ARABIAN

Also called Arab, one of the oldest horse breeds, native to the Arabian Peninsula. The Arabian was the horse of the Bedouin people (nomadic Arabs) as early as 3000 to 2500 BC. This ancient, pure breed is widely regarded as the definition of beauty and elegance in horses. Acknowledged as the primary ancestor of the Thoroughbred horse, famed for its speed, strength, and endurance, the Arabian has influenced the development of almost all modern horse breeds. An unmatched combination of great stamina, speed, a solid body, intelligence, longevity, and grace are significant traits the Arabian has passed on to other breeds. The Arabian has a lean, fine body. It stands about 147 to 153 cm (about 58 to 60 in, or 14 to 15 hands) high at the withers. (the high part of the back, located between the shoulder bones). The legs are well-muscled with broad joints, and the feet are small and tough. The Arabian has 17 ribs, 5 lumbar vertebrae, and 16 caudal vertebrae, compared with 18 ribs, 6 lumbar vertebrae, and 18 caudal vertebrae in most horses. This bone structure gives the Arabian a comparatively short back that is slightly concave. It also has a high, banner-like carriage of its tail. A distinguishing feature of the Arabian's neck is the mitbah, the angle that gives the neck its characteristic arch and the head a wide range of motion. Breeders often emphasize the mitbah by shaving the first 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 in) of the mane. The wedge-shaped head tapers to a small, soft muzzle. The face has a noticeable dished, or concave, profile. The jaws are round and wide set, and the forehead is high and rounded. The Arabian's dark eyes are remarkable: large and wide, the eyes are more oval-shaped in the Arabian than in other breeds. The Arabian is chestnut (gold), bay (reddish), gray, or black. Dark skin around the eyes enhances the horse's dark appearance. Mystery and mysticism surround the origins of the Arabian. According to an ancient legend, the Arabian descended from 7 ancestors selected by King Solomon, ruler of ancient Israel between 961 and 922 BC, from the 40,000 chariot horses and 12,000 riding horses he owned. Muslim tradition says the breed descended from the 5 mares of the prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, that were the first of 85 to reach Mecca after the prophet sent them there with news of a military victory. Breeders today believe that the Arabian probably descended from the Tarpan, a prehistoric, primitive horse, and the Caspian, a pony that is the most ancient horse breed in existence. The Arabian has been bred pure on the Arabian Peninsula throughout its existence. The bloodlines of this horse are traced through the descendants of individual mares. For centuries, Bedouin horsemen kept track of their horses' pedigrees by word of mouth, tracing them back to at least 2500 BC. Owners who could write noted a mare's ancestry on a small piece of parchment and placed it together with small blue beads in a bag, which then was placed around the mare's neck to ward off evil spirits. The Arabian was used by Bedouins for both transportation and as a mount for battle with neighboring peoples. Traditionally, only mares were ridden into battle. They were called banat er rih, or daughters of the wind. The Arabian also played a key role in the spread of Islam. Muhammad declared that by caring for this horse in life, the faithful would be redeemed after death. Muslim invasions in the 7th and 8th centuries introduced the Arabian to North Africa and Southern Europe where it influenced the development of additional horse breeds. Military leaders who rode the Arabian into battle include George Washington and Napoleon. By the 19th century, breeding programs were well established throughout Europe. Most Arabian horses now are bred in the United States, Great Britain, and Poland.

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