Rabat - The Secretariat of State in charge of Handicrafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy, the Royal Company for the Promotion of the Horse (SOREC), the Maison de l'Artisan, and the National Association of Traditional Equestrian Arts - Tbourida signed a partnership agreement on Monday in Rabat aimed at promoting "Equestrian Arts - Tbourida", in the presence of the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Ahmed Bouari.
This agreement, signed by the Secretary of State in charge of Handicrafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy, Lahcen Essaadi, the Director General of SOREC, Omar Skalli, the President of the National Association of Traditional Equestrian Arts - Tbourida, Yassine Oukacha, and the Director General of the Maison de l'Artisan, Tarik Sadik, aims to preserve Moroccan heritage related to equestrian arts by transmitting its know-how and developing the traditional craft trades linked to this ancestral art.
This partnership, which is part of the implementation of the Secretariat of State's action plan for 2025, aims to establish an approach of excellence fostering the development and marketing of artisanal products, the strengthening of human capital, and the promotion of events and manifestations related to equestrian arts - Tbourida.
The agreement also aims to promote the artisanal trades linked to equestrian equipment (saddle, traditional rifle, rider's attire, etc.), by meeting the needs and specificities of each branch of this craft, by developing and structuring the entire value chain, as well as by supporting the various actors in the sector.
In a speech for the occasion, Mr. Essaadi emphasized that this agreement aims to promote "Tbourida", which constitutes an important element of Moroccan intangible heritage, recognized by UNESCO due to the skill of the riders, the quality of the horses, as well as the artisanal equipment and accessories (embroidery, sewing, metalwork, and leatherwork).
He added that this traditional art requires an integrated program focused on the preservation of the associated artisanal heritage, supporting artisans working in this field to strengthen their skills and know-how, improving the quality of products and their safety standards, as well as strengthening their marketing and implementing incentives to encourage traditional artisans.
For his part, Mr. Skalli assured that this agreement represents a collective commitment to the protection of equestrian heritage - Tbourida, which constitutes an expression of Moroccan national identity.
Highlighting the importance of the support granted to artisans specializing in the manufacture of saddles, traditional rifles, and equestrian attire, which is at the heart of the strategy of the Royal Company for the Promotion of the Horse, he recalled that specialized training programs and incentive grants have been launched to enable artisans to develop their skills while preserving the artistic authenticity of their productions.
For his part, Mr. Oukacha noted that this partnership reflects the collective will of the actors involved to develop the craft trades linked to the heritage of "Tbourida", welcoming the new dynamic instilled by this ancestral art in the handicraft sector.
He added that this agreement will foster the transmission of skills and the development of the equestrian sector, while contributing to the establishment of new labels and the updating of existing ones, in order to guarantee the quality of artisanal products, contribute to their promotion, as well as support artisans and riders.
Two distinction and encouragement awards have also been established within the framework of this agreement, namely the National Prize awarded on the sidelines of the El Jadida Horse Show, rewarding the best artisans specializing in the manufacture of products related to "Equestrian Arts - Tbourida", and the Regional Prize awarded to the best "sarbates" (teams of riders) based on the quality of the artisanal equipment used by the riders.
