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History and
Origin of the Breed:
Somewhere in
the deserts of the Middle East, centuries ago, a breed of horse came into being
that would influence the equine world forever. It was along the Euphrates
and Tigris Rivers in the countries that are now know as Syria, Iraq, and in
other parts of the Arabia peninsula, this horse developed and would soon be know
as the Arabian horse.
To the Islamic
people he was considered a gift from Allah, to be revered, cherished and almost
worshipped. Long before Europeans were to become aware of its existence,
the horse of the desert had established itself as a necessity for survival of
the Bedouin people (nomadic inhabitants of the Middle East desert region).
Religious
belief, superstition and tradition influenced the very nature of the breed, its
shape as well as its color. It was believed that the bulging forehead held
the blessings of Allah. Therefore the greater the "Jibbah" the greater the
blessings carried by the horse. The great arching neck with a high crest,
the "Mitbah" was a sign of courage, while the gaily-carried tail showed pride.
These traits were held in high esteem and selectively bred for.
Due in part to
the religious significance attached to the Arabian horse, as well as the
contribution it made to the wealth and security of the tribe, the breed
flourished in near isolation. Traditions of breeding and purity were
established to keep the breed "Asil" or pure, in the form intended by Allah.
Any mixture of foreign blood from the mountains or the cities surrounding the
desert was strictly forbidden. While other, desert type breeds developed
in North Africa and the periphery of the Great Desert, these "Barbs" and "Turks"
were definitely not the same blood as Arabians and were disdained by the proud
Bedouin.
The Arabian
horse was primarily an instrument of war, as were horses in general in most
societies of that time. A well-mounted Bedouin could attack an enemy tribe
and capture their herd of sheep, camel and goats, adding to the wealth of their
own tribe. Such a raid was only successful if the aggressors could attack
with surprise and speed and make good their escape. Mares were best mounts
for raiding parties, as they would not nicker to the enemy tribe's horses,
warning their approach. The best war mares exhibited great courage in battle,
taking the charges and the spear thrusts without giving ground. Speed and
endurance were essential as well, for the raids were often carried out far from
the home camp.
The Bedouin
valued pure in strain horses above all others, and many tribes owned only one
main strain of horse. The five basic families of the breed, known as "Al
Khamsa", included Kehilan, Seglawi, Abeyan, Hamdani and Hadban. Other less
"choice strains" included Maneghi, Jilfan, Shuwayman and Dahman. Sub
strains developed in each main strain, named after a celebrated mare or Sheik
that formed a substantial branch within the main stream.
Each strain,
when bred pure, developed characteristics that could be recognized and
identified. The Kehilan strain was noted for depth of chest, masculine
power and size. The average pure strain Kehilan stood up to 15 hands.
Their heads were short with broad foreheads and great width in the jowls. Most
common colors were grey and chestnut.
The Seglawi was
known for refinement and almost feminine elegance. The strain was more
likely to be fast rather than have great endurance. Seglawi horses have
fine bone, longer faces and neck then the Kehilan. The average height for
a Seglawi would be 14.2 hands, the most common color bay.
The Abeyan
strain is very similar to the Seglawi. They tended to be refined. The pure
in strain Abeyan would often have a longer back than a typical Arabian.
They were small horses, seldom above 14.2 hands, and commonly gray and carried
more white markings than the other strains.
The Hamdani
horses were often considered plain, with an athletic, if somewhat
masculine, large boned build. Their heads were more often straight in
profile, lacking an extreme Jibbah. The Hamdani strain was one of the
largest, standing as much as 15.2 hands. The common colors were grey and
bay.
The Hadban
strain was a smaller version of the Hamdani. Sharing several traits
including big bone and muscular build. They were also known for possessing
an extremely gentle nature. The average height of a Hadban was 14.3 hands,
the primary color brown or bay with few white markings.
Europe had
developed horses through the Dark Ages to carry a knight and his armor.
Their lighter horses were from the pony breeds. They had nothing to
compare with the small, fast horses upon which their invaders were mounted.
An interest in these "Eastern" horses grew, along with fantastical stories of
prowess, speed, endurance and even jumping ability. To own such a horse
would not only allow for the improvement of local stock, but would allow the
person and incredible amount of prestige as well. Such a horse in the
stable would rival the value of the greatest art work hung on the wall.
Europeans of means, primarily royalty, went to great lengths to acquire these
fabled horses. Three of these "eastern" stallions formed the foundation
upon which the new breed, the Thoroughbred, was built on. Today 93% of all
modern thoroughbreds can be traced to these three Arabian stallions. And
by direct infusion and through the blood of the thoroughbred itself, the Arabian
horse has contributed in some degree to all of our light breeds of horses.
The Bedouins
have generally been credited with the beginning of the selective pure breeding
of Arabian horses. These tribes, although their breeding records were kept
by memory and passed down through the ages verbally, are also credited as the
first to keep breeding records and maintaining the purity of the Arabian breed.
To this date, many Arabian pedigrees can be traced to "desert breeding" meaning
there is no written record but because of the importance of purity to the
Bedouins, we accept desert bred as an authentic verification of pure blood.
Arabian Horses Spread to Europe:
With the rise
of the Prophet Mohammed and the dawn of Islam, circa 600 AD, Arabia underwent a
change in culture. Filled with zeal over their newfound Islamic Faith, the
Arab warriors swept out of the desert mounted on the "Arabian Horse". They
spread the work of their Prophet by the sword. Bred in the desert the
Arabian horses had evolved like finely tempered steel into the swift, elegant,
graceful and magnificent warhorse by whose means the Arabs shook the civilized
world. The Middle East, North Africa, the Mediterranean countries as far
west as Spain and others as far east as China fell to Islam.
European horses
soon felt and extensive infusion of Arabian blood, especially as a result of the
Christian Crusaders returning from the east between the years 1099 AD and 1249
AD. With the invention of fire arms, the heavily armored knight lost his
importance and during the 16th century handy, light and speedy horses were in
demand for use as cavalry mounts. Subsequent wars proved the superiority
of the Arabian horse as the outstanding military mount throughout the world.
After the
Crusades, people of the Western world began looking to the people of the east
for Arabian bloodstock. Between 1963 and 1730 a revolution in horse
breeding occurred when three Arabian stallions were imported to England.
The Darley Arabian, the Byerly Turk, and the Godolphin Arabian founded the
Thoroughbred breed. Today 93% of all Thoroughbreds can be traced to these
three Arabian stallions. By direct infusion, and through the blood of the
Thoroughbred, the Arabian has contributed, in some degree, to all of our light
breeds of horses. As of today the Arabian horse exists in far greater numbers
outside of its land of origin than it ever did in the Great Desert.
In the 1800's
significant Arabian stud farms were founded throughout Europe. The royal
families of Poland established notable studs as did the kings of Germany and
other European nations. Travelers in the Victorian era became enamored
with the horse of the desert, and as a result of Lady Anne Blunt and Wilfred
Blunts' historical sojourns into the desert, as well as living in Egypt, the
world famous Carbbet Arabian Stud in England was founded on desert and Egyptian
stock. This stud in turn eventually provided foundation horses for many
countries including Russia, Poland, Australia, North and South American and even
Egypt.
Introduction of the Arabian Horse
to North America
The Chicago
Worlds fair held in 1893 drew widespread public attention and had an important
influence upon the Arabian horse in America. While every country in the
world was invited to participate, Turkey chose to exhibit 45 Arabian horses in a
"wild eastern" exhibition. Among the imported Arabians shown were the mare
Nejdme and the Stallion, Obeyran. Both subsequently became foundation
horses No 1 and No 2 in the Arabian Stud Book of America (later changed to
the Arabian Horse Registry of America). Several years later, two other
mares and one stallion were also registered. Many breeding farms today
contain horses tracing to these horses as taproot foundation stock.
The Arabian Horse Today
Historically
the Arabian has maintained a reputation as the horse of beauty, intelligence,
courage, endurance and romance. Because he was bred and reared in close
contact with man from the earliest records, and existing in mutual
inter-dependence, he developed an unequaled ability to bon with humans.
Indeed, his intelligence has been celebrated in thousands of anecdotes. He
is gentle, affectionate, and familiar, almost to the point of being troublesome.
Foals, for example, have no fear of man, and are usually indifferent to sudden
noises. The Arabian gentleness and tractability, while originally the effect of
education, is now inherited, and is observed in foals bred in a foreign
environment.
When imported
to England, the Arabian became the progenitor of the Thoroughbred. In
Russia, the blood of the Arabian contributed largely to the development of the
Orloff Trotter. In France, the horse helped make the famous Percheron.
In America, the Arabian horse was the progenitor of the Morgan and others.
As the oldest
of all the light breeds and foundation stock of most, the Arabian is unique.
The Arabian breed is different in that it does not exist as a result of
selective breeding, as were other modern light breeds. With other breeds
it was necessary to establish a registry prior to the development of the breed,
but the Arabian breed has been recognized for thousands of years and whose
forerunners were known to people before 1500 BC. The Arabian horse has
been maintained and cherished in its purity over all of those years.
The high
intelligence, trainability, gentle disposition and stamina of the Arabian horse
enable it to excel at a wide variety of activities popular today. Arabians
are excellent on the trail as well as in the show ring. Show classes in
English and western pleasure, cutting and reining, even jumping and dressage
provide opportunities for fun and enjoyment at both all-Arabian events and open
breed horse shows. As an endurance horse, the Arabian has no equal.
The top prizes at endurance events almost always go to riders of Arabians.
In addition, the Arabians' Bedouin heritage is evident in their unequaled
ability to bond with humans, making them the perfect horse for family members of
all ages.
Breed
Characteristics:
A beautiful,
delicate head characterizes the Arabian, often with a "dished" or concave
profile below large, prominent eyes; a highest, arched neck; and a naturally
high tail carriage. The back is short and straight; the withers are
pronounced and long; the chest is muscular, deep and broad; the shoulders long
and sloping; the legs muscular with broad strong joints and clearly defined
tendons; and the hooves small with very tough horn, wide at the heel.
These points of "type" give the Arabian its distinctive beauty. The ideal
height for an Arabian is between 14.2 and 15 hands and their color may be
chestnut, gray, bay, and black. White markings on face and legs are
common. The coat is fine and silky and the skin is invariably black.
The mane and tail are full.
Breed
Organization
The Arabian
Horse Registry of America, Inc. is the oldest organization in North America
serving owners of purebred Arabian Horses. The Registry was founded in
1908 by a group of individuals who shared a passion for the past, present and
future of the purebred Arabian horse. Since its inception, the Registry
has been the central governing authority in North America for the breed.
Its primary purpose is to ensure the purity of the blood of purebred
Arabian horses by establishing high standards for registration and by
maintaining accurate and complete registration records.
On September 2,
1908, the Arabian Horse Club of America, Inc. was founded in New York state.
The first meeting was held at the Hotel Belmont and was attended by the
incorporators: Henry K Bush-Brown, Homer Davenport, Charles A Voetsch, Francis A
Huck, and James B. Kilburn.
The name and
location of the organization changed two more times unit it finally settled in
Colorado under the name "Arabian Horse Registry of America, Inc"
Additional
Information:
The Arabian Horse Registry
of American, Inc.
PO Box 173886, Denver, CO
80217-3886
Office Location: 12000
Zuni Street, Westminster, CO 80234
Tel: (303) 450-4748
Fax: (303) 450-2841
Or website:
www.theregistry.org
email:
info@thereistry.com
Arabian Horse America
12000 Zuni Street,
Westminster, CO 80234
Tel: (877) 551-2722
or website:
www.arabianhorseamerica.com
email:
infor@arabianhorseamerica.com
Arabian Sport Horse Association,
Inc
6145 Whaleyvill Blvd, Suffolk,
VA 23438
Tel: (757) 986-4486
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Arabian Horse Information
