The El Jadida Horse Show, which is blowing out its 7th candle this year, has acquired its letters of nobility over the editions, taking on dimensions touching on socio-economic, cultural, and scientific aspects in addition to its sporting and festive side.
This prestigious equine event, organized (October 21-26) under the High Patronage of H.M. King Mohammed VI at the Princess Lalla Malika Hippodrome, has chosen this year to place the event under the theme of "Equestrian tourism in Morocco".
On this occasion, a study day to which the main national and international operators in the sector will be invited is scheduled as part of the show's conferences, with the aim of examining the means and measures to be implemented for the structuring and professionalization of the sector.
Although it is still in its infancy in Morocco, equestrian tourism is promised a future full of development potential, especially since it is a booming sector and a first-rate growth lever for horse breeding.
Unique diversity of landscapes, fauna and flora of great richness, recognized equestrian tradition, excellent aptitudes of the Barb horse, and undeniable performances of Moroccan riders are all elements allowing the sector to experience its real takeoff on the occasion of this important equine event.
An unmissable meeting place for riders and enthusiasts of the equestrian world, the El Jadida Horse Show, which has set the bar high this year by aiming to attract some 260,000 visitors, i.e., 10,000 more than the previous edition, aims to raise Morocco to the rank of great nations of horse breeding and horse riding.
This year's program is as rich as it is varied, offering visitors, in addition to a large number of equestrian disciplines - where some 810 horses will be entered -, animations, exhibitions, conferences, shows, and large-scale national and international competitions.
These include the international model and gaits competition (show A) of the Arabian thoroughbred horse, the national Arabian-Barb horse championship, or even the CSI 1* international show jumping competition and the CSI 3*W international show jumping competition, the 3rd stage of the Morocco Royal Tour, qualifying for the World Cup.
The El Jadida Horse Show, one of the most prestigious equestrian events in the world and whose international reputation is growing, reserves a prominent place for the Barb horse this year. Thus, an international Barb horse championship will be held in this context, an opportunity for the public to discover excellent Barbs coming from the Maghreb and Europe.
This championship is organized by the Horse Show Association, in partnership with the Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Horse and under the aegis of the World Barb Horse Organization (OMCB).
According to the organizers, about sixty horses will participate this year.
As for the Tbourida events, this specific, traditional, and ancestral sport of Morocco, they are not left out, especially since all the Sorbas representing the different regions of the country, in addition to troupes invited from abroad, and who will perform for the first time in the Kingdom, will be there to offer the public colorful shows.
Furthermore, all trades related to the horse will be represented: saddlery, farriery, manufacture of Tbourida rifles, animal feed, veterinary medicines, operators in equestrian leisure, etc.
In addition, the Show will see the organization of thematic conferences linked to this ancient companion of man that was the horse, focused in particular on scientific themes such as "Management of the newborn foal", "Main affections of the newborn foal", "Severe combined immunodeficiency of the Arabian Thoroughbred", "Horse purchase visit: technical aspects, legal context, consequences for the practitioner", "Encephalomyelitis in the horse", and "Clinico-pathological and epidemiological study of equine rhodococcosis in Morocco".
The cultural aspect will focus, for its part, on themes relating, among others, to "Tourist horse riding: between heritage and identity" or even "Veterinary medicine in the Islamic West".
Extending over an area of 9 hectares, including 45,000 m2 covered, the El Jadida Horse Show expects the participation of some 120 exhibitors and 450 riders representing 30 countries.
