Raed Musa - Gaza
Hamdi al-Ghurra inherited the love of horses from his father and grandfathers, and in his turn is keen to pass this love on to his elder son Islam (8 years), who accompanies him for long hours inside the stable of horses he founded in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City.
The love story between Hamdi (38 years) and the horse - a ten-year-old child - started with a "kick" that left its mark on his forehead until today.
"It is love from the first kick," Hamdi tells Al-Jazeera Net - with a smile on his lips.
"Many people are surprised that I experienced this cruel and painful kick in my childhood, and instead of making me alienate from horses, I increased my love for them."
Hamdi dreams of owning the largest stable of purebred Arabian horses in Gaza, but he is currently facing severe obstacles in terms of providing the needs of his horses, especially the medicines that Israel prevents from supplying many of them to the besieged Gaza Strip for 13 years.
While his son Islam was listening to his father’s conversation, he told Al Jazeera Net, "I hope to become a veterinarian so I can stay close to the horses and treat them."
In light of the deteriorating economic conditions in the besieged sector, the hobby of Al Ghurra turned into a profession, and he and his team of fantasy men, Iyas Abu Murayfa (19 years) and Louay Wishah (18 years), are required to present exhibition paragraphs on horses on public and private occasions, in addition to organizing Horse riding training courses.