| "An Arabian will take care of its owner as no other | | | | winner took the best of the loser's herd as their prize. |
| horse will, for it has not only been raised to physical | | | | Breeding stock could be bought and sold as well. War |
| perfection, but has been instilled with a spirit of loyalty | | | | mares, though, were considered priceless. If one did |
| unparalleled by that of any other breed." | | | | happen to change hands, it was considered a most |
| Many, many centuries ago, in the vast and inhospitable | | | | honored gift. No greater gift could be given amongst |
| deserts of the Middle East, came a breed of horse like | | | | the Bedouin people than the Arabian mare. |
| none other. Powerful, intelligent, and possessing an | | | | The value placed on the Arabian mare led the |
| alluring beauty only begin to describe the Arabian | | | | Bedouins to keep a meticulous record of each family |
| horse. Thriving in the sweet grass oasis along the | | | | of Arabian horse through its dam. The only |
| Euphrates and Tigris Rivers that extend over parts of | | | | requirement of the sire was that he had to be "Asil" or |
| what is known today as Iraq, Iran, and Syria, and parts | | | | pure. The highest regard was shown if his dam |
| of the Arabian peninsula, this amazingly versatile horse | | | | showed he was a "celebrated" mare of a great mare |
| developed a strong bond with the nomadic people of | | | | family. Mare families were often named according to |
| the desert, the Bedouins. | | | | the tribe or sheik who bred them. |
| The Arabian horse was so prized and respected that | | | | The Bedouin valued purity in the Arabian breed above |
| it was considered a gift from Allah, to be revered, | | | | all else; many of the tribes owned only one main strain |
| cherished, and honored. The Arabian horse was a | | | | of the horse. There were five basic families of breed:o |
| necessity for the well-being and survival of the | | | | Kehilan - Noted for depth of chest, masculine power, |
| Bedouin people and vice versa. As this | | | | and size. Common colors are gray and chestnut.o |
| inter-dependence for survival strengthened, so did the | | | | Seglawi - Known for their refinement and almost |
| bond between these beautiful horses and the nomadic | | | | feminine elegance. The most common color is bay.o |
| Bedouins. The head men of tribes knew the histories | | | | Abeyan - Similar to the Seglawi, they tend to be |
| of each family horse so well that he could relate their | | | | refined with a longer back than the typical Arabian. |
| stories to the people as well as he could relate stories | | | | Commonly gray and possibly carrying white markings.o |
| of each family within the tribe. As each century | | | | Hamdani - Often considered plain, with an athletic and |
| passed, the mythology and romance of the Arabian | | | | a somewhat masculine, large boned build. Common |
| breed grew as stories of valor, mighty endurance, and | | | | colors are gray and bay.o Hadban - This is a smaller |
| wealth were intermingled with the genealogies. | | | | version of the Hamdani. They too are big boned and |
| Even religious belief, superstition, and traditions had a | | | | have a muscular build. Their primary colors are brown |
| significant impact on the Arabian breed. They | | | | or bay with a few white markings possible. |
| impacted:o The nature of the breedo Its head shape. | | | | The Bedouins are credited with the beginning of |
| The bulging forehead was said to hold the blessings of | | | | selective pure breeding of Arabian horses. Although |
| Allah.o Its neck. The great arching neck with a high | | | | breeding records were kept by memory and passed |
| crest were a sign of courage.o Its color | | | | down verbally, they are also credited as the first to |
| These traits were held in very high regard and | | | | keep breeding records and maintaining the purity of the |
| selectively bred for. | | | | Arabian breed. Even though there is no written record, |
| As in most societies of the time, the Arabian horse | | | | many Arabian pedigrees can be traced to desert |
| was mainly used as an instrument of war. The | | | | breeding. This is because the Bedouins held such a |
| Bedouins used the Arabians horses as mounts to raid | | | | high importance to the purity of the Arabian horse. |
| and attack enemy tribes and capture their herds of | | | | Thus, "desert bred" is widely accepted as an authentic |
| sheep, camels, and goats. The Bedouins needed the | | | | verification of pure blood for Arabian horses that were |
| ability to attack with speed and surprise and for quick | | | | early imports into other parts of the world. |
| escapes. The Arabian horses made this possible with | | | | Today, there are a far greater number of Arabian |
| their courage and essential speed and endurance. | | | | horses in existence. Many of these originated outside |
| Bedouins were also hospitable, welcoming desert | | | | the deserts of the Middle East. Greed, ambition, and a |
| travelers that needed a reprieve from the harsh | | | | desire for prestige as well as an honest interest in |
| elements of the desert. A welcomed guest would find | | | | preserving the breed from extinction were the driving |
| their mare's bridle hung from the center pole of his | | | | forces that helped Arabian horses thrive and |
| Bedouin hosts tent to indicate his status. Even during | | | | propagate over the last century. Since then, this |
| times of war, tribes would meet and with great | | | | honorable and beautiful animal, the Arabian horse, has |
| hospitality, the Bedouins would break bread and share | | | | flourished just as it did under the care of the Bedouins |
| stories of their bravest and fastest horses. | | | | so many centuries ago. |
| The Bedouins also used the horses in races where the | | | | |