World of Horses
Sports and Leisure
SOREC promotes Barbe and Arab-Barb horses by integrating them into various equestrian disciplines, thereby contributing to the dynamism of the sector in Morocco. It encourages their development through competitions and events, strengthening equestrian tourism and sport.
Development of the Recreation of Barb and Arab-Barb Horses
Since 2021, SOREC has been part of the Green Generation 2020-2030 strategy, which focuses on promoting horse breeds and monetizing the uses of horses. This approach aims to create sustainable, economically viable, and financially autonomous ecosystems.
Within this framework, SOREC is committed to structuring and promoting the Barb and Arab-Barb breeds by integrating them into multiple disciplines and opening up new prospects for the development of the sector.
While horse racing and Tbourida continue to grow, priority is now being given to the development of sports and leisure activities such as equestrian rallying, TREC, endurance, agility, working equitation, and show jumping. These disciplines, which have strong potential for value creation, contribute fully to highlighting the qualities of Barb and Arab-Barb horses and participate in the overall dynamics of the equine sector in Morocco.
Equestrian Rally
This sport takes place in the great outdoors over a single day and is intended for breeders who own Barb and Arab-Barb horses. It combines horse riding with a competition, where judges assess the consistency and direction of the riders. The rally can be practiced individually or in teams of two to three horses. The Breeders’ Equestrian Rally is a sport practiced in the great outdoors, the aim of which is to demonstrate that the rider has knowledge of topography and knows how to navigate and manage their horse’s efforts by choosing the most appropriate pace. SOREC, in collaboration with AMCBAB (Moroccan Association of Barb and Arab-Barb Horses), organizes qualifying competitions with prizes to promote this discipline and Barb and Arab-Barb horses.
TREC (Competitive Equestrian Trekking Techniques)
TREC is an outdoor equestrian discipline consisting of three scored stages. These stages are designed to help riders and their horses progress and acquire the skills they need to ride independently and safely on horseback.
The three stages are as follows:
- Orienteering and Regularity Course: this is an equestrian rally with precise orientation and regularity in terms of time.
- Varied Terrain Course: a course with different obstacles to be overcome across varied terrain.
- Gait Control: an assessment of the quality of the horse’s gaits at different speeds.
This discipline demonstrates the quality of the human/horse relationship and horse training, which aims to showcase the confidence, courage, and athletic performance of the Barb and Arab-Barb breeds.
Endurance
Endurance riding is an equestrian discipline that can be practiced individually or as a team. It involves various outdoor events in which horses can run at free or controlled speeds. SOREC and AMCBAB have set up an introductory endurance riding program for Arabian and Barb horse breeders to help them discover this discipline.
Working Equitation
Working equitation is an equestrian discipline that emphasizes collaboration between rider and horse to accomplish practical tasks, often related to livestock management. It focuses on horse training, communication, and the use of equestrian skills to perform tasks related to agricultural or pastoral work, such as herding livestock, traveling over varied terrain, and participating in specific competitions. This discipline values the efficiency, flexibility, and obedience of horses in a working context.
Introduced in 2025 by SOREC, working equitation is a new discipline aimed at promoting and enhancing the value of Barb and Arab-Barb horses.
Maneuverability
It is both a fun and technical event. It can range from simple riding with basic exercises to more advanced riding such as working equitation.
Maneuverability takes the form of a course consisting of a series of obstacles. These obstacles alternate between maneuverability, jumping, speed control, and direction control. They include options of varying difficulty. The aim of maneuverability is to promote the preparation of horses by improving the quality of their training, enhancing their value and enabling them to find a sporting vocation (maneuverability is the common core of all equestrian activities). It also develops the rider’s ability to control their mount by choosing the options that best suit their abilities.
Show Jumping
Show jumping is a discipline well suited to promoting Arab-Barb and Barb horses. With this in mind, SOREC has set up a unit to promote this breed of horse at the L stud farm. Show jumping competitions take place in a marked-out area with obstacles. The bars that make up the obstacles are movable and fall when touched. For the horse and rider, the aim of the game is to jump over these obstacles in a specific order without knocking them down, refusing them, or cutting corners. There are several types of jumps, such as verticals, crosses, fences, water jumps, oxers, and combination jumps: doubles, triples, etc.
SOREC has set up a selection competition based on free jumping, which is a process of assessing the natural abilities and athletic skills of horses by observing them as they jump without a rider or constraints. This method allows the horse’s jumping ability to be judged on the basis of its technique, power, balance, and style.
The Morocco Equestrian Rally is a unique equestrian competition: beyond its sporting dimension, this Rally embodies the desire of all the organizers to develop equestrian tourism that respects the environment and the welfare of horses, and that has an impact on regions and communities. For SOREC, equestrian tourism is a key issue that supports its strategy of diversifying the uses of horses and its desire to promote Barbe and Arab-Barbe horses. This event, a true showcase for Morocco’s natural and cultural riches, highlights the unique qualities of Barb and Arab-Barb horses. It offers participants an exceptional opportunity to discover Morocco in a different way, in a warm and friendly atmosphere, while strengthening the country’s international reputation in the field of equestrian tourism.