Horse Care in Mamluk Egypt (648-923 AH/1250-1517 AD)

Interest in horses and equestrianism in Egypt reached its peak during the Mamluk era; it was a state built on the shoulders of knights. Its military strength was almost entirely dependent on cavalry, and therefore, the Mamluks paid special attention to horses. The sultans and princes worked hard to increase the number of horses to be able to confront the dangers surrounding them. Therefore, they sent requests for them from different places, from different regions of Egypt, Barqa, Yemen, Hijaz, the Levant, Iraq and Bahrain. Many of the Mamluk sultans and princes were famous for their great passion for horses and equestrianism. Many jobs were associated with horses; such as the prince of the khors, the trainer, the groom, the cavalryman, and other jobs. The Mamluks were also interested in choosing the types and colors of horses, and the clothes of the horses in peace and war. In the modern era, the Al-Zahraa Arabian Horse Station was established, which is concerned with Arabian horses and organizes an international competition for Arabian horses and another competition for their beauty; This can be exploited as a new element of tourist attraction and to activate the sports tourism pattern.