Muhammad Yasir Pirzada, outgoing Director General of the Pakistan Sports Board, performed the groundbreaking for the Islamabad Riding Club at the Pakistan Sports Complex, calling the project a watershed moment for equestrian sports and Olympic disciplines in Pakistan. He said the facility will provide young riders with modern training infrastructure and new pathways for talent development.
Mr Pirzada reiterated the Pakistan Sports Board’s commitment to supporting national federations in building facilities and preparing athletes to compete internationally. He praised the Equestrian Federation of Pakistan’s efforts to expand horse-riding culture and widen participation in Olympic equestrian events.
Raja Zarrar Sajjad, newly elected president of the Equestrian Federation of Pakistan, described the Islamabad Riding Club as a landmark for grooming youth and strengthening the sport nationwide. He thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Mr Pirzada for providing land and backing the initiative for the equestrian community.
The federation selected Islamabad for the project because of its favourable climate and growing interest in riding. Raja Zarrar said the Islamabad Riding Club will host a range of activities facilitated by talented riders, certified trainers and international-standard coaches, with plans for regular coaching clinics, seasonal camps and training sessions.
While Pakistan has a strong record in non-Olympic disciplines such as tent pegging and horseback archery, the federation intends to expand focus to Olympic events including dressage, show jumping and eventing. Raja Zarrar highlighted that Pakistan already has one of the largest pools of tent pegging riders, noting around 98 horses linked to cultural tent pegging and more than 50 horses involved in international events.
The new facility will operate on a membership model across different disciplines and aims to provide opportunities to young people who cannot afford private horses or riding setups. The federation plans to hold its biggest annual event, the National Championship, at the Islamabad Riding Club shortly after Eid-ul-Azha and before Muharram.
To sustain operations, Raja Zarrar said more than 70 percent of equestrian expenses such as feed and transport are currently borne by riders. He emphasised transparency, self-sustainability and horse welfare as administration priorities and announced upcoming training sessions to develop additional coaches in show jumping and other Olympic disciplines.
The Islamabad Riding Club is expected to become a national hub for equestrian development by combining local talent, certified trainers and international coaching support, while launching awareness programmes on modern animal care to discourage outdated or abusive practices. The federation expressed hope that continued government and private-sector backing will help realise the club’s potential for Pakistan’s riders.
