley and bran fodder at half the price, conducting periodic health checks for horses, especially for newborns, and providing them with free vaccinations.
On the reasons for the lack of horse farms and their breeders, Jaafar explained that the high prices of horses and their large needs of fodder are one of the factors behind the reluctance of others to raise them so that they become the preserve of the wealthy, explaining that a horse’s victory or participation in a race doubles its price as it doubles the price of all members of its family, and there are no controls on its prices, so the buyer’s desire In acquiring a horse, you may motivate him to pay double the price for the sake of obtaining it.
Jaafar, whose horses have participated in many races in the equestrian championships in Damascus, Hama and Homs, expressed his hope to establish an equestrian club in Homs, like the rest of the provinces, and to preserve and breed horses because it will remain one of our proud national heritage.
The young knight Hatem, son of the breeder Jaafar, who helps his father and uncles in raising horses, expressed his happiness for this mission, which he sees as a beautiful sport and entertainment in the bosom of the picturesque nature, stressing that he will continue this sport in order to preserve the authentic heritage of his ancestors.
Hanan Sweid