Horses in Saudi Arabia

Horses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are a focus of attention in the Kingdom, particularly in terms of breeding, training, and preparing suitable stables. The Kingdom sets controls and requirements for issuing licenses for horse establishments and encourages equestrian sports by hosting several horse races.

Arabian horses are known for their agility, balanced body, and short, broad back. They have a small, hairless face with little cheek flesh, prominent muscles, and large, wide-set eyes far from the ears. These horses also feature a straight nose, a forelock that covers part of their forehead, and well-defined limbs with visible tendons and round, sturdy hooves. Their weight ranges between 360-450 kg.

King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud owned one of the largest horse stables in the Arabian Peninsula and established a dedicated office to care for and look after them. He organized races among his sons, where their purebred Arabian horses competed in a location northeast of Riyadh City, at the end of Salahuddin al-Ayyubi Road, with the race concluding at a hill that marked the finish line. King Abdulaziz would watch the race from the top of the hill (which was later turned into the horse racing club in al-Malaz District of Riyadh). This strengthened the importance of horses for his sons, and its impact became evident in their continued passion for equestrian sports, horse ownership, and the development of racing tracks and local and international competitions. During the reign of King Saud Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, a 'Dakkah' (raised platform) was built on the elevated hill of ar-Rabwah, becoming a gathering place for horse owners and racers to watch the competitions. When the decision was made to relocate the ministries from Makkah al-Mukarramah to Riyadh, the northern part of this site was chosen as a residential area, named al-Malaz. The name was derived from 'Malaz al-Khayl,' referring to the horse races previously held in the area. Later, a portion of the land was designated for a horse racing track, with the horse stables situated on the eastern side of this location.

A jockey club was established in 1965, which led to the construction of fences around the horse racing track in al-Malaz District. The first official horse race was held there. As the club's activities expanded and space for expansion became limited due to its location in a residential area, a decision was made to build a new track with international specifications on an area of nine km². This new track was named King Abdulaziz Equestrian Field, in honor of the late king, and is located in al-Janadria.

On August 25, 2020, the Council of Ministers approved the organization of the Jockey Club, granting it independent financial and administrative status as a public entity. The club’s headquarters is based in Riyadh, with the potential to establish branches or offices both within the Kingdom and abroad. The club’s goals include enhancing the Kingdom’s global standing in the field of horse racing, organizing international participation, hosting races within the Kingdom, promoting the culture of horse racing, and encouraging the breeding and care of horses.

The Kingdom hosts numerous horse races and festivals, including the "Saudi Cup", which is considered one of the most valuable races globally, with its prize pool reaching USD29.2 million in its first edition. One of the races is dedicated to Arabian horses competing for the 'Obaiya Arabian Classic', named after the mare Obaiya that Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud rode when he entered Riyadh. The race took place at King Abdulaziz Equestrian Field in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom, on February 28, 2020.

Other prominent events include festivals celebrating the beauty of Arabian horses, such as the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Arabian Horse Festival, where 271 horses from twenty-five countries participated in its ninth edition, held over three days starting on January 27, 2022.

"Erab" Championship, which took place on December 23, 2021, saw the participation of 321 Arabian horses and awarded financial prizes totaling SAR700,000. Additionally, the National Championship for Purebred Arabian Horses is organized by King Abdulaziz Arabian Horse Center.

King Khalid Equestrian Field in Taif City is another notable venue in the Kingdom. It hosted the Summer Racing Season in 2021, which lasted twelve weeks, with eight races per event over a total of twenty-four events.

The Summer Racing Season introduced six new cups, including the King Faisal Cup for Arabian Horses, with a prize of SAR1 million, the Okaz Cup with SAR500,000, and a race offering a total of SAR1 million for horses sold at auction.

King Abdulaziz Arabian Horse Center represents the Kingdom in international organizations and adheres to global standards for horse care, registration, and movements. The center has eight branches spread across Makkah al-Mukarramah, al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, Qassim, Taif, Eastern Province, Riyadh, Hail, and Najran.

Frusiya platform for Saudi horses documents the data of horse owners, their locations, and establishes a geographical map of their distribution across the Kingdom. To be included in the database, the owner must apply, and be a Saudi citizen, and the horse must have a fixed location and a passport. The documentation process takes only five days and does not require any fees.