Arabian horse

The Arabian horse first appeared in the Arabian Peninsula at least 2,500 years B.C.E. They were carefully bred to maintain desirable features (e.g. stamina, soundness, strength, and beauty), and are therefore one of the oldest, if not the oldest breeds in the world (this has been contested with the Barb and the Akhal Teke.)

The Arabian Today

Because of the genetic purity of the Arabian horse, it is often used as a refining influence on other breeds, and has played a significant part in the evolution of almost every recognized breed, including Thoroughbreds, Percherons, Welsh Ponies, American Quarter Horses, Morgans, Saddlebreds, and all of the warmblood breeds. The Arabian has influenced more breeds than any other horse.

Related Topics:
Horse - Evolution - Thoroughbred - Percheron - American Quarter Horse - Warmblood

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The UC Davis Book of Horses, p. 20, compares Arabians with various other breeds and lists this breed's temperament as "highly strung", though their individual temperament will depend on how the horse is raised and trained. It lists the breed's categories as "speed, endurance, intelligence, courage, and gentleness." Over the course of the breed's history they have for centuries lived in close association with human families. They are emotionally very much attuned to both their herd members and their human families. For that reason they tend to be protective of humans and suitable as companions for children. At the same time, they were in the beginning joined symbiotically with humans in a hostile environment that occasionally included armed combat and other sudden dangers. They are therefore adept at making sudden course corrections at high speed, which can pose a challenge even to fairly accomplished riders. Their athleticism also makes them a very versatile breed, and they are capable of competing in many fields, including Dressage, Saddleseat, Western Pleasure, Cutting, Reining, Endurance riding, Hunter/Jumper, Eventing, Combined Training, Barrel Racing, and many others. They also make very reliable trail riding buddies, for those who are not interested in showing. They dominate the endurance world because of their incredible stamina, which far exceeds that of many other breeds. There is also Arabian racing, which is separate from the more popular Thoroughbred racing.

Related Topics:
Dressage - Western Pleasure - Cutting - Reining - Endurance riding - Thoroughbred

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Arabian as a Sport Horse

Their use in the "sport horse" disciplines, such as dressage, hunter/jumper, eventing, and combined training, has finally become more widely recognized, though they have been successfully competing in these events for a very long time. The American Arabian Horse Association has now been hosting an Arabian and Half Arabian Sport Horse Nationals since 2003. In the 2005 Arabian and Half Arabian Sport Horse National there were 1906 entries, competing in Working Hunter, Jumper, Sport Horse Under Saddle, Sport Horse In Hand, and Carriage Driving.

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