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