By Eman Abdallah Kamel
Eman is a writer and an engineer.
This article presents the characteristics of the breed, their history, competitions, and precautions to be observed when buying or importing them.
Arabian Horses
The Arabian horse is one of the light horse breeds. Arabian horses are one of the world’s oldest breeds of horses. Their origins date back 4,500 years.
They originated on the Arabian Peninsula. Then it spread to all countries in the world, either through trade or war.
To improve the capabilities and qualities of other horse breeds. Arabian horses were bred with those breeds.
The unique head and high-tail carriage of this breed set it apart.
Arabian horses are most commonly used in horseback riding.
The Main Organic Qualities of Arabian Horse
The stunning outward appearance of the original Arabian horse sets it apart, as does its wonderfully harmonious trunk.
| Small, refined, wedge-shaped head that is homogeneous with the neck and rest of the body | The number of lumbar vertebrae is less than one or two vertebrae in the Arabian horse than in other horses | Small ears are generally smaller in stallions than in mares |
| Limbs are solid and prominent tendons end with a small, rounded hoof and solid steel | Colors are gray, white, brown, blond, or black | Height is between 145 and 160 cm |
| Large, bright, and intelligent eyes | Long, arched neck | Soft skin |
| Thin, soft, shiny, and short hair | The back is rich in muscles | Small muzzles |
| Broad forehead | Large nostrils | High-carried tail |
Characteristics of Arabian Horses
- All horses, especially Arabian horses, love music and have distinctive rhythmic movements when they hear the tunes of drums, flutes, and other instruments.
- High fertility and infertility cases of the Arabian horse or mare are very rare. The Arabian horse does not lose its reproductive power, even if it is older than 30 years.
- It has an excellent respiratory system and a large thoracic cage, which helps to bring large amounts of oxygen to the lungs.
- The Arabian horse is characterized by courage and enthusiasm.
- They are cured quickly of wounds and fractures of bones.
- The ability of the horses to endure trouble is beyond description.
- Pure Arabian horses are loyal to their owners, especially if they are the ones who raise and train them themselves.
- The authentic Arabian horse has a sharp memory, especially for the places it goes through or the people who deal with it.
Arabian Horses Throughout History
Arabian horses have been documented all over the world throughout history in various eras and countries around the world, including
1. The Ancient World
2. In Islamic History
3. Egypt
4. the Maghreb
5. Europe
6. Central and Eastern Europe
7. America
8. Australia
1. The Ancient World
War horses were common drawing subjects in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. They were characterized by concave faces and raised tails.
Usually, horses appear in the drawings when pulling carts or using them for hunting. Oriental-style horses appeared in artworks in Greek civilization and the Roman Empire.
The first appearance of the name of the Arabian horse was in Persia around 500 BC. These semi-Arabian horses share many features with the modern Arabian horse, including speed and patience.
A horse skeleton was discovered in the Sinai, dating back to 1700 BC, and is believed to be the oldest evidence of a horse in ancient Egypt. Most likely, the Hyksos invaders brought it to Egypt.
This horse had a wedged head, a small muzzle, and a large eye—all the features of an Arabian horse.
2. In Islamic History
After the Hegira (the migration of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD), the Arabian horse spread in the known world of the time and became a recognized breed.
By 630 AD, Islam had spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa. In 711, the Muslim conquest reached Spain, and the Muslims took control of most of the Iberian Peninsula in 720 AD.
The horses of the conquerors were a variety of oriental species, including the Barb horse and the Arabian horse. The Arabian horse also spread through the Ottoman Empire, which appeared in 1299 AD.
The Ottoman Empire possessed many Arab horses through trade, diplomacy, and war. The Ottomans also encouraged private breeding farms to ensure the supply of horses.
3. Egypt
Historically, Egypt brought Arabian horses from the deserts of Palestine and the Arabian Peninsula as a source of pure horses. In the thirteenth century, the Sultan (ruler) al-Nasir, Muhammad ibn Qalawun, and Sultan al-Zahir Barquq imported many horses from the Arabian Peninsula.
Mohammed Ali established a breeding farm at the beginning of the 19th century by importing a few of the Arabian horse dynasties from the Arabian Peninsula. His son Ibrahim and his grandson Abbas Helmi continued to import and care for the original Arabian horses.
4. The Maghreb
Arab horses entered the Maghreb with the Islamic conquests in the seventh century AD, as well as with the migration of Arab tribes to North Africa.
They are the principal horses of the Tbourida Fantasia (performance). Tbourida Fantasia has been part of Moroccan folklore since the 15th century.
The Moroccans have hybridized Arabian horses with Berber horse breeds to get stronger horses.
5. Europe
The first arrival of the Arab horse in Europe was indirectly through Spain and France. Or through returning fighters from the Crusades that began in 1095. When the European armies reached the desert of Palestine, many of the cavalrymen returned with Arab horses that they had obtained from the spoils of war.
Also, the breed arrived in Europe when the Ottoman Empire sent 300,000 cavalrymen to Hungary in 1522. Many of the Turkish cavalry were riding authentic Arabian horses.
In 1529, the Ottomans reached Vienna. The Polish and Hungarian armies were able to stop them. These armies took horses from the defeated cavalry. Some of these horses were introduced to major farms in Eastern Europe as a source of purebred Arabian horses.
6. Central and Eastern Europe
The majority of Arabian horse farms in Europe were established in the 1700s to preserve their purity.
The Prussians established the royal farm in 1732. The first purpose of this was to supply the royal stables with horses. But soon, many other farms were established for other purposes, including supplying Arabian horses to the Prussian army.
By 1873, English observers felt that the Prussian knights were far superior to the British. English observers attributed this superiority to the ancestors of Arabian horses.
King William I of Vittembark founded the Weil Stud in Germany (now known as the Marbach Stud Farm) in 1817. The Babolna Stud in Hungary was founded in 1789.
England’s King James I imported the first Arabian horse to England in 1616.
Arabian horses were introduced into the European race, especially in England, through the three horses of Darley Arabian, Burley Turk, and Godolphin Arabian. The three horses are the basis of the modern Thoroughbred breed.
During the 18th century, the need to import Arabian horses to improve local European equine breeds in European armies increased, creating a need for more trips to the Middle East.
Spanish Queen Isabella II sent her representatives to the Arabian Desert to buy horses.
By 1893, the government farm, Yogada Militar, was established in Córdoba, Spain, to breed both Arabian and Iberian horses.
Armies continued to be heavily involved in importing and breeding Arabian horses for Spain until the early twentieth century.
7. America
Horses arrived in America after the arrival of explorers or Spanish invaders.
The explorer Hernan Curtis brought 16 horses of Andalusian, Berber, and Arabian origin to Mexico in 1516.
In 1540, Francisco Vázquez de Coronado brought with him 250 horses of the same breed.
The English colonies imported Arabian horses to the East Coast of America. An example is Nathaniel Harrison, who brought an Arabian horse, a Turkish, and a Barb in 1747.
One of the main horses used by George Washington during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) was a gray semi-Arabian named Blueskin, also called Lindsay Arabia.
In 1893, the Hamidie Society imported 45 Arabian horses. By 1908, 71 horses were registered at the Arabian Horse Registration Office in America. In 1994, the office registered half a million horses. Currently, the number of Arabian horses registered in North America alone is greater than the total number registered worldwide.
8. Australia
Arabian horses have been brought to Australia since the early European colonization of Australia.
The first horses to be imported were purebred and young Spanish from the Andalusia region.
Some horses were also imported from India. In 1803, “Hector” was imported from India.
In the 19th century, many Arabian horses arrived in Australia and were used to produce hybrids. The original Arabian horses were used to improve racehorses, too.
The armed forces also joined horse-riding operations for cavalry, especially during the First World War. Arabian horses have become part of Australian breeds.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Arabian horses arrived in Australia, mostly of English origin.
The first Arabian horses of the Polish breeds arrived in 1966, and those of the Egyptian breeds arrived in 1970. After that, they came from all over the world. Today, the Australian Arabian Horse Register is the second-largest office in the world after the United States.
In what events do Arabian horses compete?
Arabian horses are versatile horses that compete in many equestrian events, such as horse racing, horse shows, and various special disciplines in riding, endurance, jumping, horseback riding, and many more.
People who are not interested in racing. They use it to enjoy riding horses or farm horses.
Competitions
Arabian horses dominate the endurance races because of their stamina, as they are the leading race in the Tevez Cup, which covers up to 100 miles (160 km) per day. Arabian horses are also participating in FEI competitions, including international equestrian events.
There is a wide range of horse shows in the United States and Canada for Arabian, Half-Arab, and Anglo-Arab horses approved by the United States Equestrian Federation in cooperation with the Arabian Horse Association. Lessons include reining, Western pleasure, hunt seat, English pleasure, saddle seat, and halters. In addition, the very famous “original” costume class.
Sports horses became popular in North America, especially after the Arabian Horse Association began hosting the independent Arabian Championship, the 2003 Arabian Horse Championships, which by 2004 had grown to 2,000 entries. This competition attracts Arabian and part Arabian horses that lead in jumping, hunter, and horseback sports under the saddle, dressage, and combined driving competition.
Part-Arabians appeared at the Olympic-level competition. The Anglo-Arabian Lennon won an Olympic silver medal for France in dressage in 1928 and 1932, in addition to a team gold medal in 1932. Another French Anglo-Arabian, Harbagon, won the gold medal and silver in the individual event at the Olympic Games of 1948. At the 1952 Olympics, French rider Pierre Duryola won the individual gold medal in the jumping show on the Anglo-Arabian. The Anglo-Arabian Tamarillo, ridden by William Fox Pitt, represented the United Kingdom at the FEL.
The Finnish Arabian Horse Society has presented the WAHO Trophy Award for 2013 to 23-year-old Beshmet after a long and successful march in competitions, especially in small events and jumping.
Did You Know?
The most famous Arabian horses are the Godolphin, the Darley Arabian, and the Burley Turk.
Precautions to Be Observed When Buying or Importing Arabian Horses
If you are thinking about buying an Arabian horse, keep these points in mind.
- Be sure of the farm’s history and reputation for exporting or selling horses. If the farm is new, make sure that all the horses are registered.
- Make sure that the horse you want to buy is registered. Information about each horse is stored in a database, including name, family, and pedigree.
- Make sure that the horse is completely free of disease.
Source
- www.usef.org… ARABIAN, HALF-ARABIAN, AND ANGLO-ARABIAN DIVISIONS.
- Godolphin Arabian. Thoroughbred Heritage website, portraits of famous thoroughbreds.
- https://www.forumrarebooks.com/uploads/catalogue/291/291_attachement_catalogue.pdf
The Arabian horse and the beginning of its arrival in Europe:
- www.survivorlibrary.com/library/the Arab horse 1906.pdf
- www.desertheritagemagazine.com
- www.arabianhorses.org/export/content.export/aha-docs/Bloodline Arabian Spanish.pdf
The following important historical events can be attributed to the arrival of the Arab horse in Europe:
- www.arabnews.com/islam-perspective/news/750016
- wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle of Hattin#CITEREFFrance2015
- pdfs.semanticscholar.org
- www.oxfordreference.com
- The Arabian Horse in America: www.lib.uchicago.edu
- Arabian Horse Association: web.archive.orgarabianhorses.org
- Endurance, the Arabian Horse Society of Australia.
- PELENNOR – 2015 WAHO Trophy Winner – Finland.
©Eman Abdallah Kamel, 2022
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