Marrakech’s Tourism Slump Leaves Carriage Horses and Families in Crisis

These draft horses are mainly used to pull tourist carriages. Since the appearance of Covid-19 and the implementation of the state of health emergency, even its umpteenth extension (until September 10), the ban on travel to and from eight cities in the kingdom, including Marrakech, there is no more activity for these animals. Yet, thousands of people make a living from the work of the horses.

In Marrakech, a single team supports four to five families, including the owners, drivers and stable boys, says coachman Abdeljalil Belghaoute to the newspaper Le Monde. "If you have a store, you can close it. If you sell goods, you can store them. But imagine having... horses that need to eat, drink and receive medical care," laments Abdeljalil Nouidi. The situation is becoming difficult to manage for him and his three other brothers who have been involved in this activity for two decades.

The Nouidi brothers are used to taking tourists on carriage rides. This year, they are going through a lean period. In July, they had to sell seven of their animals. Including Cocotte, the favorite of Abdenabi Nouidi, its owner. "It’s not something I can easily forgive myself for," he confides. He had promised this draft horse to keep him forever.

To help the owners, the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad, SPANA, has provided basic care to the horses since the outbreak of the health crisis in Morocco. It also provided three months of food to nearly 600 horses in the ochre city and the neighboring town of Aït Ourir during the country’s closure. "It quickly became clear to us, when the lockdown was imposed, that many animals in Marrakech would need our help or would face a disastrous outcome," says Hassan Lamrini, chief veterinarian at the SPANA center in Marrakech.

Be that as it may, the epidemiological situation in the country is not reassuring. In Morocco, the official Covid-19 report (August 9) shows 33,237 cases of contamination, 23,347 recoveries and 498 deaths. "The longer it lasts, the harder the horses and families will have to survive," notes Abdeljalil Belghaoute. "We are really frightened by the seriousness of the situation."