Syrians now ride under sunshine, not cloak of fear

For weeks, Ziad Abu al-Dahab has been training for gold at an equestrian tournament near Damascus — in a sport once dominated by Syria's Assad family and their inner circle.

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DAMASCUS - For weeks, Ziad Abu al-Dahab has been training for gold at an equestrian tournament near Damascus — in a sport once dominated by Syria's Assad family and their inner circle.

"Results used to be decided in advance, always favouring those close to the government," the 25-year-old rider said.

"My greatest ambition was to reach third place, but today, I can aim for first and do well with my new horse."

For decades, former president Bashar al-Assad, his relatives and allies enjoyed wide-ranging privileges before his overthrow in a lightning Islamist-led offensive in December.

Equestrian sports surged in the 1990s under Assad's late brother Bassel, who was being groomed to succeed their father Hafez before dying in a car crash in 1994. Bashar took over and became president in 2000.

Bassel used to take part in tournaments at home and abroad and styled himself as Syria's "first rider".