The image of a great black Arabian stallion, floating along the beach, nose to the wind, tail flagging, caught the attention of audiences with the release of The Black Stallion. The star of this film, Cass Ole, a purebred black Arabian stallion, brought the charisma of the Arabian horse to people worldwide with his flowing mane and proud head. Arabians have existed for centuries to insure that generations to come can enjoy a glimpse of great horses like Cass Ole. The oldest breed of horse, Arabians are the only true purebred in the equine world. They have played a significant role in the history of man and horse, and will continue to provide enjoyment and companionship for years to come through the work of national and global organizations dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the breed.
There are many myths and theories concerning the origins of the Arabian horse. The traditional legends, including the Bedouin legend above, have surrounded the Arabian's roots in mystery. Another story is that "In the beginning, God gave Ishmael, son of Abraham, a gift, made of mist and dust, as a reward for Ishmael's faith and dedication to the God of his father. Out of the mist and dust came the first Asil Arabian mare, who was at the time in foal, and produced a son. From these two gifts from God came the beginning of the Asil (pure) Arabian horse (Whitman Legend and Reality of Blue Star Arabians)." In most cases, the Arabian was considered a gift from god, and treated as such by the Bedouin society. The Arabian horse grew and flourished in the rich grass along the Fertile Crescent, now Syria, Iraq, Iran, and the Arabia peninsula (History and Heritage of the Arabian Horse). The origin of the name "Arab" is unclear; possibly derived from the concept of nomadism "Arabha," Hebrew for a dark or steppe land, or "Erebh," opposed to the ordered life of stationary communities (Origins of the Arabian Horse). "Arab is a Semitic word meaning 'desert' or the inhabitant thereof, with no reference to nationality...the Arabian became known as the hot-blooded horse of the 'Arabas' (Origins of the Arabian Horse)." Though the origin of the Arabian horse remains a mystery, his lineage traces back five thousand years. His ancient ancestors were slightly smaller than the Arabians of today, but otherwise the modern Arabians are exceptionally similar in appearance (The History of the Arabian Horse).
There are several characteristics that set the Arabian horse apart from other breeds, the most noticeable being their face. "The Arabian's head has a characteristic dished profile with a prominent eye, large nostrils and small teacup muzzle (Byford, et al. Origination of the Arabian Breed)." There was religious significance in the Arabian's features; the large forehead was said to hold the blessings of Allah. High tail carriage was symbolic of pride. The arched neck and high crest signified courage (History and Heritage of the Arabian Horse). The Arabian's broad chest, short, but strong back, and sloped shoulder give him power and floaty gaits (Byford, et al. Origination of the Arabian Breed). Arabian horses come in many colors, grey, chestnut, bay, roan, brown, and occasionally black. Most Arabians stand between 14.1 and 15.2 hands (one hand is equivalent to four inches) and weigh between 800 and 1,000 pounds as adults (Byford, et al. Origination of the Arabian Breed).
Arabian horses are well known for being affectionate and bonding well with humans (The Arabian Horse Today). People enjoy many activities with their Arabians, from showing to pleasure riding. Arabians can be shown at local, regional, and national levels in a variety of disciplines. Classes include English, park, country, hunter, and western pleasure, sidesaddle, jumping, dressage, gaming events, and halter (The Arabian Horse Today). Arabians have also become the breed of choice in the endurance world because of their stamina and agility. One of the most popular events in Arabian shows is native costume; in this class horse and rider wear Americanized versions of Bedouin garb, complete with tassels and embroidery, and perform at walk, canter, and hand gallop. Arabians also compete in racing, cattle and ranch work, and pleasure trail riding. Due to their friendly nature and willingness to work, Arabians are a popular choice for instructional programs and therapeutic riding (International Arabian Horse Association). Arabians become devoted companions, a testament to their long history of importance in the people's lives they share.
It is unknown whether the Arabian was first needed for work or riding, but by 1500 B.C. the people of the East had domesticated the Arabian horse (Origins of the Arabian Horse). The Arabian had become a necessity for the Bedouin people to ensure their survival (History and Heritage of the Arabian Horse). The horses were of great importance to the tribes, and "the head men of the tribes could relate the verbal histories of each family of horse in his tribe as well as he could each family of Bedouin (History and Heritage of the Arabian Horse)." Like most horses, the Arabian horse was primarily used in. "A well mounted Bedouin could attack an enemy tribe and capture their herds of sheep, camels and goats, adding to the wealth of their own tribe (History and Heritage of the Arabian Horse)." This desert warfare, "Ghazu," depended on the stamina, agility, and speed of the Arabian horse (The Arabian Horse Today). In many breeds of horses, stallions are held at higher importance than mares, yet the Bedouins considered their mares to be the prized possessions in their herd. "Mares were the best mounts for raiding parties, as they would not nicker to the enemy tribe's horses, warning of their approach. The best war mares exhibited great courage in battle, taking the charges and the spear thrusts without giving ground (History and Heritage of the Arabian Horse)." The Bedouin would also race their horses, the winner receiving the best horses in the losers' herd (History and Heritage of the Arabian Horse). It was considered a great honor to receive a mare as a gift, and legends were often told of mares stolen or bought at great price. "For many years the greatest prize at the southern end of this trail was the exotic and beautiful 'white horse of the desert,' the purebred Arabian horse (Byford, et al. Origination of the Arabian Breed)." The word of the elegant horses of the desert had begun to spread out of the Bedouins' tribes.
Starting about 3500 years ago, the Egyptian empire expanded its borders, and the civilizations of the Indus Valley mixed with the cultures of Mesopotamia. The empires of the Hurrians, Hittites, Kassites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and others rose and fell, and the Arabian "pony express" provided a means to connect the vast empires (Origins of the Arabian Horse). With the rise of the Prophet Mohammed and the Islamic faith, around 600 A.D., the desert warriors and their Arabian horses spread their faith to the Middle East, North Africa, Spain, and China (Arabian Horses Spread to Europe). The Prophet Mohammed's teaching of "every man shall love his horse," was so powerful, that the Bedouin warriors and their brave steeds, proved to be invincible (Byford, et al. Origination of the Arabian Breed). In 868 A.D., a Mameluke, Ahmad Ibn Tulun, "finally subjected Egypt to his will, building palatial gardens to provide a setting for the hippodrome that housed his finest Arabian horses (Byford, et al. Origination of the Arabian Breed)." Many Mameluke warriors and sultans presided over Egypt, and with their acknowledgment of fine bloodstock, they continued the breeding of some of the finest Arabian horses (Byford, et al. Origination of the Arabian Breed). It was not until Napoleon in 1798 that the Mamelukes were overthrown, and the horses captivated Napoleon; "the beautiful Arabian horses, richly harnessedsnorting, neighing, prancing gracefully and lightly under their martial riders, who are covered with dazzling arms inlaid with gold and precious stones. Their costumes are brilliantly colorful; their turbans are surmounted with egret feathers and some wear gilded helmets...( Byford, et al. Origination of the Arabian Breed)." When the French left, Egypt was under the rule of the Albanian, Mohammed Ali the Great. He founded one of the greatest Arabian stud farms of all time (Byford, et al. Origination of the Arabian Breed). Word of the quick, yet elegant, horse had begun to spread across Europe, Asia, and into North America.
Europe had developed horses through the Dark Ages to carry a knight and his armor. Their lighter horses were from the pony breeds. They had nothing to compare with the small, fast horses upon which the invaders were mounted (History and Heritage of the Arabian Horse)." The world was becoming smaller as groups traveled from kingdom to empire, bringing with them gifts and possessions. Among these, the Arabian horse was brought by the Turks of the Ottoman Empire to rulers of Europe as gifts (History and Heritage of the Arabian Horse). Beginning with the Christian Crusades, European horses began to be "lightened" by Arabian blood, as the crusaders returned to Europe. Invention of firearms led to a desire for lighter horses as the heavy horses were no longer necessary to carry armor (Arabian Horses Spread to Europe). It became standard to use purebred Arabians to lighten and improve European stock (Byford, et al. Origination of the Arabian Breed). The Arabian did not stop at the Atlantic Ocean in its travels and influence.
In 1725, Nathan Harrison of Virginia imported the first Arabian stallion into the colonies (Introduction of Arabian Horses to North America). The next Arabian enthusiast in the United States, and the first Arabian breeder of consequence, was A. Keene Richard. Between 1853 and 1856 he imported several stallions and mares for breeding, but the Civil War interrupted his breeding program, and no horses survived (Introduction of Arabian Horses to North America). It would be several decades later before Arabians made an appearance in America, but when they came, they came to stay. In 1873, General Ulysses S. Grant was given two purebred Arabian stallions, Leopard and Lindentree, on a trip to the Middle East by Sulton, Abdul Hamid II of Turkey (AHRA Mission Statement). Leopard was then passed to Randolph Huntington, who then imported two more stallions and two mares in 1888 from England. This became the first purebred Arabian breeding program in the United States (AHRA Mission Statement). The 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, Illinois, was the turning point for Arabian popularity in America when Turkey exhibited forty-five purebred Arabians (AHRA Mission Statement).
After the World's Fair, the importation of Arabian horses increased as they became a sought after mount and breeding stock among prominent Americans. One of the other great influences of Arabian horses in America came in 1906 when Homer Davenport, sponsored by Teddy Roosevelt and supported financially by Peter Bradley, imported twenty-seven Arabians into Boston (AHRA Mission Statement). These horses began the family of Davenport Arabians. Between 1898 and 1911, Spencer Borden imported twenty horses to his Interlachen Stud; W.R. Brown imported twenty horses from England, six from France, and seven from Egypt between 1918 and 1932. Another influential Arabian breeder, W.K. Kellogg, brought seventeen horses from Crabbet stud of England in 1926 and 1927 (Introduction of Arabian Horses to North America). Roger Selby established Selby stud with another import of Crabbet horses between 1928 and 1933 (Introduction of Arabian Horses to North America). Desert bred horses were brought to America in 1930 and 1931 when Albert Harris imported them along with two horses from England (Introduction of Arabian Horses to North America). Later, in 1934, the Spanish Arabian was introduced to America through Joseph Draper's five imported horses (Introduction of Arabian Horses to North America). The 1940's and 1950's imports slowed down, yet at the death of Lady Wentworth in 1957, the dispersal of her Crabbet Stud in England, the increase in imported horses resumed (Introduction of Arabian Horses to North America). By the end of the fifties, the Arabian horse had begun to flourish in the United States and around the globe, leading to the formation of local, national, and worldwide organizations to benefit the Arabian horse.
For centuries Arabians have been the mount of choice from world leaders to backyard horse owners. Even Napolean, George Washington, Genghis Khan, and Alexander the Great rode Arabians (The History of the Arabian Horse). Their exquistite beauty, intelligence, stamina, and devotion to their owners has made Arabians one of the most popular breeds to own and show. With the help of clubs and registries, the Arabian will remain unchanged from the "Asil" of the Bedouin tribes. Thanks to careful breeding programs, the Arabian will be enjoyed for generations to come, and the black stallions of children's dreams may eventually be a reality.
