During the week, Ziad Abu Al-Dahab has been training for gold in an equestrian tournament near Damascus in a sport that was once dominated by the Assad family of Syria and its intimate circle.
“The results used to decide in advance, always favoring people close to the government,” said the 25 -year -old pilot.
“My greatest ambition was to reach third place, but today, I can point first and do it well with my new horse.”
For decades, former President Bashar Al-Assad, his relatives and allies enjoyed high reach privileges before overcoming an offensive led by a ray in December.
Equestrian sports increased in the 1990s with the late brother Bassel de Assad, who was prepared to success his father Hafez before he died in a car accident in 1994. Bashar Tok and became president in 2000.
Bassel used to participate in the tournament at home and abroad and was designed as the “first pilot” of Syria.
His profile helped highlight the sport, which came to symbolize the elite status under the Assads.
Abu al-Dahab said that those close to the family had European horses, which far exceeded the premises of other competitors.
“It was impossible to compete with the ruling family,” he said as he walked his horse in the sand.
– Impossible competition –
Outside the equestrian club of Dimas near Damascus, a statue of Bassel is still standing, his face now hidden by the new Syrian flag.
Family control in sport went to the next generation, including Sham, daughter of Bashar’s brother, Maher.
Sham used to compete in Syria and in international tournaments, or placing high.
The attention he received in the media caused controversy, and the critics saw it as propaganda.
That grip in the sport kept some remote. Munana Shaker, 26, said her father forbade him to compete until the Assads left.
“My father forbade me to practice due to fear (of the ruling family), and he always told me that the competition with the subject was impossible,” he said while caressing his white mare, Mariana.
“Hey, I didn’t want us to associate us with the Assad family. He told me the history of the equestrian who was imprisoned after beating Bassel Al-Assad, and he didn’t want to put myself in danger.”
He referred to DNA Qassar, an outstanding rider who beat Bassel before being imprisoned without trial in 1993, accused or conspiring to kill him.
Many believe that their sports success was the real reason for their judgment. Qassar was released 21 years later under a presidential forgiveness.
“For a long time I have stayed away from this sport, but now it is time to become strong. I am from the Shaker family, not the Assad family,” he said.
– ‘The dream come true’ –
Shadi Abu Al-Dahab, 48, supervises around 240 horses, including some of the ancient Europeans of the Assads.
“Around 40 horses were reserved for the Assad family. No one else was allowed to approach them,” he said.
But today, he is seeing new faces and growing interest in sport.
“We have new skills that we discover every day and enthusiastic children … Now we have a lot of riders who aspire to compete and obtain titles,” he said.
The fellow coach Salah Al-Ahmad, 52, was Beander as his son tok the mare topsy for a spin-once mounted by Sham al-Assad.
“I used to dream of touching her or giving her head on her head,” said Ahmad. “Now in this new era, the mare is with him, and has won two tournaments.
“It’s a dream come true.”
