On Sunday, I went to the race track with another expat. I had asked Ali to ride Arwen straight to the track, and then Tom (who rides an ex race horse by the name Luke) and I took the longer detour through the Zinderien bush, which gives the best of both riding worlds…

It was the grand finale of the two week racing session that has been going on in Zinder.

It was also my very first sight of Sudanese horse racing. The Sudanese (which looks like a cross between a barb and an arab horse) to not run together with Nigerien barbs, as they are much larger in size. Only the very richest in Niger have then, which is no surprise as a Sudanese horses eats about four time as much a Nigerien barb. They are known for their combined strength and speed and I was thrilled to see them racing!

There were only four of them, but that didn’t make the race any less enjoyable!

Passing the tribune for the first (of two) times-

The white Sudanese with the black mane immediately took the lead, and held it for most part of the race.

Towards the finish, the bay Sudanese was about to run past him-

…but the most dominant of these stallions would have none of that! And once he’s scared off his opponent, he eased past the finish line. Lol, some of these racing horses are true divas!

Number three (Maya’s neighbor) was pretty tired when he passed the finish line…

The team of the second place holder did not seem all that happy about the finishing… But who can blame the horse when you’ve seen the opponent’s body language…?

Team Ishtar however (who doesn’t race unless there are no drugs involved) was doing well, with the mares Arwen & Sahara looking beautiful as ever! And Ali was one proud rider, as usual!

Ishtar did take her pregnant mare for a run, and made the whole racing community shake their heads… But hey! Arwen is still months away from foaling, and if you ask her what she wants, it’s to stretch those powerful legs of hers and feel some speed… And I’m not one to deny her what she wants!