| Bedouins believed that the horse was a gift from Allah. | | | | lighter stock had it roots in the pony breeds. They had |
| It was to be cherished, revered, almost worshipped. | | | | no breeds which could compare to the smaller, faster |
| The Arabian horse has been bred for centuries, with | | | | horses upon which invading forces from the Middle |
| its beginnings in the oases around the Tigris and | | | | East were mounted. Thus, they sought out purebred |
| Euphrates Rivers in the countries known in our modern | | | | Arabian stallions with the attributes desired and |
| history as Iran, Iraq, and Syria, as well as other parts of | | | | crossed them with choice native strains. Ninety-three |
| the Arabian Peninsula. | | | | percent of the English Thoroughbred breed today |
| Because the Bedouins cherished their horses, the | | | | traces its roots to three distinct Arab strains: the |
| bloodlines were a jealously guarded family treasure | | | | Byerly Turk, Darley Arabian, and Godolphin Arabian |
| within the different tribes. There are records which | | | | (sometimes called Godolphin Barb). |
| indicate that the nomads began breeding these superb | | | | The first Arabian stallion imported to America was in |
| horses as early as 3000 to 2500 B.C. However, the | | | | 1725. He allegedly sired three hundred colts from |
| modern Arabians trace their roots back to five mares | | | | breeding stock mares. And between 1853 and 1856, a |
| which were owned by King Solomon around 1600 B.C. | | | | breeder by the name of A. Keene Richard imported |
| Those five mares were known as "Al-Khamesh", | | | | several stallions and mares to establish the first |
| literally "the five". Those five bloodlines were Kehilan, | | | | breeding program of consequence in the States. |
| Seglawi, Abeyan, Hamdani and Hadban. As substrains | | | | Unfortunately, his horses were confiscated or |
| were developed in each of the bloodlines, those would | | | | destroyed during the Civil War, the breeding line was |
| be named for celebrated mares and/or sheiks who | | | | ruptured, and nothing survived. |
| significantly contributed a substantial branch to the | | | | On a visit to Turkey in 1877, General Ulysses S. Grant |
| strain. | | | | was presented with two purebred stallions which he |
| Each of the five original strains had significant | | | | imported to America. He gave on of those stallions to |
| characteristics which were preserved in breeding pure | | | | Randolph Huntington. Mr. Huntington then imported two |
| Arabians. A brief description of each follows: | | | | more purebred stallions and two pure Arabian mares |
| The Kehilan had a deep chest, masculine power, and | | | | from England in 1888. His breeding program is |
| size. The average height for a pure Kehilan was up to | | | | considered the foundation of the first pure Arabian |
| 15 hands (60 inches, or 152.4 centimeters) at the | | | | stock in the United States. |
| shoulder. It had a short head with a broad forehead, | | | | Other breeds influenced by pure Arabian stock include |
| and wide jowls. The most common colors were | | | | the Orloff Trotter of Russia, the American |
| chestnut and grey. | | | | Thoroughbred, the Morgan, the Percheron, the |
| The Seglawi had a refined look and was noticeably | | | | Connemara pony, the American Quarter Horse and |
| femininely elegant. The bone structure was fine and | | | | National Show Horse. Strains of the breed were also |
| the face and neck were significantly longer than that | | | | introduced to the Lipizzaners of Austria, as well as |
| of the Kelihan. The most common color was grey, and | | | | numerous other breeds around the world. |
| the average height was 14.2 hands (144.27 cm., or 56.8 | | | | Arabians are considered the oldest of all the light |
| in.). | | | | breed strains, and its influence can be traced to many |
| The Abeyan was quite similar to the Seglawi. It shared | | | | foundation stocks. But, the pure strains are still |
| the refined look, but tended to have a longer back than | | | | cherished and preserved by breeders in the Middle |
| the other strains. It averaged 14.2 hands, was | | | | East, even today. |
| commmonly grey, and had more white markings that | | | | The modern purebred Arabian outside of the Middle |
| most Arabians. | | | | East typically has a "dished," or concave, profile set on |
| The Hamdani line had a plainer look than that | | | | a beautifully shaped head. The eyes are prominent, the |
| associated with Arabian horses. It was athletic and | | | | nostrils are usually small, and the muzzle is usually |
| masculine in appearance, with a large bone structure. | | | | "teacup", in shape and size. The neck is gracefully |
| The head was straighter in profile than the typical | | | | arched, and the head is inherently held high. |
| Arabian and it lacked the bulging forehead which the | | | | The back is short and level. The shoulders are long |
| Bedouins believed was "the blessings of Allah". This | | | | and sloped. The chest is broad, deep and muscular. Its |
| strain was one of the largest, standing 15.2 hands (60.8 | | | | legs are long, and the tendons are clearly defined. The |
| in., or 154.43 cm.) at the shoulder. The most common | | | | Arabian has small hooves, with a very tough |
| colors were bay and grey. | | | | consistency, that are wide at the heel. The hind |
| The Hadban was similarly configured as the Hamdani, | | | | quarters slope, and the tail is distinctly arched before it |
| with the big bone structure and musculature. But it was | | | | drops. |
| shorter in height and had an extremely gentle nature. | | | | Overall, one can clearly see that this horse defines |
| The average height was 14.3 hands (145.28 cm., or | | | | strength, speed, and stamina in a beautifully conformed |
| 57.2 in.), and the dominant colors were bay and brown | | | | body. |
| with few, if any white markings. | | | | The coat can be chestnut, grey, bay, or black and is |
| Bedouins "adopted" the horses, regardless of how | | | | very fine. The underlying skin is always black. It is not |
| they came to be in the desert. Whether they were | | | | uncommon for a purebred Arabian to have white |
| strays, absconded, or whatever, it was of no | | | | markings on the face and/or legs. The mane and tail |
| consequence to them. Once the horse was a part of | | | | are full, yet soft to the touch. |
| their herd, they set out to breed for offspring with | | | | The typical Arabian ranges from 14.2 to 15.2 hands |
| speed, stamina, strength, and courage. The different | | | | (56.8 to 60.8 inches, or 144.27 to 154.45 centimeters) at |
| strains, as stated previously, each had their own | | | | the shoulder and weighs between 800 and 1000 |
| characteristics, but all Arabians were bred to withstand | | | | pounds (56.8 to 71 stones). |
| the rigors of desert life. | | | | Depending on the strain and characteristics, Arabians |
| When the Europeans chose to improve their saddle | | | | are used for Western and English riding, racing, jumping, |
| horses, Arabians were the breed they imported to | | | | endurance competitions, showing, cutting and reining, |
| cross with their native stock. When they began the | | | | and dressage. This is a very versatile horse which |
| process, their horses were the larger breeds which | | | | bonds naturally with humans and can also be used as |
| had carried heavily armored knights into battle. Their | | | | a family horse for people of all ages. |