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Arabian. The word conjures up images of a fierce desert warrior astride a magnificent war mare ready to do battle across the blowing dunes of sand. Or possibly Walter Farley's The Black Stallion series that would capture a young horse lover and lead them through all the adventures of Alec and The Black. Possibly you've been privileged enough to have spent some time around this ancient breed and were fascinated by their intelligence, their prancing step and their bond with their rider and it's led you to seek more information about them. So the question is asked again.. what is an Arabian?
I have heard that when God, praise be unto Him, desired to create the horse he summoned forth the South Wind, which the people of Egypt call El Marees saying: "I shall create from thy substance a new being which shall be good fortune unto my followers and humiliation to my enemies. Condense thyself!" And the wind condensed itself. And the angel Gabriel caught a handful of it and said to God: "Here is the handful of wind."
And God created therefrom an Arab horse of bay color and addressed him saying: "I have created thee and named thee horse. I have bestowed my blessings upon thee above all other beasts of burden and made thee their master. Success and happiness are bound to thy forelock; bounty reposes on your back and riches are wth you wherever you may be. And I have endowed thee to fly without wings; you are for pursuit and for flight. And thou shalt carry men who will glorify me, and thou shalt glorify me with them thereby." |
It's so much more than just bloodlines and breeding. It's hard to explain until you are actually owned by an Arabian, but they have been known for thousands of years as not only as companions but as the war mare the desert warrior trusted his life to, but extending to trusted trail mounts, children's show horses, cattle horses, driving horses, a Saddle Seat, Hunt Seat, Western Pleasure, Endurance Racing, Competitive Trail, Sporthorse disciplines, and even Timed Events.. and the list goes on and on. Find an event or a occupation of any kind that a horse can be used for and it can be guaranteed with almost 100% certainty that at some point there has been an Arabian that not only participated, but excelled in that area or discipline of riding.
There are a thousand years worth of legends and mystery surrounding the origins of the breed, but that heritage has culminated now in a breed of horse that can be right for every member of the family, every discipline offered. Courageous and strong, free spirited and gentle of soul, this breed is said to have been not only the first true breed of horse, but the first horse altogether, and that all other horses descend in some form from this strong, sturdy desert steed where a horses soundness and the ability to exist on the minimum of food and water were an absolute must for the desert bedouins.
So for the last time I will ask, what is an Arabian horse? They are mystery, beauty, grace, and romance. They are intelligence, athleticism, willingness, disposition and they are history all rolled up into about 15 hands and 1000 pounds of satiny coat and a dark and knowing eye that mirrors an old and wise soul. They are a quick gallop in a cool morning as they flag their tail at the world, full of pride. They are a soft whicker in the dark and a warm muzzle when you visit the barn late at night. They are ancient, they are proud.... they are.... Arabian.
*James Belgrave, Welcome to Bahrain (Bahrain, 1968).
**Judith Forbis, The Classic Arabian Horse.
~Recommended Reading~
The Classic Arabian
by Judith Forbis
Lyons on Horses
by John Lyons
Shoeing for Performance
by Price & Fisher
Practical Dressage
by Jane Kidd
Guide to Dressage
by Louise Mills Wilde
The Complete Book of Foaling
by Karen E.N. Hayes, DVM, MS
The Tellington-Jones Equine Awareness Method
by Tellington-Jones / Bruns
Reference Handbook of Straight Egyptian Horses
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