ALEPPO, Syria — The areas under the control of the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo organized the first purebred Arabian horse festival, as the number of horse breeding and equestrian establishments is increasing.

The local council of the town of Qabasin, in the countryside of Aleppo, wrote on Facebook June 26, “In cooperation with Al-Khalifa Stud Club, the first Tarhin Festival for Purebred Arabian Horses was held with the participation of over 70 horses in the Aliken Racecourse in [the village of] Tarhin. The first, second and third place winners were honored amid a large turnout of people from the eastern countryside of Aleppo. We would like to thank Al-Khalifa Stud Club for the efforts made to make the race a success.”

The head of the Equestrian Federation in northern Syria, Ahmed al-Abdullah, told Al-Monitor, “The Tarhin Festival is the first step taken by the Equestrian Federation in northern Syria, which was established by the Syrian opposition about three months ago.”

He said, “The festival aims to introduce purebred Arabian horses and their beauty, to increase the popularity of equestrian sports and to encourage people to follow them.”