Arabian Horse

The Arabian horse is easily recognizable. These horses are like works of art with finely chiseled bone structures and small refined heads. The neck is naturally arched and they feature short backs and croups with a high carried tail.

The Arabian is also the oldest breed in the world, as archaeological evidence shows us that the breed dates back to 4,500 years. The breed originated in the desert climate of the Middle East. They were highly prized by the nomadic Bedouins, who even allowed their horses to share their shelters. It was during this time that the horse and man in general began developing a close relationship. The breed itself was good-natured, willing to please and quick to learn.

The breed was also used in war. For this, the breed required speed and endurance. These horses have appeared in rock paintings that have been found in the Arabian Peninsula dating back to 2,500 years. These war horses were known for their speed, endurance, intelligence and soundness. Fighters also preferred mares over stallions as they were quieter and could sneak in and out of camps in raids without giving away the position of the raiders or fighters. Stallions tend to be louder, as they will “talk” to each other, snort and whinny

Foundation Breeding

Arabian show horse

The Bedouin can trace the Arabian back to oral tradition, prior to any written words being documented of the breed. The horses that were known to be of pure breeding were called Asil. Those horses that were not of pure blood and that were cross-bred were referred to as non-Asil. The mares were the most valued horses as they were ideal for riding and breeding. Additionally, the Bedouin did not trace their horse’s pedigrees by the stallion, but rather by the mares. They did not believe in gelding males and because mares were more prized, they culled and sold most of their colts, keeping very few males.

Over time, there were several strains of the breed, each having their own characteristics. These strains were traced through the maternal line of the horses. The five primary strains of the breed included:

· Keheilan

· Seglawi

· Abeyan

· Hadban

· Hamdani

There were additional strains and sub-strains to these as well. Therefore, many of these horses were not only bred to be pure Asil, but also bred as pure strains. Crossbreeding of the various strains were discouraged, although it was not forbidden. The Bedouin people believed that if a mare was bred to a stallion of impure blood, then the mare and her future offspring were “contaminated” and no longer considered Asil. Some believe that there were actually one three true strains of the breed. These strains were Keheilan, Seglawi and Muniqi. These strains were recognized by their body types as the Keheilan was more masculine, the Seglawi more feminine and the Muniqi more speedy. The Bedouin people knew the pedigrees of their war mares by heart and passed the pedigrees down by oral tradition. They also knew the breeding of their camels, Saluki dogs and their families in this manner. The first written pedigrees that actually used the term “Arabian” to describe the breed date back to 1330 A.D.

The Arabians Influence

Nearly every horse breed contains some Arabian blood. The Arabian bloodlines played a large part in nearly every light horse breed and some heavy breeds including the:

· Orlov Trotter

· Thoroughbred

· American Quarter Horse

· American Saddlebred

· Morgan

· Trakehner

· Welsh Pony

· Australian Stock Horse

· Appaloosa

· Colorado Ranger horse

· Percheron

A number of Half-Arabian breeds have been developed as well and the Half-Arabian also has their own registry within the Arabian Horse Association. The registry includes a special registry for Anglo-Arabians, which are Arabian-Thoroughbred crosses. Other popular Half-Arabian breeds include the:

· National Show Horse (Saddlebred crossed with Arabian)

· Quarab (Quarter-Arabian cross)

· Welara (Welsh Pony crossed with Arabian)

· Morab (Arabian and Morgan cross)

Some Warmblood registries are allowing Arabian crosses as well, such as the Trakehner registry.

The Versatility of the Arabian

Young Arab Gelding

With its long history, the Arabian has become a very versatile breed. The breed dominates endurance riding as the sport is the essence of what the breed was originally developed for. The breed’s stamina makes them ideal for competitions, such as the Tevis Cup that covers up to 100 miles in a day.

They also participate and excel in:

· Western pleasure

· Reining

· Hunt Seat

· Saddle Seat English Pleasure

· Halter

· Hunter/Jumper

· Dressage

· Combined Driving

· Eventing

Breed Characteristics

The United States Equestrian Federations describes the breed standard of the Arabian as being 14.1 to 15.1 hands tall. The breed has greater bone density than other breeds with short cannons, sound feet and short, but broad backs. The head is small, refined and often concaved shaped.

Arabian foal playing in the snow

The breed is also described as “hot-blooded.” They are spirited horses that are highly sensitive, intelligent and have quick learning abilities. They are well-known for their natural tendency to cooperate and their excellent communication. However, it is important to realize that they do not tolerate abusive training practices and will become excessively nervous and anxious when treated poorly.

The breed is recognized in several coat colors including:

· Bay

· Chestnut

· Gray

· Roan

· Black

Bay, gray and chestnut are the most common colors. Black is a less common color. All Arabians, regardless of coat color, have black skin except under any white markings. The black skin provided protection from the hot desert sun. Some Arabians appear to be white, but white Arabians are actually grays. Purebred Arabians cannot be colors such as dun, palomino, buckskin, cremello or perlino. This is because the breed has never carried a dilution gene that creates the colors.

Arabian horse at riding stables

After years of admiring the gallant Arabian horse from afar – or enjoying one from a local stable – you’ve finally decided to take the plunge and become an Arabian owner yourself. Congratulations! There’s nothing quite like the exhilaration of mounting your very own regal Arabian horse and heading off for a ride – just you and your new companion.

But, finding the right horse to meet your needs, interest and personality can be quite daunting, not to mention time consuming. There are a lot of things to consider when choosing the right Arabian horse, but most experts agree, a horse’s conformation, condition, training, temperament and personality are the most important things to be considered.

Conformation- Arabian horses are known for their physical attributes: those wide-set eyes: short arched back: and high tail carriage. But don’t be fooled by this horse’s beauty. It’s important when selecting an individual horse to look at its overall body structure and the way it’s balanced. At the most basic level, you want to look for an athletic body structure. Next, you’ll want to carefully study each part of the horse’s conformation to determine how well it will be able to perform the tasks it’s asked to. When considering any Arabian for purchase, it’s important to check the following:

Forehead – should be broad, full and flat Head – should feature well proportioned ears: eyes that are located correctly and are short and soft. This usually signifies intelligence and a good demeanor.

Throat – the throat should be of average thickness with no muscle buildup on the underside of the neck. Look for a nice natural roundness on the top side of the neck.
Nostrils – Arabian horses are known for their flared nostrils, which help them take in more oxygen. Be sure they feature wide dilation.

Muzzle – Check for firm lips, with no sagging of the lower one.

Chest – watch for a narrow chest which can cause interference with the front legs.

Forearm – should extend from the elbow to the knee and be well-muscled.

Condition- Arabian horses are known for being a sound breed. Their strong resilient legs and dense compact bone makes them free from most lameness. Of course, any horse can have physical ailments that may go unnoticed by the untrained eye. That’s why it’s important to carefully study the horse’s conformation closely to give you a good idea of its overall condition. As a potential horse owner, it’s also important to understand the purpose of owning your horse in order to determine what condition is acceptable. If you’re planning on showing your newly acquired Arabian horse, than you’ll need to consider its overall look more closely to be sure that it meets showing requirements, as opposed to horse’s purchased for recreational riding only. Never sign any sales agreement without first having a prospective horse carefully examined by a veterinarian of your choice to be certain that it is indeed strong and healthy. Once you’ve received a good health report, you can check it out for these other important features:

Training- While young horses have more energy, they can also be harder to train. Unless you have experience training horses – or are willing to pay for someone who does – it is generally better to stay away from horses under six years of age. Unless you are a horse trainer /or hire a trainer, they can be overly excitable, nervous and even hard to control. However, older horses too may take a bit of work, since they often come with bad habits or poor training and structure.

Temperament & Personality- Loved for their disposition and loyalty, Arabian horses are a wonderful choice for just about any horse lover who wants a true companion for years to come. The best recreational mount is one which is gentle to handle, and sports an attitude that is willing to please. Be sure to visit prospective horses several times to get a true feel for its temperament and personality before making any purchasing decisions. A horse may appear to be perfect in every way, but if your personalities clash, you’ll regret your purchase in no time! Avoid any sellers who aren’t willing to give you the time and space to really get to know the animal. They may be trying to hide a physical flaw or uncomely personality trait. While a horse’s conformation, condition, training, personality and temperament are the most important factors when choosing the right Arabian for you, there are a few other factors to consider:

Your Experience. How much experience you have with horses can make a big difference in the one you ultimately choose to call your own. Arabians are beautiful horses that can be easily picked out of a crowd, making them very appealing to many horse lovers. They are strong and loyal and are well suited for many purposes including showcasing: endurance rides of 50 to 100 miles: harsh weather conditions and of course, recreational riding. Alert and curious, the Arabian is quick and intelligent, making it a wonderful companion.

However, they can also be flighty and high-strung, making them hard to control for the less experienced rider. As is the case with most horse breeds, the Arabian stallion can be difficult to control, while mares are often calmer, and showcase better dispositions. They are more expensive though, which often makes the more mild-tempered gelding (or neutered male), the best choice for many horse buyers who aren’t interested in breeding. The size of the horse is also important. Since Arabian horse can be slightly smaller than some other breeds, you may need to consider your size in relation to the horse before settling on one specific animal.

Choose one that is large enough and strong enough to handle your height and weight to avoid unnecessary injury in the future. While it’s important to pay particular attention to the factors explained above when choosing your next Arabian horse, the most important factor to buying any type of horse – including an Arabian horse – is taking your time. Pick one that best suits your own personality, style and experience and you can’t go wrong.