Tissa Horse Festival

The impressive Tissa Horse Festival commemorates Sidi Muhammed Ben Lachen, a revered fifteenth-century saint, and draws in numerous horse breeders and owners annually. Participants showcase their meticulously groomed thoroughbreds, which include fine breeds such as Arab-Berbers, Arab stallions, and Barbary mares. Riders demonstrate their horses’ abilities in various events, emphasizing traits like grace, speed, agility, and stamina. Precision riding captivates the crowd, eliciting either awe or exuberant praise.

Competition is fierce, with owners and breeders entering multiple well-trained horses to increase their chances of winning. Despite being one of many horse festivals in Morocco, the Tissa Horse Festival holds deep-rooted pride and tradition from the region’s ancient horsemanship culture. Traditional attire, including gandouras and djellabas, is worn, adding to the festival’s significance. While the event is taken seriously by participants, spectators indulge in the lively atmosphere, enjoying music, dance, song, and spirited auctions led by fast-talking auctioneers.