| Bedouins believed that the horse was a gift | | | | breeds. They had no breeds which could |
| from Allah. It was to be cherished, revered, | | | | compare to the smaller, faster horses upon |
| almost worshipped. The Arabian horse has | | | | which invading forces from the Middle East |
| been bred for centuries, with its beginnings | | | | were mounted. Thus, they sought out purebred |
| in the oases around the Tigris and Euphrates | | | | Arabian stallions with the attributes desired |
| Rivers in the countries known in our modern | | | | and crossed them with choice native strains. |
| history as Iran, Iraq, and Syria, as well as | | | | Ninety-three percent of the English |
| other parts of the Arabian Peninsula.Because | | | | Thoroughbred breed today traces its roots to |
| the Bedouins cherished their horses, the | | | | three distinct Arab strains: the Byerly Turk, |
| bloodlines were a jealously guarded family | | | | Darley Arabian, and Godolphin Arabian |
| treasure within the different tribes. There | | | | (sometimes called Godolphin Barb).The first |
| are records which indicate that the nomads | | | | Arabian stallion imported to America was in |
| began breeding these superb horses as early | | | | 1725. He allegedly sired three hundred colts |
| as 3000 to 2500 B.C. However, the modern | | | | from breeding stock mares. And between 1853 |
| Arabians trace their roots back to five mares | | | | and 1856, a breeder by the name of A. Keene |
| which were owned by King Solomon around 1600 | | | | Richard imported several stallions and mares |
| B.C. Those five mares were known as | | | | to establish the first breeding program of |
| "Al-Khamesh", literally "the five". Those | | | | consequence in the States. Unfortunately, |
| five bloodlines were Kehilan, Seglawi, | | | | his horses were confiscated or destroyed |
| Abeyan, Hamdani and Hadban. As substrains | | | | during the Civil War, the breeding line was |
| were developed in each of the bloodlines, | | | | ruptured, and nothing survived.On a visit to |
| those would be named for celebrated mares and | | | | Turkey in 1877, General Ulysses S. Grant was |
| or sheiks who significantly contributed a | | | | presented with two purebred stallions which |
| substantial branch to the strain.Each of the | | | | he imported to America. He gave on of those |
| five original strains had significant | | | | stallions to Randolph Huntington. Mr. |
| characteristics which were preserved in | | | | Huntington then imported two more purebred |
| breeding pure Arabians. A brief description | | | | stallions and two pure Arabian mares from |
| of each follows:The Kehilan had a deep chest, | | | | England in 1888. His breeding program is |
| masculine power, and size. The average | | | | considered the foundation of the first pure |
| height for a pure Kehilan was up to 15 hands | | | | Arabian stock in the United States.Other |
| (60 inches, or 152.4 centimeters) at the | | | | breeds influenced by pure Arabian stock |
| shoulder. It had a short head with a broad | | | | include the Orloff Trotter of Russia, the |
| forehead, and wide jowls. The most common | | | | American Thoroughbred, the Morgan, the |
| colors were chestnut and grey.The Seglawi had | | | | Percheron, the Connemara pony, the American |
| a refined look and was noticeably femininely | | | | Quarter Horse and National Show Horse. |
| elegant. The bone structure was fine and the | | | | Strains of the breed were also introduced to |
| face and neck were significantly longer than | | | | the Lipizzaners of Austria, as well as |
| that of the Kelihan. The most common color | | | | numerous other breeds around the |
| was grey, and the average height was 14.2 | | | | world.Arabians are considered the oldest of |
| hands (144.27 cm., or 56.8 in.).The Abeyan | | | | all the light breed strains, and its |
| was quite similar to the Seglawi. It shared | | | | influence can be traced to many foundation |
| the refined look, but tended to have a longer | | | | stocks. But, the pure strains are still |
| back than the other strains. It averaged | | | | cherished and preserved by breeders in the |
| 14.2 hands, was commmonly grey, and had more | | | | Middle East, even today.The modern purebred |
| white markings that most Arabians.The Hamdani | | | | Arabian outside of the Middle East typically |
| line had a plainer look than that associated | | | | has a "dished," or concave, profile set on a |
| with Arabian horses. It was athletic and | | | | beautifully shaped head. The eyes are |
| masculine in appearance, with a large bone | | | | prominent, the nostrils are usually small, |
| structure. The head was straighter in | | | | and the muzzle is usually "teacup", in shape |
| profile than the typical Arabian and it | | | | and size. The neck is gracefully arched, and |
| lacked the bulging forehead which the | | | | the head is inherently held high.The back is |
| Bedouins believed was "the blessings of | | | | short and level. The shoulders are long and |
| Allah". This strain was one of the largest, | | | | sloped. The chest is broad, deep and |
| standing 15.2 hands (60.8 in., or 154.43 cm.) | | | | muscular. Its legs are long, and the tendons |
| at the shoulder. The most common colors were | | | | are clearly defined. The Arabian has small |
| bay and grey.The Hadban was similarly | | | | hooves, with a very tough consistency, that |
| configured as the Hamdani, with the big bone | | | | are wide at the heel. The hind quarters |
| structure and musculature. But it was | | | | slope, and the tail is distinctly arched |
| shorter in height and had an extremely gentle | | | | before it drops.Overall, one can clearly see |
| nature. The average height was 14.3 hands | | | | that this horse defines strength, speed, and |
| (145.28 cm., or 57.2 in.), and the dominant | | | | stamina in a beautifully conformed body.The |
| colors were bay and brown with few, if any | | | | coat can be chestnut, grey, bay, or black and |
| white markings.Bedouins "adopted" the horses, | | | | is very fine. The underlying skin is always |
| regardless of how they came to be in the | | | | black. It is not uncommon for a purebred |
| desert. Whether they were strays, absconded, | | | | Arabian to have white markings on the face |
| or whatever, it was of no consequence to | | | | and/or legs. The mane and tail are full, yet |
| them. Once the horse was a part of their | | | | soft to the touch.The typical Arabian ranges |
| herd, they set out to breed for offspring | | | | from 14.2 to 15.2 hands (56.8 to 60.8 inches, |
| with speed, stamina, strength, and courage. | | | | or 144.27 to 154.45 centimeters) at the |
| The different strains, as stated previously, | | | | shoulder and weighs between 800 and 1000 |
| each had their own characteristics, but all | | | | pounds (56.8 to 71 stones).Depending on the |
| Arabians were bred to withstand the rigors of | | | | strain and characteristics, Arabians are used |
| desert life.When the Europeans chose to | | | | for Western and English riding, racing, |
| improve their saddle horses, Arabians were | | | | jumping, endurance competitions, showing, |
| the breed they imported to cross with their | | | | cutting and reining, and dressage. This is a |
| native stock. When they began the process, | | | | very versatile horse which bonds naturally |
| their horses were the larger breeds which had | | | | with humans and can also be used as a family |
| carried heavily armored knights into battle. | | | | horse for people of all ages. |
| Their lighter stock had it roots in the pony | | | | |