A still from a video clip shows Lania Fakher with her dead horse.

Zaidan Al-Rubaie, Gulf Today

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Monday, directed to gift the Iraqi girl, Lania Fakher, a group of horses, after her horse died. He also ordered to establish a horse riding training centre for her.

The 8-year-old horse rider, Lania, appeared in a video, which recently went viral on social media platforms, crying uncontrollably over her dead horse “Jenso.” The horse was her only friend.

The video aroused sympathy and interaction with her on social networking sites.
Lania is considered the youngest horse rider in the Kurdistan region, as she was born in 2015.

She was crying profusely over the death of her horse, which was given to her by her father when she was five years old.

The little rider said that her only horse was sick in the recent period, and she tried as much as possible to cure him. She was trying to feed and care for it, although the veterinarian was recommending her not to approach it.

“Despite the loss of my most precious friend, I will never forget him,” Lania said. She goes every day to its grave carrying apples and sugar.

Lania dreams of having a special place to teach the youth and girls of Kurdistan equestrian lessons by herself.

While speaking to Gulf Today, Lania kept repeating her thanks to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid for his generosity by providing a group of horses to her to compensate her for the loss of her horse, which she loved.

Fakher Muhammad Rasool, the father of the girl, expressed his gratitude for gifting Lania a group of horses, and directing to establish a training centre for her.

In a special statement to Gulf Today, Rasool said, “I extend my sincere thanks to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, may God protect him, who kindly eased the shock of my daughter, who collapsed in tears after the death of her horse.”

He added, "The office of His Highness contacted us and invited Lania to visit the UAE, and God willing, tomorrow, Tuesday, we will be in the Emirates in order to receive the great bounty from His Highness."

He added, "The psychological condition of my daughter Lania has improved a lot after knowing about the initiative and honour of His Highness, and she is eager to visit the Emirates and meet with His Highness."

The initiative of Sheikh Mohammed received wide attention from the Iraqi and Arab media, as well as the pioneers of social networking sites in Iraq and abroad, as it is a very wonderful humanitarian initiative that contributed to alleviating the grief of an Iraqi girl after she was greatly affected by the death of her mare.