It's hard to even imagine a more graceful creature, with an incredible curve of the neck and a flying gait. This is a very ancient animal - a horse, bred in the 4th-7th centuries on the Arabian Peninsula.
This article presents a story about an amazing and beautiful creation of nature - the Arabian horse. Characteristics, lifestyle, disposition, habits of the animal will be presented in it.
General information
This horse is the ancestor of many other breeds famous among horse breeders: English riding, Barbary, Oryol trotting, Lusitano, Russian riding, Andalusian, Lipizzan, Percheron, etc. Due to their endurance, they are permanent and quite frequent participants in horse races, lasting 5-6 days. At the same time, every day the animal must overcome up to 100 miles.
The grace and luxury of this horse delight absolutely everyone. They can be called the most luxurious in the world (photos of beautiful Arabian horses are presented below). No show or any sporting event is complete without them.
However, not many people know that the Arabian breed is one of the most ancient. It is she who is the ancestor of many other breeds.
A Brief History
It took almost two centuries for people to breed such a magnificent breed. It happened in the IV-VI centuries on the Arabian Peninsula. For this, selected horses from Central Asia were used. Moreover, the enumeration method has been used for quite a long time. The breed was finally bred by the Bedouins in the 7th century.
According to some assumptions, the ancestors of Arabian horses were North African and Parthian horses, and possibly ancient Spanish breeds.
Very often, Arabian thoroughbred horses were used in constant long wars, where, under rather difficult conditions, but with decent care and feeding with vegetation and other food of such a hot climatic zone, horses that were not very large, but agile in a gallop, began to develop. They moved very well in the gait as well.
The main jewel of the Arab inhabitants was this breed of horse. It was strictly forbidden to sell them to other countries at that time, and disobedience was punishable even by death. In addition, under a strict ban was the crossing of horses of this breed with other varieties. Their development took place in conditions of absolute sterility. The appearance of the very first horses of the Arabian horse is compared with the first Crusade.
Short-sized horses (all the predecessors of modern breeds were a little smaller) have amazing grace and good agility, which won the attention of the whole society. With the help of these favorites of the public, some types of horses in Europe gradually began to improve - heavy trucks, draft and riding. World horse breeding began to develop thanks to the Arabian breed. Today, many breeds are known in Spain, Morocco, Portugal, Hungary, Austria, France and Russia, which appeared thanks to the Arabian riding horse.
And the creation of the Streltsy, Tver, Oryol Tver and Oryol Trotter breeds is also associated with Arabian stallions.
Legends
There are many legends about the origin of the Arabian horse, its incredible beauty, and the true origin of this animal still remains a secret.
According to one Arabic legend, a purebred breed was created by Allah from a strong gust of wind, and therefore in many paintings the horse is depicted surrounded by a halo.
Another legend represents these animals as the horses of the Prophet Muhammad. During a long journey through the desert, the prophet, who accompanied a herd of horses, had to go through several days without water and food. And when they were near the oasis, all the horses ran to the source. The owner called them, but only 5 horses returned to him. Among them was a noble Arabian horse.
Arab horse breed: photo, description
These horses are relatively short - about 1.4-1.55 cm at the withers. But in their physique one can feel grace and lightness, which are emphasized by strong and long legs.
The neck of the Arabian horse (the photo of the horse is presented in the article), which is of sufficient length, is gracefully and beautifully curved. The tail is always set high, and it rises up on the go. The horse looks pretty spectacularrushes with great speed, like the wind, with a silky tail beautifully developing in the wind and raised up.
Horse colors: red, gray, black and bay. Appearance: small head, concave profile, wide nostrils, small ears, beautifully defined withers, graceful neck, broad chest, short, level back, firm strong legs and broad chest.
Distinguishing Features
The Arabian horse has an unusually built skeleton. This beauty has only 17 ribs (others have 18), 5 lumbar vertebrae (others have 6) and 16 caudal vertebrae (others have 18).
On the stately head of the horse, large beautiful eyes and round cheeks are clearly visible. The profile with a slightly concave bridge of the nose also distinguishes this breed from all others.
The horses are amazingly hardy, capable of overcoming great distances with their small stature even with an adult rider on their backs. Usually their he alth is not overshadowed by anything. They also differ in longevity.
Breed Varieties
At least 3 basic and 2 mixed types are distinguished:
- Koheilan is an animal with excellent racing qualities and a strong structure with well-developed muscles. More often it is red or bay.
- Siglavi is a light beautiful animal of medium build. They are less frisky, but have a bright visual appeal.
- Habdan is the largest representative of the Arabian breed. This is a horse with a long body and higher growth, with minimalcharacteristics of this breed. A very hardy animal with excellent athletic qualities.
- Koheilan-siglavi and siglavi-habdan (mixed types) - a line that has the properties of each type. They combine the attractiveness of siglavi and the massive forms of coheilan. They are tall and have good working capacity.
Love
In addition to their chic appearance, Arabian horses (see photo below) are famous for their trusting and friendly nature. They are very smart, well oriented on the ground, have a developed memory and fine hearing. Horses with excellent intelligence are easily trained, and they are able to learn both bad and good.
In fact, they also have vindictiveness, they can hold a grudge all their lives and never forgive the offender. Thoroughbred horses are designed for experienced riders, it is highly undesirable to teach children to ride on them. Arabian horses can only be led by self-confident, strong and physically fit individuals. With all this, the Arabian breeds are friendly and devoted. They are highly sensitive to the environment. They have a negative attitude towards the use of force by a person, that is, they do not like to do anything without their consent.
With such stubbornness and some defiance, they have a great desire to please the owner, to whom they quickly become attached (only with good attitude and maintenance).
Arab horses in Russia
What is the history of this breed in our homeland? For the first timeIn Russia, the Arabian horse appeared under Ivan the Terrible. Thanks to this breed, not only archery horses and the Oryol trotter were created. They had a considerable impact on the improvement of such Russian breeds as the Don, Karachay, Kabardian, Karabakh, etc.
Horses of the Arabian breed in Russia have always been famous for their first-class quality. For example, in tsarist times, breeds bred in Russia won prizes at various world exhibitions. During Soviet times, Arabian horses bred in the country were purchased and exported to the United States, European countries, and even to the states of the Arabian Peninsula.
Today you can see races with Arabian horses at the following Russian hippodromes: in Moscow, Pyatigorsk, Kazan, Rostov, Nalchik and Krasnodar. The best Russian Arabian horses are bred at such stud farms in the country: Moscow, Tersky, Khrenovskoy. They are also grown in several private farms.
About horse breeding in the world
Today, breeding of the Arabian breed is widespread in many countries.
Thanks to her, worldwide horse breeding began to develop. To coordinate breeding work with this breed, there is a World Organization that unites 60 countries involved in Arabian horse breeding.
Today, the blood of a horse, whose homeland is the Arabian Peninsula, is found in almost every breed of racehorse.
Care and maintenance of the Arabian horse breed
This breed does not require special care. Arabian horses are quite content with a spacious, warm and cleanroom in order to freely move around it, or at least turn around.
Mandatory condition of keeping - the constant availability of top dressing and clean water. If the day was active for the horse, it is advisable to complete it with a contrast shower that helps relieve fatigue.
Although Arabian horses have excellent he alth, it is advisable to show them to a veterinarian for prevention twice a year. After each exit of the horse from the stable and after the races, it is necessary to carefully examine his hooves for any damage or injury and clean them from dirt.
It's a good idea to bathe the animal twice a week with special products for horses. Its tail and mane needs constant combing. And in order to protect the animal from all kinds of infections, its nostrils should be treated more often with special means.
Food
It is very useful to feed horses with barley and camel milk (this is how their ancestors were fed), which helps to strengthen muscles.
Especially enhanced feeding should be in the evening, and at dawn you need to drive horses to a watering place. According to the owners, such a diet helps horses become more frisky and active.
It should be noted that representatives of this breed do very well without water for up to several days. And this is due to the desert way of life of their ancestors.
Some interesting facts
The results of archaeological excavations suggest that animals similar to Arabian horses existed onthe earth is already about 4 thousand 500 years ago.
Due to the excellent qualities of horses (mind, diligence, endurance, fast learning), they took an intensive part in many military campaigns.
The Arabian Thoroughbred is one of the most expensive gifts given to state rulers, tribal leaders and other important people. Mares were especially valued, as it was believed that they were more hardy, and also suitable for procreation.
The Arabian horse boasts the longest lifespan. Most of them live up to 30 years, and mares are able to bear offspring until a very old age.
These majestic animals have always been the pride of breeders. Each representative of the breed had his own pedigree, and this pedigree, certified by a special oath, was passed down from generation to generation in the presence of witnesses.
Use
To a greater extent, this breed is used in horse racing. It is good for amateur riding and for amateur sports.
The Arabian horse breed is still used in the improvement and breeding of many other breeds. Breeding events today are aimed at preserving and developing the best qualities of the Arabian breed, as well as increasing its growth.
Horse price
These horses are highly valued. You can buy them either from individuals or at auctions. The cost of the best horses is up to $ 1 million, and sometimes more. And their cost depends onjust from the pedigree.
The buyer looks at the external characteristics, behavior and parents of the horse (if possible). Not a single person who has or has ever had this amazingly beautiful animal was disappointed in such an acquisition. These are some of the best horses in the world, most often winning races and horse races.
Conclusion
Such horses (Arab or Anglo-Arab) belong to the category of luxury items. They are purchased for participation in exhibitions, in circus performances, for filming films and various shows. Such a purchase emphasizes the rather high status of the owner and his considerable we alth. And many are not sorry to lay out a rather large amount for such luxurious grace and beauty.
