The Arabian Horse Breed

The beautiful Arabian horse is the oldest known breed of the modern horse, and it has remained largely unchanged over the centuries. There are few breeds today that have not been improved upon by the addition of Arabian blood.

Equine historians disagree as to where the horses originated, but they do know that the Bedouin people, nomads of the deserts in the Middle East, had Arabian Horses in their possession as early as 2,500 BC. The horses had a dramatic impact on the lives of the Bedouins. They now had a spirited, swift animal to aid them in warfare and to provide a means of fast transportation. They were also often the chief valuables of Bedouin tribes.

The desert climate of the nomads was harsh – blazing heat in the daytime and cold at night. These people were forced, by necessity, to share their food and water with their horses. The animals often shared the tent with their masters, as well. This practice of sharing and depending on each other for survival helped to create a close bond between man and beast.

The Bedouins believed the Arabian was a gift from Allah, and that the large forehead of the horse contained a special blessing. In the seventh century, Mohammed himself gave instructions on the handling of the Arabian Horse. The prophet said the horses should always be treated with extreme kindness, especially the mares. He went on to say that since the horse was a special gift from Allah, those who treated the horses well would be rewarded in the afterlife.

The Arabian of the Bedouins was a family-oriented animal. It had to be quiet and calm and safe around its master’s children. The Bedouins prized this kind of temperament in their horses, and unruly or ill-tempered animals were often traded off to people of other regions who crossbred the Arabians with other breeds. The Bedouins themselves, however, kept their horses’ bloodlines pure. Their mares were their most prized possessions because in them lay the future of the breed. Tribal leaders could recite from memory the complete lineage of each individual horse, and the rare gift of a mare was the most valuable present a human could receive.

Records suggest how Arabian foals were sometimes trained. On long caravans, the foals travelled beside their dams. Young Bedouin boys, most likely in an effort to relieve the boredom of the trip, often hopped onto the backs of the larger fillies and colts. Thus began the horses’ introduction to carrying riders.

Today’s Arabian reflects his desert heritage not only in his large lungs, flaring nostrils, and extreme hardiness and stamina, but also in his kind temperament. The breed developed and survived only through close bonds with humans, and this sentiment has somehow endured. Arabians are gentle and easy to train and respond well to kindness and patience. They have an innate desire to please their masters, and many of the horses are often handled by children. In fact, the Arabian is one of the few breeds in which the US Equestrian Federation allows stallions to be shown by children. This is certainly a testament to the breed’s historical relationship with man.