FREEDOM RIDERS: Anbar’s first female horse-riding instructor

By Fatima Karim in Anbar

In Anbar, Haajar al-Obaidi has made history as the first female riding trainer in the province. This makes al-Obaidi, 30, something of a pioneer for women in the comparatively conservative province where tradition often limits female opportunities.

Al-Obaidi originally comes from the town of Hit in Anbar province and has a degree in media studies. But she says her heart always belonged to the equestrian world.

“I grew up watching horse racing competitions on TV and my love for horses only grew with time,” she recounts. “But in a conservative community I feared rejection if I pursued this dream.”

Despite growing interest in the sport of horse racing in recent years — particularly in Baghdad and other urban centers — many families in Anbar objected to their daughters taking part, seeing it as a traditionally male sport.

Al-Obaidi took online courses about horse training but there were no training centers in her hometown. “I had no horses to train with, and there was no place to learn,” she explains. “But I was determined. I had to find a way.”

Happily for al-Obaidi, her family supported her dream.

“It made all the difference,” syas al-Obaidi, who’s now known locally as “the horse lady.” “Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to establish my own training facility and purchase horses. I wanted to show that women could succeed in this field, despite societal barriers.”

After al-Obaidi’s project was featured in Iraqi media, she began getting messages from other women. “The response was overwhelming. Women reached out to thank me and to ask for training,” she adds.

Eventually al-Obaidi was able to open Anbar’s first riding school.

“The first time a girl entered my training facility, I looked at her and saw myself years ago,” she says. “But this time, I was the one guiding her, showing her how to mount a horse.”

Al-Obaidi’s students, both male and female, learn about more than just horseback riding, she says. They also learn self-confidence and resilience. “It’s about breaking barriers and proving to people that they can achieve what they thought was impossible.”

In the meantime, the horse-riding teacher has also come to a surprising conclusion. “Women tend to learn faster than men because they are more patient and focused,” she argues. “They are also more consistent with their training. Horses respond to this. They feel safe with women and that makes a difference in training.”

Al-Obaidi wants to teach riding to as many women as she can and to give them the opportunity that she longed for as a young girl, watching horse riding on television.

“When I see fathers bringing their daughters to register at my facility, I know I’ve made a difference,” she concludes happily. “What I’ve done isn’t just about fulfilling my own dream. It’s about inspiring others to follow theirs.”

This article is part of a series funded by the “Qarib” program, an initiative of the French Development Agency (AFD) and the French Agency for Media Development (CFI).