The Egyptian Arabian Horse

The number five is important in the history of therecognized the importance of the herds of Abbas
Egyptian Arabian horse. There were five dominantPasha and Ali Pasha Sherif and in 1908, the Royal
families within the breed, each strain possessing itsAgricultural Society (RAS) was formed to preserve
own characteristics.Egyptian's equine treasures. After the overthrow of
AL KHAMSAKing Farouk in 1952, the Egyptian Arabian stud farms
About 1635 B.C., Sheik Salaman owned five famouswere confiscated by the RAS, now called the
mares that had shown themselves to be fiercely loyal.Egyptian Agricultural Organization, or EAO.
Legend has it that Al Khamsa, (the five,) were the onlyThe EAO later sold some of the confiscated horses
mares in Salaman's herd that returned to their masterto modern buyers. Those horses and their
when the battle trumpet blew, although they had notdescendants are sometimes referred to as "New
yet slaked their thirst at a desert oasis. From theseEgyptians."
five mares descended the five types of ArabianBLUE LIST, AL KHAMSA and ASIL ARABIANS
horse. They were called Keheilan, Seglawi, Hamdani,From 1952 until the 1970's, Jane Lewellyn Ott compiled
Abeyan and Hadban."The Blue Arabian Horse Catalog," or "Blue List," a
THE LEGACY OF THE PASHAScatalog of horses who traced directly, in every line, to
The Egyptian Arabian made great strides under thethe desert, either from Bedouin Tribes or through
patronage of the ruthless founder of modern Egypt,Abbas Pasha and Lady Blunt, who purchased
Muhammad Ali Pasha. In addition to being a shrewdexclusively from these sources. An organization called
politician, he was also a passionate collector of ArabianAl Khamsa continued Miss Ott's work and created
war horses. After crushing a rebel Saudi tribe in thetheir own list.
Nejd desert, he demanded Arabia's most valiantThe group Sheykh Obeyd was formed in 1980, in
desert horses as a condition of peace. Hehonor of Lady Blunt's Egyptian stables. They use the
subsequently built palatial stables for what grew to beAl Khamsa standard for their own list of Sheykh
a collection of 1100 prized Arabian horses.Obeyd "Old Egyptian" Arabians. Straight Egyptian
Abbas Pasha inherited his grandfather's title, and alsoArabians are created by crossing strains which have
his Arabian herd. With a romantic side to his character,an undisputedly pure desert heritage. Not every horse
Abbas Pasha considered the Arabian horses to beon Al Khamsa's list is considered to be a Straight
living masterpieces. He sought to emulate the breedingEgyptian Arabian.
practices of the Bedouins, thereby setting a standardIn Europe, horses whose bloodlines are traced to the
for purity. His emissaries were dispatched to searchdesert are known as Asil Arabians. 'Asil' is the Arabic
the desert, whatever hardships and danger they mightword for 'pure.'
endure, to procure horses with esteemed pedigrees. ATHE CRABBET ARABIANS
methodical man, he compiled information about hisLady Wentworth inherited the Crabbet Arabian Stud,
horses' backgrounds into a document known as thebut did not inherit Lady Anne Blunt's devotion to the
Abbas Pasha Manuscripts.Bedouin ideal of desert purity. Under Lady
When Abbas Pasha was assassinated in 1854, theWentworth's management, the complexion of the
herd was auctioned off to buyers from France,Crabbet Arabians was completed changed. Even so,
Germany, Australia and members of the EgyptianCrabbet Arabians carry pedigrees with a high
nobility. Ali Pasha Sherif, son of the Governor ofpercentage of Straight Egyptian Arabian blood.
Arabia, bought forty horses at auction, andTHE EGYPTIAN EVENT
repurchased many that had been sold to others. HeEvery June, lovers of the Egyptian Arabian horse
established his own herd and by 1873, he had amake a pilgrimage to the Kentucky Horse Park in
collection of 400 pure Arabian horses. Most of theseLexington, Kentucky. There the Pyramid Society, which
were destroyed in the late 1870's by an outbreak ofis devoted to the preservation of the purebred
African Horse Sickness. Only the horses he hadEgyptian Arabian horse, conducts the annual Egyptian
moved to northern Egypt survived.Event, where breeders of Straight Egyptian Arabians
OLD EGYPTIANScan attend seminars, compete for cash prizes in
In 1889, Ali Pasha Sherif sold Messaoud to Lady Anneperformance exhibitions, and behold the cream of the
Blunt, who exported the horse to England, where hecrop from the most prestigious breeding farms.
became a legendary sire. When Ali Pasha Sherif diedTHE EGYPTIAN INFLUENCE
in 1897, Lady Blunt purchased many of the best horsesStraight Egyptian Arabians played a starring role in the
from his herd, dividing them between her Sheykhfounding of the Polish, Spanish and Russian Arabian
Obeyd Stud near Cairo, and her Crabbet Park Stud inbreeding programs. Modern Arabian breeders are
England. Due to Lady Blunt's success with Messaoud,rediscovering the value of infusing their bloodlines with
the reputation of the beautiful Egyptian Arabian horsesStraight Egyptian Arabian blood. Even other breeds
became legend and attracted buyers from around theare strengthened with the addition of Arabian
world.prepotency. Endurance, refinement, good temper and
Henry Babson first came under the spell of thebeauty are the hallmarks of this ancient breed.
Arabian horse while working at the Chicago World'sIn the American show ring, the most successful horses
Fair of 1893. In 1932, he traveled to Egypt and boughtcarry Straight Egyptian blood. Although they comprise
seven horses, realizing the dream of owning theless than 2% of American-registered Arabians,
beautiful breed. A "Babson Arabian" is a horse with theStraight Egyptian Arabians hold 30% of all National
bloodlines of those original seven. His horses tend totitles.
have dark coloration, and one of his Egyptian ArabiansENDURANCE OF THE EGYPTIAN ARABIAN
became the genetic source for black Arabian horses.HORSE
Although Babson died in 1970, the breeding operationPurity of breed was an obsession with Bedouin Arabs.
he established in Grand Detour, Illinois continued untilThe torch of this exquisite equine obsession was
1999.passed on to the Pashas, then the Blunts and on to
Horses descending from this early era are called "OldHenry Babson. To dedicated breeders, diluting the
Egyptians."purity of the line is as much a sin as it was for the
NEW EGYPTIANSBedouins. The preservation of these pureblooded
Many of the Ali Pasha Sherif horses were sold toequines is the primary goal of today's modern
wealthy Egyptian nobility. The Egyptian Governmentbreeders of the Egyptian Arabian horse.