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BREED CHARACTERISTICS The Arabian is one of the most easily recognizable breeds in the world. Arabian horses have fine, wedge-shaped heads, with a broad forehead, large, dark eyes and small muzzles with large nostrils. Most display a distinctive concave or "dish-faced" profile. Many Arabians also have a slight bulge between their eyes, called the "jibbah" by the Bedouin , that added additional sinus capacity to help the Arabian horse cope with its native dry desert climate. High-quality Arabians have an arched neck with a large, well-set windpipe set on a fine clean throatlatch, which helps the horse breathe easily and allows greater endurance. The refined structure of the poll and throatlatch where the head and neck attach was called the "mitbah" by the Bedouin, and in the best Arabians is long and somewhat straight, allowing plenty of room for the windpipe and allowing the horse to more freely move its head in all directions. Another breed characteristic is a compact body with a short back. Many though not all Arabians have 5 Lumbar Vertebrae instead of the usual 6. Edwards, Gladys Brown. ''The Arabian: War Horse to Show Horse''. Arabian Horse Trust of America; 3rd rev. ed edition (1980). Other distinctive features are a relatively long, level croup and naturally high tail carriage. Arabians are generally very sound horses, with dense, strong bone, sound feet, and good hoof walls. Most Arabians have a naturally fine, silky coat. Arabians are not large horses. The breed standard as stated by the United States Equestrian Federation describes the Arabians as standing between 14.1 and 15.1 Hand s tall, "with the occasional individual over or under." United States Equestrian Federation Because many horse owners today prefer larger animals, the Arabian has recently been bred for increased height, and many Arabians today are over 15 hands. However, they are always referred to as horses, not ponies, whatever their height. Arabians are noted for their endurance and have free-flowing gaits that allow them to cover ground easily and conserve energy. The best animals also have natural self-carriage, impulsion, and balance. Their short backs allow them to use their hindquarters effectively for better collection and suppleness, and their naturally arched necks allow for softness in the bridle. Sensitivity, intelligence and sociability allows most Arabians to learn quickly. Their natural nimbleness makes them adept at making sudden moves at high speed. These qualities were originally essential in a desert warhorse, and today are seen in various show ring disciplines. INFLUENCE OF THE ARABIAN HORSE Arabian blood can be found in the ancestry of almost every modern breed of riding horse. Because of the genetic prepotency of the Arabian horse, it has played a significant part in the development of almost every recognized light horse breed, including the Andalusian , Thoroughbred , Percheron , Welsh Pony , American Quarter Horse , Morgan , Saddlebred , Appaloosa and many of the Warmblood breeds such as the Oldenburg and the Trakehner . Today, breeders cross Arabians on many other breeds to add refinement, intelligence, endurance and soundness. Half-Arabians can be registered in their own registry within the Arabian Horse Association, which has a special section for Anglo-Arabians , an Arabian- Thoroughbred cross. In addition, there have been many Arabians and Half Arabians approved for registration by Warmblood registries. Some horses originally registered only as Half-Arabians have become popular enough to have their own breed registry, including the National Show Horse , an Arabian- Saddlebred cross; the Quarab (Arabian- Quarter Horse ); the Welara (Arabian- Welsh Pony ); and the Morab (Arabian- Morgan ). Half-Arabians of particular colors can also be double-registered in certain color breed registries, such as the Palomino and Pinto horse registries. There is a current movement to develop yet another new breed of horse based on Arabian blood, called the "Renai" Horse (short for "Renaissance"). This is a cross of Arabian blood on Warmbloods, Andalusians, Saddlebreds, Duch Harness Horses and other heavier breeds of sport or action-oriented horse. TEMPERAMENT The Arabian is one of the "hot-blooded" breeds, a category that includes refined horses bred for speed, such as the Thoroughbred . Most Arabians are intelligent, alert animals, attuned to their surroundings and to their human handlers. They are quick to learn and, when handled without abuse, willing to please humans. This is both a strength and weakness of the breed, requiring human handlers who do not resort to brutality or mindless repetition in training. When treated badly, Arabians can become excessively nervous or anxious, though seldom become vicious unless subjected to extreme abuse. Arabian horses are sometimes compared to dog breeds such as the Border Collie who, likewise, are sensitive and intelligent, have a strong spirit, and do not tolerate rough treatment. However, the temperament of each Arabian does depend to some extent on specific bloodline as well as how the horse is raised and trained. For centuries, Arabian horses lived in close association with human families. Because only horses with a naturally people-focused disposition were allowed to breed on, Arabians today are one of the few breeds where the United States Equestrian Federation allows children to exhibit stallions in show ring classes limited to riders under 18. On the other hand, Arabians are also sensitive horses that some people consider difficult to manage. In many cases, however, poor behavior is the result of abusive, inconsistent or incompetent handling on the part of humans. Unfortunately, some show ring fads that emphasize the flash and spirit of the Arabian horse over its disposition and soundness have also served to increase the reputation of the Arabian as a high-strung animal, and thus given the breed a poor public image. ORIGINS chariot (drawing of an Egyptian relief)]] Arabians are one of the oldest, if not ''the'' oldest breeds in the world. Horses with ''oriental'' characteristics similar to the modern Arabian . "Origin of the Arabian Horse." Lumpkin, Susan "Camels: Of Service and Survival" ''Zoogoer'' September/October 1999. Gladys Brown Edwards, a noted scholar of the Arabian horse, theorized that the Arabian could have been a separate subspecies of horse. However, other scholars believe that the "dry" oriental horse of the desert from which the modern Arabian developed was one of four basic subtypes of Equus Caballus that developed specific characteristics based on the environments in which they lived. The crucible of a harsh desert environment produced a horse that had to cooperate with humans to survive. It was necessary for the Bedouin to have horses with great endurance, the ability to live on very little food, and conformation characteristics that compensated for life in a hot, dry climate with variable temperature extremes from day to night. Weak individuals were weeded out of the breeding pool. The animals who remained were honed by centuries of human warfare. Arabians were carefully bred by the nomadic Bedouin people to maintain desirable features such as speed, stamina, soundness, intelligence, and beauty. A good disposition was also critical; the most highly prized war mares were often brought inside family tents to prevent theft or for protection from predators. As the Arabian horse developed, the Bedouin began to carefully track the ancestry of each horse by means of a powerful oral history tradition. Horses of the purest blood were known as ''Asil'' and crossbreeding with non-''Asil horses'' was forbidden. Mares (female horses) were the most valued, both for riding and breeding, and pedigree families were traced through the female line. Over time, the Bedouin developed several sub-types, or strains, each with unique characteristics. The five primary strains were known as the Keheilan, Seglawi, Abeyan, Hamdani and Hadban. There were also several lesser strains and sub-strains with some regional variations among them. Many Arabian horses were not only ''Asil'', of pure blood, but also bred to be pure in strain as well, with crossbreeding between strains discouraged, though not forbidden, by some tribes. Arabian Horse Association. "Horse of the Desert Bedouin" . Retrieved April 25, 2006. This complex web of bloodline and strain was an integral part of Bedouin culture. Tribespeople knew the pedigrees and history of the best war mares as well as their own family or tribal history. MYTHOLOGY One creation myth of the Arabian horse states that the prophet Muhammad selected the foundation mares for the Arabian breed. It is said that after a long journey through the desert, Muhammad turned his herd of horses loose to race to an oasis for a desperately-needed drink of water. When the herd reached the water, he blew his horn, summoning the animals to return to him. Only five mares responded. Because they possessed the obedience and courage to turn away from the water and return to their master, these mares became the foundation of the breed and were called ''Al-Khamsa,'' meaning, ''the five.'' Some legends claim that each of these mares founded one of the five primary strains of Arabian horses. Another Bedouin myth declares that Allah himself created the Arabian horse from the south wind, saying, "I call you Horse; I make you Arabian and I give you the chestnut color of the ant; I have hung happiness from the forelock which hangs between your eyes; you shall be the Lord of the other animals. Men shall follow you wherever you go; you shall be as good for flight as for pursuit; riches shall be on your back and fortune shall come through your meditation". THE ARABIAN HORSE IN HISTORY Fiery warhorses with dished faces and high-carried tails were popular artistic subjects in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia , often depicted while pulling chariots in war or hunting lions or other game. Horses with oriental characteristics were depicted in artwork as far north as that of Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire . Some scholars argue that Bucephalus , the high-spirited war horse of Alexander The Great may have been an Arabian. Following the Hegira in A.D. 622, the history of the Arabian horse became intertwined with the history of Islam . Around A.D. 630, Islamic warriors began to fight their way north and west. By 711, they had reached Spain and controlled most of the Iberian peninsula by 720. The mounts of the Islamic invaders were of various oriental types, including Arabians and Barbs. From the invaders' horses, crossed on heavier European breeds, came the Andalusian and other Iberian horses, which were later taken to the New World and helped develop many of the breeds in the Americas today. Sultan of Granada , at the Battle Of Higueruela , 1431.]] Muslim invaders reached as far as France , where they were stopped by Charles Martel at the Battle Of Tours in 732. Arabian and other oriental horses captured in the wake of this defeat were crossed with local animals, adding agility to the heavier breeds, and leading to the development of the Percheron horse. Meanwhile, European horses were also infused with Arabian blood during the Crusades , beginning in 1066, when European armies traveled into Palestine and later returned home with many Arabian horses as spoils of war. Another infustion of Arabian horses into Europe occurred in 1522 when the Ottoman Turks sent 300,000 horsemen into Hungary . Many of these troops were mounted on pure-blooded Arabians captured during Ottoman raids into Arabia. By 1529, the Ottomans had reached the gates of Vienna, where they were finally stopped by Polish and Hungarian armies, who captured Arabians from the defeated Ottoman cavalry. These horses provided some of the foundation stock for the major studs of eastern Europe, including Knyszyna, the royal stud of Polish king Zygmunt II August. Harrigan, Peter. "The Polish Quest For Arabian Horses" ''Saudi Aramco World'' November/December 2001 In the 15th century, the development of firearms made the slow-moving war horses of Europe obsolete, and Arabian horses were used to develop the faster, agile cavalry horses which would be on European battlefields into the 20th century. The stamina and agility of horses with Arabian blood gave an enormous military advantage to any cavalry who possessed them. Notable imports from the deserts of Arabia included those of Prince Hieronymous Sanguszko (1743-1812) of Poland. Other nations followed suit, returning to the desert to seek out pure-blooded Arabians. Peter the Great of Russia established the Imperial Russian Stud and in 1772, Catherine the Great owned 12 pure Arabian stallions and 10 mares. Both national governments and individual members of the aristocracy had a strong interest in breeding pure-blooded Arabians. Many new breeding operations were established in Europe, including the Babolna Stud of Hungary, which was set up in 1789. By 1820, several major Arabian studs were well-established, including Weil in Germany, the Antoniny stud of Count Potocki, and the Janow Podlaski Stud, both in what today is Poland. Arabians were also introduced into European racing, most notably via the Darley Arabian , Byerly Turk , and Godolphin Arabian , the three foundation stallions of the modern Thoroughbred breed, who were brought to England in the 1700's. THE RISE OF THE MODERN ARABIAN Perhaps the most famous of all Arabian breeding operations founded in Europe, and possibly the one with the most profound impact on the modern Arabian horse, was the Crabbet Park Stud of England. "Crabbet Arabians" Wilfrid Scawen Blunt and his wife, Lady Anne Blunt , traveled to Egypt and other parts of the Middle East and began importing Arabians to England in 1878. For many years, they simultaneously maintained a stud farm in Egypt, bringing the best of their Egyptian-bred stock to Crabbet Park. Beginning in 1917, their daughter, Lady Wentworth , continued the Crabbet Stud until her death in 1957. Lady Wentworth bequeathed the stud to her manager, Cecil Covey, who ran the stud until until 1971, when a freeway was cut through the property, forcing the sale of the land and dispersal of the horses. Crabbet Park Stud preserved the breed's purity, exporting Arabian horses for use as foundation stock in Poland, Russia, Australia, and North and South America. Lady Wentworth also sold descendants of the original imports back to Egypt. Following the end of World War I , some of the famed European stud farms that survived the war used the relative calm to replenish their studs with desert-bred Arabian horses, which became easier to obtain after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire . Notable among these was the Janow Podlaski Stud of Poland, the Veruga Stud of Spain, and other breeders in Hungary, Germany, and the Soviet Union . In this period of time, the government of Egypt also began to take a more active part in preserving their own desert-bred stock and set up major breeding operations. World War II had a devastating impact on Arabian breeding throughout continental Europe, though studs such as Janow Podlaski survived. Also, due to the spoils of war, other Arabian breeding operations, such as the Tersk Stud in what today is Russia obtained valuable bloodlines which strengthened their breeding programs. In the postwar era, nations such as Spain, The Netherlands , Sweden and Germany developed or re-established many well-respected Arabian stud farms. Egyptian-bred horses were somewhat difficult for other nations to obtain until the overthrow of King Farouk I in 1952. In the 1950's and 1960's, limited numbers of Arabian horses were allowed to be exported from Egypt, most notably to the Soviet Union, then an ally of the dictator Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, but also to Germany and the United States. Egyptian-bred Arabians were exported in increasing numbers to the west following the death of Nasser in 1970. In spite of the Cold War , Poland and Russia also became world-renowned for their quality Arabian horses, who were tested rigorously by racing and other performance standards. While only a few Arabians were exported from behind the Iron Curtain until the early 1970's, the horses who did come to the west, often through the efforts of an English breeder named Patricia Lindsay, caught the eye of breeders worldwide. Steadily improving relations between the then-Communist nations of eastern Europe and the west led to ever-increasing importations of Polish and Russian-bred Arabian horses to western Europe and the United States in the 1970's and 1980's. The collapse of the former Soviet Union in 1989, greater political stability in Egypt, and the rise of the European Union have all contributed to a steady trade in Arabian horses between different nations. The increased sophistication of organizations such as the World Arabian Horse Association (WAHO) in setting up standards for transferring the registration of Arabian horses between different nations, has also made it easier for Arabian horses to be imported and exported all over the world. THE ARABIAN HORSE IN AMERICA The first horses of Arabian ancestry arrived with the Spanish Conquistadors , starting with Hernán Cortés , who brought 16 Andalusian and Arabian horses with him to Mexico in 1519. Others followed. Francisco Vásquez De Coronado brought 250 horses of Arabian, Barb and Andalusian breeding to America in 1540. Many of these horses escaped, becoming the foundation stock of the American Mustang . American colonists from England also brought horses of Arabian breeding to the eastern seaboard. For example, Nathaniel Harrison imported a horse of Arabian, Barb and Turkish ancestry to America in 1747. Green, Betty Patchin and Susann Heidrich. "The Arabian Horse in America" ''Saudi Aramco World'', March/April 1986. The gray horse ridden by George Washington during the Revolutionary War was a half-Arabian sired by a noted stallion known as Ranger, or Lindsay's Arabian. Other Presidents are linked to ownership of Arabian horses. In 1840, President Martin Van Buren received two Arabians from the Sultan of Oman, and in 1877, President Ulysses S. Grant who was granted two Arabian stallions, Leopard and Linden Tree, as diplomatic gifts from the Sultan of Turkey. None left purebred Arabian descendants, but Leopard, a gray, is considered a foundation sire in the Appaloosa breed. History of the Spotted Horse: Contains a discussion of Arabian influences on the Appaloosa Breed A. Keene Richard was the first American to specifically breed Arabian horses. He traveled to the desert in 1853 and 1856 to obtain Arabians a breeding stock. Unfortunately, his horses were lost during the Civil War and have no descendants today. In 1893, the World Fair in Chicago exhibited 45 Arabian horses, some of whom remained in the United States and sparked considerable interest among American horse breeders. The Arabian Horse Registry of America was established in 1908, with a total of 71 animals. By 1994, the number had reached half a million. There are now more Arabians registered in North America than in the rest of the world put together. Major early Arabian bloodstock came to the United States in the first decade of the 1900s with importations directly from the Middle East and from European studs by individuals such as Homer Davenport and Peter Hingham of the Hingham Stock farm, Spencer Borden of the Interlachen Stud, and W.R. Brown of the Mayensboro Stud. Another wave of imports came in the 1920's when breeders such as W.K. Kellogg , Henry Babson, Roger Selby, James Draper, and others imported new Arabian bloodstock from Crabbet Park Stud, Poland, Spain and Egypt. Several Arabians, mostly of Polish breeding, were captured from Nazi Germany and imported to the U.S.A. following World War II . As the tensions of the Cold War era eased, there was another wave of imports to America during the 1960s and early 1970s from Poland and Egypt. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, as political issues were resolved surrounding import regulations and the recognition of international stud books, Arabian horses were also imported from Spain and Russia.
This led to over-breeding of the Arabian, especially an ultra-fine, fiery type popular in the show ring. When tax laws related to the horse industry changed in 1986, drastically curtailing the ability of horse operations to be used as a tax shelter, the Arabian market was particularly vulnerable due to over-saturation and artifically inflated prices, and thus the market collapsed, forcing many breeders out of business. The Arabian market has slowly recovered since, with modern breeders moving away from the ultra-fine halter horses of the 1980s towards a quieter, more athletic horse, producing a greater variety of Arabian horses suitable for many different disciplines. ARABIANS TODAY The Arabian is among the top ten most popular Horse breeds in the world, found in nations including the United States and Canada , the United Kingdom , Australia , throughout both eastern and western Europe , as well as many nations of the Middle East , most notably Egypt . Arabians today are even found in South America where they have become particularly popular in rapidly-developing nations such as Brazil . Today, Arabian horses are informally classified by the nation of origin of famed horses in a given pedigree. Popular "types" of Arabians include bloodlines labeled Polish, Spanish, Crabbet, Russian, Egyptian and "Domestic" (usually describing horses whose ancestors were imported to the United States prior to World War II). In the US, a specific mixture of Crabbet, Maynesboro and Kellogg bloodlines has acquired the copyrighted designation "CMK." Each set of bloodlines has its own devoted followers, with the virtues of various types hotly debated within the industry. Most debates are between those who value the Arabian most for its refined beauty and those who value the horse for its stamina and athleticism. COAT COLORS The Arabian Horse Association recognizes purebred horses with the coat colors Bay , Gray , Chestnut , black and, arguably, the occasional Roan . All Arabians, regardless of coat color, have black skin, except under some white markings. Black skin provided natural protection under the hot desert sun. Although many Arabians appear "white," this is simply the natural action of the gray gene. Gray horses are born bay, black or chestnut, then get progressively lighter and lighter as they age, until their hair coat eventually turns pure white or becomes "flea-bitten." Their underlying skin is black and remains so throughout their life. Therefore, Arabians are never truly "white" horses. They also do not carry the cremello or perlino genes that many "white" horses have, nor do they carry any of the lethal white genes. (True Albino does not exist in any breed of horse, it is a lethal gene.) Black Arabians are somewhat rare. The color itself is not common, because the black gene is genetically suppressed into bay when the more dominant Agouti gene is present. The Agouti gene creates the black points of a Bay horse. Some breeding programs now use DNA testing to breed specifically for black Arabians. Purebred Arabians never carry the genes which produce Palomino , cremello, buckskin, and other dilute colors. Nor do they carry the dun gene or any spotting patterns, such as Pinto or Appaloosa , with the exception of the Sabino gene. (Sabino refers to white markings or body spots on a dark horse, and should not be confused with a "flea-bitten" gray, which is a gray horse whose white hair coat also contains small red flecks.) Therefore, people often crossbreed to produce half-Arabians with pinto, dun or dilute colors. For more info on coat colors, see the following Wikipedia article: Equine Coat Color Genetics . Arabian Coat Color Controversies While most horse breeders agree with the adage, "a good horse is never a bad color," nonetheless, scholars of the Arabian horse have heated debates over the cultural value the Bedouin placed upon various colors of horses. For example, there is debate between Arabian horse scholars over whether the Bedouin considered Black Arabians to be a bad omen or a rare treasure. Another debate surrounds white spotting patterns. Pinto , Appaloosa and other patterns are thought by some to be a sign of "impure" blood. Until the development of DNA testing to verify parentage, an Arabian foal with blatent body spots or excessive white markings could not be registered. But it is now known that the sabino gene causes "high white," small body spots, or roaning--and does exist in Arabians. There is also scientific debate over whether Roan Arabians are truly genetic roans. There are very few registered roans, and few if any who have been tested for the roan gene. Some modern genetic studies suggest that roaning patterns on purebred Arabians are actually the action of the sabino gene. Also, some people confuse a young grey horse with a roan because of the intermixed hair colors common to both. However, a roan does not change color with age, while a gray does. USES OF ARABIAN HORSES "The Versatile Arabian" is a slogan of the breed. Arabians are capable of competing in many fields, including Horse Racing , the show ring disciplines of Saddle Seat , Western Pleasure , and Hunt Seat , as well as Dressage , Cutting , Reining , Endurance Riding , Show Jumping , Eventing , and many others. They also make reliable pleasure, trail, and working ranch horses for those who are not interested in competition. Arabians dominate the Endurance sport because of their stamina, where they are the leading breed in competitions such as the Tevis Cup that can cover up to 100 miles in a day. Arabian horses are used extensively as show horses, both in open events and in those limited to Arabians and Half-Arabians. Arabians also are used as racehorses in many nations, including the USA, Poland, Russia and Egypt, though they race at meets separate from Thoroughbreds. Using Arabian horses in "sport horse" disciplines has become popular in recent years, though Arabians have competed in these events for a very long time, especially in Europe. In the United States, the Arabian Horse Association began hosting an Arabian and Half Arabian Sport Horse Nationals in 2003 that in only two years grew to draw over 1900 entries, competing in Working Hunter, Jumper, Sport Horse Under Saddle, Sport Horse In Hand, Dressage, and Carriage Driving. Competition Controversies Despite their natural athleticism, Arabians are not universally welcomed at the highest levels of some all-breed competitions, even through many purebred Arabians are competitive against other breeds at amateur levels. The excesses of the 1980s, when too many Arabians were bred exclusively for refinement without consideration of correctness, did produce a glut of poorly-conformed horses. However, many breeders have returned to a focus on performance ability that is slowly restoring the breed's reputation. But misunderstandings and myths also plague the breed. Some who dislike Arabians believe--accurately or not--that it is more difficult to train a hot-blooded horse. Many people also prefer larger horses over smaller ones. Another persuasive myth is that the refinement of Arabians means they have weak or light bone, though the superiority of the breed in endurance competition clearly demonstrates otherwise. Nonetheless, with proper training, Arabians have excelled in open events. A famous example was the Arabian mare Ronteza, who defeated 50 horses of all breeds to win the 1961 Reined Cow Horse championship at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, CA. Varian, Sheila (2006). Ronteza at the Cow Palace . Retrieved April 25, 2006. At the 1936 Olympics , the French, with two Anglo-Arabians on their team, won the Silver team medal in Dressage. A recent champion is the purebred Arabian gelding Russian Roulett, who completed several years of successful open jumper competition, winning against all breeds on the California show circuit. OTHER ACTIVITIES Arabians are involved in a wide variety of other activities, exhibited in fairs, movies, parades, circuses and any other place where horses can be showcased. Arabians have been popular in movies, dating back to the silent film era when Rudolph Valentino rode the Arabian stallion Jadaan in "Son of the Sheik." Other Arabian horse film stars include the stallion Cass Ole in "The Black Stallion." Arabian horses also appeared in "Lawrence of Arabia," "The Thirteenth Warrior," the controversial (to Arabian enthusiasts) "Hildago," and other films. Arabians are sports mascots at football games, racing around the sidelines of the field in celebration of touchdowns and engaging in other crowd-pleasing activities. "Traveler," the mascot for the University Of Southern California Trojans is currently a purebred Arabian. Thunder, a purebred Arabian stallion, was mascot for the Denver Broncos until his retirement in 2004. Cal Poly Pomona's W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center Equestrian Unit and many other Arabian organizations have made Arabian horses a regular sight at the annual Tournament Of Roses Parade held each New Year's day in Pasadena, California. Arabians are used in the sport of Bloodless (Portuguese style) Bullfighting. Arabians also are seen on search and rescue teams, and occasionally for police work. NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY
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