The Arab Horse

The Beginning

by Jean Rasbridge

The Arabian could never be mistaken for another breed: its grace, fine features, elegance and strength surpass all others. The Arab Horse is the root from which all light breeds sprang and, once smitten, the rider never recovers from his love affair! In the first of a series of articles on the Arabian horse, Jean Rasbridge looks at the origins and history of this beautiful creature.

An Arabian horse strectches its neck in the sunshine.

Qualities

Noted for its beauty and mystique, the Arabian is intelligent, graceful - and affectionate. The Arab's long smooth muscles and efficient conformation give it stamina and endurance. It is the the Arabian which put the quick in the quarter horse - and the speed and endurance in the thoroughbred.

The Arab's presence and airy motion can be seen in the American Saddlebred, and its compact conformation in the Morgan. These breeds and others are still crossed with the Arabian to produce specialty horses such as the Anglo Arab.

Origins

While it has lent its fine qualities to many others, the Egyptian Arabian remains virtually unaltered since the beginning of history. The oldest documentation of the Arabian horse was a carving uncovered in a cave in Turkey. It depicts a leaping, fine-headed horse of pure Arabian type, its mane flowing and tail carried high. Scientific data places this at 8000 BC.

Breeding

A study of the pharaonic horses of the tombs and temples of Egypt places the horse in use in Egypt as early as 1580 BC. These relief paintings appear to be actual portraits of horses that must have existed. Today’s Arabian is a product of constant crossing of these strains, as no individual carries the blood of a single strain of pure, undiluted desert blood. However various breeds have developed, as the Bedouin valued purity in strain, and many tribes only owned one strain or breeding line.

As these strains continued they developed identifying characteristics - for example the Kehilan was noted for the deep chest, power and size, standing at around 15 hands. The Segawi was more refined, with fine bones, longer faces and neck - they were found to be fast but lacking in endurance.

Cherished Beasts

Ramses credited I his horses for saving his life in battle against the Hittites. His own words reflect his devotion and appreciation as he proclaimed, "Henceforth their food shall be given them before me each day when I am in my palace."

These horses inspired great devotion, and were loved, admired, and cherished by both the noblest of men and the desert nomad - and the prophet Mohammed, who, as he established his teaching out of the desert, proclaimed:

"Every man shall love his horse."

But not just love was lavished on these creatures.

Solomon, King of Palestine, built 40,000 stalls for his Arabian horses! The ruler of the Mamelukes, Ahmad Ibn Tuleu, (1193-1250) built palatial gardens and a magnificent hippodrome to house his collection of the choicest Arabian horses.

In 1279-1382, Sultan Nacer Mohamed Ibn Kalaoun, who was obsessed with obtaining the choicest Arabian horses, built an equally impressive Hippodrome for their comfort. Price was no object. For a single mare, he paid the equivalent of $5,599,999.

The Arabian Horse and the Islamic Warrior

Bedouin warriors, when mounted on their finest Arabian steed, proved to be invincible as Islam's power spread throughout the civilized world. Egypt was submerged in this Arab tide! Saladin's horses, who prevented Richard the Lion Heart from conquering Egypt, were hailed by Sir Walter Scott. He writes in "The Talisman":

"They spurned the sand from behind them -- they seemed to devour the desert before them -- miles flew away with minutes, yet their strength seemed unabated . . . "

These horses were and are indisputably the most beautiful, courageous and exquisite horses in the world. Today, as in the past, many world rulers value these animals above all others.

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