03/20/2026
UPDATES ON THE ARABIAN HORSES IN THE GULF CONFLICT AREA, UKRAINE, AND LEBANON.
The Arabian Coalition, LLC. is built on three pillars: education, preservation, and protection of the Arabian horse.
On March 3, 2026, I reached out to the World Arabian Horse Association (WAHO) for any updates on the safety and needs of Arabian horses and breeders in areas of conflict. Calls had already been placed to a few specific breeders in these areas by us, and we were aware attaining hay was a problem, but everyone contacted at this point was safe.
My initial call to WAHO resulted in an update on horses and breeders in Ukraine, who WAHO was tracking to some degree. Power is a huge concern there. They only have power for 1-2 hours a day, mostly by generator, and getting water to the horses is a major problem. Hay hasn’t been easy either. However, WAHO stated the World Wild Horse Organization (not affiliated with WAHO) had boots on the ground assisting with this. At the time of this call there was no information concerning the horses in the war-torn Gulf area, and I found that to be unacceptable as did breeders here who have been helping communicate with breeders in the impacted areas.
I contacted Bob Fauls of the Purebred Arabian Trust and he was nothing short of phenomenal getting in touch with WAHO and with his established long-term involvement with WAHO, he was able to inspire the organization to start reaching out to provide updates for our membership.
Our first communication yielded this information on March 4, 2026.
“As WAHO is a totally nonpolitical organization, I feel sure you agree that we have to be extremely careful what we say or do, whether in replies to direct queries, on social media or our own website.
I am in daily contact with the Registrar in Jordan, helping them with some studbook matters, all seems well there at the moment. Personally, I am keeping in touch as best I can with friends who have good contacts at the stud farms in the other Gulf countries, apart from Kuwait as yet, rather than contacting people directly in the countries concerned myself. So far, from what I have heard, all is well and life is going on as normally as it can, but the situation is so fast moving and getting more complicated by the day, that it is almost impossible to keep track. although of course it is very frightening for the workers at the studs as you can imagine, especially as it is the foaling season.
Several Arabian shows in all the affected countries - and other major equestrian events such as international show jumping - have been cancelled or postponed, mostly at short notice, although in the case of the Longines show jumping event due this week in Doha, the horses/grooms and probably riders too were already there, but reported to be safe and well. And the judges and handlers who were at an Arabian show (not international) in Al Ain last weekend, including Ali Shaarawi, were having some trouble getting home, as you can imagine. Racing seems to be going ahead at least in UAE & Qatar, although it remains to be seen what will happen about the Dubai World Cup meeting at the end of this month.
Due to the internet blackout, it is impossible to contact our friends in Iran, about whom we are extremely worried. They are at the most risk, along with their horses - including the difficulties they must be facing by now of sourcing food & fodder for their horses which they experienced last year in the 12-day war, when about 80 horses (not Arabians) at a large equestrian centre in Kermanshah were killed. Now the owners and breeders in Lebanon, especially in the south, are also in severe danger - another major worry for us. This is an extract from the report by the Lebanese delegate from SPARCA at the 2025 WAHO meeting, he is referring to the most recent conflict there, in October/November 2024: "Most of our breeding farms are located in the Bekaa Valley in the Southern regions, an area that has been devastated or destroyed by the war. Sadly, during the last war in the south of Lebanon, 4 breeding farms were completely destroyed resulting in the tragic loss of 37 registered Arabian horses. In the face of these challenges our non-profit organization SPARCA, the official representative of WAHO in Lebanon, has worked tirelessly since 1970 to manage also the Beirut racetrack, and despite the significant insecurity both political and financial difficulties we have faced since then, SPARCA continues to organize the breeding and racing of local Arabian horses. They have also provided sanctuary for lost and injured mares within the stables of the Beirut racetrack, which was completely destroyed in 1982, and has been partially repaired since then."
And we must not forget Ukraine. Sadly, several Arabian and other horses were killed there last year when a Shahed drone hit an endurance rider's stables, and they have had a bitterly cold winter with little electricity for thawing & pumping water, and issues obtaining generators, food and hay etcetera. As well as Lebanon, they are probably the most in need of financial or practical aid, but how anyone can gather the funds or needed items and get it all to them is another matter."
Any suggestions for what you think we could do better would be gratefully received. I could send a short supportive email to each relevant registry, asking them to keep in touch from time to time to assure us they are safe and well, that's about all I can think of. You can of course reach out yourself to your fellow EC members Sami Al Boenain in Qatar, Princess Alia in Jordan, Mohammed Alharbi in Abu Dhabi and also Basil Jadaan, who is currently based in Dubai.”
I certainly appreciate WAHO is reaching out to registries, and their dedication to remaining an organization which is not at the whim of global politics, but I was disappointed they themselves are not reaching out to breeders directly in the same way The Arabian Coalition, LLC. is continuing to do.
The Middle East has an enormous wealth gap. The people at the top can afford to make things happen while smaller breeders are truly the ones feeling the brunt of this supply chain. Questions are now being raised about drinkable water access as bombing of the plants continues. Thus far I have no news on how this is impacting the horses and people.
On March 11, 2026, we received an update,
“Just a quick note to say I have heard back from our Member Registries in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and from Princess Alia in Jordan - only EAHS in UAE haven't yet replied, although I think Peter is in touch with them. All are OK so far including, as far as they knew, all the horses, although Alia told me they are obviously upset by the loud bangs overhead if they are nearby. Most shows including international ones are cancelled or postponed. Racing is suspended in Qatar, and I think also in Bahrain, racing was going ahead in UAE at least until the other day when I looked at their website.”
I was relieved to see WAHO reaching out to more than just the registries. More direct contact with breeders in the area will be made by us in the coming days and I expect WAHO will continue to provide updates for our membership and Arabian horse lovers worldwide.
A huge Thank you to Bob Fauls and the Purebred Arabian Trust for jumping in immediately to help. I’d also like to thank Al Parks for his tireless dedication in contacting people in the region.
As this progresses, we are looking for available ways to contribute and offer tangible assistance which will reach the horses and breeders directly. This is quite complicated. In the meantime, I highly recommend not donating money anywhere until we find a way to do so that is safe and has assurances of actually helping. We are researching the ways to achieve financial relief, but it is several layers to sift through with currency exchanges, corruption, and means to get it into the hands of the breeders in need. If you have experience with this or suggestions, please send me a DM.
Follow and share with Arabian enthusiasts and we will keep you posted.
Catherine West
President
The Arabian Coalition, LLC.
