Arabian Horse - A beautiful breed
When I think of the Arabian horse, my first thoughts are of the book written by Walter Farley. The book is called “The Black Stallion”. At the time of publication on October 15, 1941, the author was unknown. Made into a movie, it engrossed audiences all over the world and brought the Arabian horse and its charisma to the attention of everyone. Readers of the book were engulfed by the story of a young man named Alec Ramsey and a black stallion that become friends and relied on each other for their survival on a desert island. Farley went on to make a career out of his writings of “the Black” and other horses and had published twenty novels by the time of his death in 1989, just two weeks before his twenty first publication.
The origin of the Arabian horse is surrounded by myth and legend. In almost every case, the Arabian horse is taken to be a gift from God and was therefore treated that way by the Bedouin society. In the Fertile Crescent, now known as Syria, Iraq, Iran and the Arabia peninsula the animal flourished and grew.
Where the origination of the name “Arab” comes from is not known. The Semitic definition of the word is “desert” or the inhabitation of and does not have a reference to any nationality. Although no one knows the exact lineage of the Arabian horse, there is evidence that it traces back five thousand years and is now known as the hot blooded horses of the Arabs. Although the ancestors of the breed were much smaller, they are very similar in appearance to what we now know as the Arabian horse.
Some of the characteristics that separate the Arabian horse from other breeds are its dished head with prominent eyes, small muzzle, high carriage of its tail and arched neck. These traits are believed to have religious significance as they display pride and courage.
Its strong back and sloped shoulder, even though short, give it strength and an almost “floaty” gait. The Arabian horse comes in many colors such as grey, chestnut, brown, occasionally black, roan, brown and bay. It stands between 14 and 15 hands (hands are equal to four inches) and will weigh between 800 and 1000 pounds as full grown adults.
The Arabian horse bonds well with its owners and breeders often use them to show as well as for pleasure riding. Arabians versatility makes them a perfect choice for any type of activity. They have endurance, stamina and agility and are an excellent and devoted companion. All of these distinguishing features make these animals a perfect choice for anyone.