In November, Erbil hosted the Kurdistan Pure Bred Arabian Horse Show, with 64 horses from various studs competing for the championship.

Organized by Erbil International Equestrian Club in collaboration with Emirates Arabian Horse Society, the show attracted hundreds of horse enthusiasts from around the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and beyond.

According to the organizers, the competition arranged the competing horses into ten different groups, allowing horses of different ages to compete. The groups included newborn colts, newborn fillies, yearling colts, yearling fillies, two-to-three-year-old colts, two-to-three-year-old fillies, four-to-six-year-old stallions, four-to-six-year-old mares, stallions seven years or older, and mares seven years or older.

After a competition jury’s decision, Nawzad Qadir’s horse won this year’s championship. Qadir explained in an interview that he has been breeding horses for ten years and that the title of champion has encouraged him to join international championships held in the Gulf countries.

The event was also enhanced by cultural activities that showcase Kurdish culture for the international participants, featuring performances by Kurdish music bands and the Kurdish Peshmerga Cavalry Unit.