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Nobody knows for sure exactly when the Arabian horses’ history begins. Different accounts say that is anywhere between 5000 B.C. and 2500 B.C.. The place of origin is just as mysterious and hotly debated. Some say the breed began in the wild deserts of the Arabian deserts. Others say the existence of these horses can be traced to northern Syria and Southern Turkey.
By 1500 B.C. the people of the east had trained and had been meticulously breeding the Arabian horse. The Egyptians had used his power harnessed to a chariot to conquer new territories. Many empires rose and fell because of this light, swift horse.
Most of the selective breeding can be attributed to the Bedouin tribe in the deserts of Arabia. This tribe believed these horses to be a gift from Allah and treasured them above all else. They bred these horses over a long period of time for very specific purposes. It must have great stamina to carry the riders to their enemies where it would run in by the dark of night and swiftly help steal the enemy’s herds of sheep, cattle and camels. They were also bred for their bulging foreheads, elegantly arched necks and high tail carriage. Because of this they are unique in that they have only seventeen ribs, five lumber bones and sixteen tail vertebrae. All other horses have eighteen ribs, six lumbar bones and eighteen tail vertebrae.
The story is told of the great loyalty these horses would exhibit to their masters. They would be trained as young two-year-olds to respond to a bell, and then they would be left in the desert heat with no water until they became very thirsty. They would then be released near a body of water and right before the horses would reach the water the owner would ring the bell. The horses that would respond and come even in adversity would be chosen as the best and later would be bred to pass on their great loyalty to their offspring.
There were five main lines that were bred by five tribes. Each tribe would breed and interbreed only one line to keep the pedigree pure. The priced the purebred horse above all else. These tribes would pass down an oral history of each horses bloodline. In this way they are considered the first to keep a record or type of registry. The lines were remembered through the mares with the stallions holding much less significance. The mares were most treasured because they were used in war because they would not nicker to the enemies horses like the stallions. The purebred mares usually carried no price, meaning they would never be sold. Occasionally they would be given as a gift, which would signify the greatest honor. Usually, the only way another tribe could get them was to steal them or to compete in a long desert race. The winner would take the best mares from the loser’s herd.
When the eastern people began fighting with those in the west and north they introduced the Arabian horse to the rest of the world. Coming out of the dark ages the European nations had never seen such small, fast horses. They had been breeding horses for sturdiness and strength to carry a man in full armor. When the Arabs were introduced they were very highly sought after and the man who owned one was held in high regard.
As the Arabians were traded and given as gifts they were used to improve local stock, thereby influence either directly or indirectly every other breed we have today.
Mohammed Ali helped to spread their influence by saying they were a gift from God, to be treated kindly, and bred in great numbers for future wars. Later, the crusaders would bring back great numbers of purebred Arabians on their journey home from the east.
The Arabian horse was introduced to America in 1725 when the first stallion was imported. It was said to have had 300 offspring by grade mares.
Later, Ulysses S. Grant was given two stallions as gifts. He gave one to Randolph Huntington who imported two more stallions and two mares. He bred these, creating the first all Arabian breeding program, small though it was.
In 1893 at the Chicago Worlds Fair, Turkey exhibited forty-five pure Arabian horses. Two of which stayed in America and became the foundation animals of the Arabian Horse Registry of America. After this many others began to import and breed Arabian horses. Today there are nearly 600,000 purebred Arabians and many, many more that are part Arab, and the numbers keep climbing. Many will forever be devoted to this beautiful breed that has captured so many hearts.
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