Horsemanship in the Reign of King Abdulaziz

Horsemanship in the Reign of King Abdulaziz, purebred Arabian horses, and horsemanship are part of the historical and cultural heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. After the unification of Saudi Arabia, they gained a national dimension, becoming a symbol of courage and pride in identity, as well as part of the military equipment that supported King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud in the battles to unify Saudi Arabia. Among his well-known horses at the time were “Munifah,” “Al-Suwaitiyyah,” and “Ubayyah.” Horsemanship and purebred horses were surrounded with care and attention by the Founding King, and they continue to receive great interest in Saudi Arabia.

King Abdulaziz took great care of horses and paid close attention to their affairs. In Hamad Al-Jasser’s book, ʾUṣūl al-Khayl al-ʿArabiyya (The Origins of Arabian Horses), it is stated: “In the reign of King Abdulaziz, his attention turned to caring for horses and managing their affairs. Yusuf Yassin said: When he saw that (meaning the large number of purebred horses killed in wars) and feared that the pedigrees of the horses might be lost, he gathered the purebred horses, allocated for each a special place and dedicated servants, and issued strict orders to preserve and care for them.”

King Abdulaziz established a full diwan dedicated to the care of horses, and his horses were among the finest Arabian horses. His stables were considered among the largest in the Arabian Peninsula.

King Abdulaziz was keen to hold horse races in Riyadh, Taif, and other places, with some princes participating. He would organize a horse race after Friday prayers at the seat of government in Riyadh, and another race attended by Prince Faisal Bin Abdulaziz in Taif. Among the manifestations of King Abdulaziz’s attention to caring for purebred horses and preserving their lineages was his provision of an appropriate environment that prevented them from mixing with other breeds. He chose to establish his stables in Al-Kharj and stipulated that only purebred horses could be kept with them to maintain the purity of their lineage. He also designated protected grazing grounds near Riyadh, in Qunayfidah and Samudah, due to their suitable location on the Hejaz route, which made it easier for him to personally oversee them. Furthermore, he was careful to select competent trainers for their training.

King Abdulaziz had extensive knowledge of Arabian horses and their pedigrees, and he purchased purebred horses from various tribes. A number of his horses became famous during the unification battles, such as “Munifah,” “Al-Suwaitiyyah,” and “Ubayyah.” The horses of King Abdulaziz descended from five strains: Al-Kuhaylah, Al-Hamdaniyyah, Al-Suqalawiyyah, Al-Ubayyah, and Al-Suwaitiyyah. He also presented some of his horses as gifts to individuals and states, considering this a form of diplomatic communication, a symbol of generosity, and a way to strengthen bilateral relations with other countries. Among these were the gifting of the mare “Turfa” to King George VI on the occasion of his coronation as King of Britain, and the gifting of the mare “Dahmah” to Sheikh Hamad Bin Isa Bin Ali Al Khalifa in 1936. This contributed to spreading the reputation of Najdi horses and their authenticity and to strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a center for breeding and training purebred horses.

The Equestrian Club in Riyadh was established during the reign of King Abdulaziz, where horse races were held in the northeastern part of Riyadh City. The racetrack extended from the end of Salah Al-Din Al-Ayyubi Road to the finish line in front of a high hill where King Abdulaziz would sit to watch the race (the current location of the sports club building affiliated with the Equestrian Club in Al-Malaz Neighborhood). This race was held among the King’s sons, on purebred Arabian horses owned by him and some of his sons, who had begun to show interest in owning horses and participating in races.