Posts Tagged ‘arabian horse’

Arabian horses are one of the oldest human-developed horse breeds in the world. Rock paintings and inscriptions about these horses have been found in the Arabian Peninsula dating back to 2,500 B.C. Bedouin tribes, responsible for domesticating the Arabian horse, kept meticulous ancestral records and they trace their common history with these horses back to 3000 B.C.

The Arabian horse, or the prototype of what we know today as the Arabian horse, is somewhat smaller than his counterpart today. Otherwise, the Arabian has remained essentially unchanged through the centuries, maintaining the qualities that the Bedouins depended on in the harsh deserts thousands of years ago.

Some experts have questioned the origin of the Arabian breed of horse. They argue that the ancestral Arabian was likely a wild horse from an area that encapsulates southern Turkey, Northern Syria, and possibly the Piedmont regions to the east. This area, the northern edge of the Fertile Crescent, provided enough of a mild climate and rain to be a suitable environment for horses. It comprises part of Iraq and runs along the Euphrates River and west across Sinai and along the coast to Egypt. The majority of historians believe the Arabian horse breed originated in the southwestern part of Arabia. They offer supporting evidence that the three great river beds in this area provided natural wild pastures for the horses to live and thrive. This area in southwestern Arabia would have been central to where the undomesticated Arabian horse made first contact with early human inhabitants.

The interior of the Arabian peninsula has been dry for approximately 10,000 years. It would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the Arabian horses to survive and exist in such an arid land without the aid of man. Around 3,500 B.C., the nomadic inhabitants of desert regions, the Bedouins, domesticated the camel and used them as a means of transport and sustenance. Armed with the ability to survive the perils of life in the desert, they ventured into the central and southern portions of Arabia around 2,500 B.C. It is during this time that they took with them the ancestor of the modern Arabian horse.

Experts do agree that the Arabian is a unique breed of horses and remains very pure, even to this day. History doesn’t really tell us the country where the horse was first domesticated. As it became domesticated, though, the Arabian horse was probably used for work and riding. By 1500 B.C., the people in the region had gained a great mastery over these beautiful and intelligent horses.

The Arabian horse and its transcendent beauty have appeared throughout history:

• On seal rings, various monuments, and stone pillars with regularity after the 16th century B.C.
• The horse’s high regard is shown in a number of Egyptian hieroglyphics.
• The Old Testament in the bible is filled with references to the Arabian horse’s strength and might. For instance, King Solomon, some 900 years B.C., praised the beauty of “a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots”.
• In 490 B.C., the famous Greek horsemen, Xinophon, called them a noble animal whose beauty fascinates both young and old.

So where did the namesake, “Arabian” breed of horses, come from? The origin of the name is still obscure. The word Arab is often linked with nomadism and it gets connected with two Hebrew words: Arabha (dark land) and Erebh, (mixed). Since a nomadic lifestyle was organized but not ordered, unlike sedentary communities, the word Arab can also be linked to the Hebrew root, Abhar (to move or pass). The word “Arab”, is a Semitic word meaning “desert” or the inhabitant thereof, with no reference to nationality. In the Koran, a’rab is used for the nomadic Bedouin people who lived in the desert. The first Biblical use of the word as a proper name occurs in Jeremiah 25:24: “Kings of Arabia”. Jeremiah lived between 626 and 586 B.C. The Arabs themselves used the word at an early date to distinguish the Bedouin people from the Arabic-speaking people who lived in towns.

This exquisite and amazingly intelligent horse flourished in a close co-existence with the Bedouins and they reached the zenith of fame as the horse of the “Arabas”. The Bedouins were fanatic about keeping the blood of the Arabian horses absolutely pure. They accomplished this through line-breeding and inbreeding. This ensured the particularly prized distinguishing characteristics and qualities of the Arabian horse. Essentially, the horse became the Bedouin’s most treasured possession. With the harsh desert climate, only the strongest and most spirited of these horses survived, giving us the amazing physical characteristics of the breed that we see today.

Randy Meyer, along with his family, are well-respected breeders of high-quality, beautiful purebred Arabian horses on their farm, Red Oak Arabians. They emphasize honesty, integrity and usually have fine quality Arabian horses for sale at all times.

Author: Randy Meyer
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Hello. I am planning on running the 25 mi Malibu endurance race. I was wondering what brand of electrolytes (AccuLytes, Apple-A-Day,Exer-Lyte, Quench, ect) is best for this purpose. I was also wondering if anyone knew any other tips on nutrition and care to prepare for the race. My horse is a bit older, so I want to make sure he is healthy and ready. Thanks!

I ride english and love to jump but I can’t find a good jumping horse. I was thinking maybe an arabian. I want the kind of horse that is mainly ridden english and can jump!

Thanks!

Hi! I am thinking about getting a horse someday and was wondering what I should expect. I know people say it is ‘a lot of work’. But, I don’t know exactly what that means. What work would I need to do? How much would it cost? What training would I need to do? And so on. I was planning on getting an Arabian horse (not to train to be a fastrcing horse or anything, but to be a freindly companion that I could casually ride a lot) as a foal so i could connect with it directly from birth.Thanks!

A horse is a horse of course, so what is a breed?

There are more than 150 different breeds of horses in the world. Horses were originally a source of food and hunted by man. Since man has been domesticating horses he has bred for selective traits. That is man has bred for developing physical characteristics needed to perform a certain type of work.

Breeds began to take form by demand. When man needed horses to move heavy loads, horses were bred for strength. When man needed transportation he bred for speed and endurance. Horses are used in several ways overtime and different breeds continue to be developed. We can classify each breed into three main categories, namely: light, heavy and pony.

The Arabian horse is light and refined; it is the oldest and purest of all horse breeds. The Arabian developed as a fast horse with endurance, able to long distances in dry climates.
Heavy draft horses, such as the Belgian Horse developed from the need to pull plows and help with other farm work. Ponies have developed from most, if not all breeds, being needed to transport children as well as to work in mine shafts. Ponies have also been beneficial for work where the forage was insufficient to support larger draft animals.

Other jobs horses have been bred to perform include carrying heavily-armored knights, herding other animals, pulling carriages, racing and packing supplies. Man has taken the job and the horse and bred for selective traits to produce a capable animal.

Much of how the horse developed can be learned from his history. As early man became more mobile horses began to be used as pack animals and later became a harness animal to replace oxen. Today horses are used mainly for sport or pleasure.

You may often hear of a breed and live never to see one in person. Some horse breeds are very rare and other horse breeds are in other parts of the world. It is not always easy to tell a breed of a horse at first glance. Most horse and ponies are cross bred, that is they descend from different breeds.
Knowing different horse breeds and their specific traits certainly helps out when you want to buy a horse! There is always the possibility of a scam in any market and the horse industry is no different. Read about the horse breed before you make your purchase.

If you are looking to buy a quiet horse for calm, no fuss long trail rides then you sure do not want to buy a thoroughbred that just ended his race career. You might be more suited to a Quarter Horse, but they are not available in every country.

Look at your local classified ads, visit a riding stable and find out what type of breeds are available and then read about that horse breed! You do not need to get suckered into buying a horse that is bred for pulling carriages. Knowing at least something about the breed would prepare you. It will save you time and money and if you still want to buy the horse, you will sure know that you are in for a bumpy ride!

Horse Guide.

Get information on buying, owning and caring for your horse, learn about Horse Breeds. Learn about your horses anatomy.

Author: Benjamin Wise
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Few breeds of horse have captured the imagination like the Arabian horse has. Since the dawn of history, Arabian horses have inspired and influenced many people.

In the days of early history, Arabian horses were prized as warhorses and mounts for royalty. The Old Testament in the Bible contains many references and descriptions to these horses, the most notable being in the book of Job, where a horse “rejoices in his strength” and “is not frightened – he devours the distance with fierceness.”

Artwork of the time depicts these chariot horses with many of the physical attributes of modern Arabian horses, such as the dished face and high-set tail. The most prized warhorses were bred in Egypt, and it was indicative of the great wealth of King Solomon that he built entire cities to house Egyptian-bred warhorses and their handlers. These attributes of courage and speed are still prized in Arab horses today.

Arising much later, Islamic legend recounts how Allah made the first Arab horse from the four winds (or the south wind, depending on which version of the myth the teller uses), gifting it and all Arabian horses with “flight without wings” and naming it, “Lord of the other animals” and one of the “Glories of the Earth.”

The Bedouin people in particular bred Arabian horses with great care for the purity of the bloodline, which they called Asil. They took this purity of the blood so seriously that if a mare was ever bred to a non-asil stallion, both she and all future offspring would be “contaminated.”

Legend has it that the Asil strain are descended from the five favourite mares of the prophet Mohammed. It is ironic today that some Bedouin-bred Arabian horses are not considered or registered as purebreds, because the breeders do not see the need for paperwork to guarantee a horse’s breeding and do not register their horses.

Arab horses have also played a vital role in the development of Thoroughbred racehorses. All modern Thoroughbreds can trace their ancestry back to one of three founding Arabian stallions, known as the Byerly Turk, the Darley Arabian and the Godolphin Barb (“Turk” and “Barb” were synonymous with “Arabian” at that time).

Arabian horses today are creatures of great beauty. Although they are not tall horses – some measure only 14 hands – they are never called ponies, even though they technically fall into this definition. The distinctive features of the breed are the dished or concave face (as opposed to the more Roman nose of, for example, the Shire horse), the flowing high-set tail, the large expressive eyes and a dark skin colour. The most common colours for an Arabian horse are grey (which includes white), chestnut and bay. Black is a rare color, though not completely unheard of.

It may have been a more common colour in antiquity; the Old Testament lists black horses alongside “white”, “red” and “dappled.” Arab horses are surprisingly strong and tough for their size, and these qualities mean that they are popular choices when breeding cross-breeds.

There is very little work that the Arabian horse cannot do. Their powers of stamina make them very suitable for endurance work. Their intelligence and beauty gives them a competitive edge in the show ring, and for show jumping and eventing. Speed makes the Arab horse an excellent racer – their role in developing the Thoroughbred has already been mentioned.

Intelligence also makes Arab horses suitable for stock work – one modern tale tells of how the owner of an Arabian stock horse was mocked by fellow-workers because of his “fancy show-pony” until they saw just what the horse could do. And as they have a willingness to please and a great capacity for affection – a result of millennia of close contact with humans – Arab horses are popular as pleasure horses and companion animals.

For more information on horses, try visiting http://www.interestinghorses.com – a website that specializes in providing horse related tips, advice and resources including information on arabian horse.

Author: Samantha Davis
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Arabian horses are known for large nostrils. Aside from the teacup arabian, why are they so big? Is it just that they have small noses which makes them appear to have large nostrils, or is it big with big nostrils? Anything that you know about conformation of the nose of an Arabian horse is helpful. Thank you!

Owning a horse is a huge responsibility. Just like owning any pet, you should put a great deal of thought and consideration before you decide to purchase an equine. Since most individuals will have to house horses off their property, you should first consider finding a suitable stable before you purchase a horse. Also, consider your wants and needs. If you or your stable has limited space, you might not want to consider a sizable draft horse like a Clydesdale. However, if you are in need of a large horse to do a great deal of work pulling wagons, you should consider breeds other than Shetlands. There are a great number of breeds, each with a different pro and con. After carefully reviewing each breed, you are sure to find the exact type of horse to fit your needs and your lifestyle.

Ask yourself what you are looking for in a horse. Do you want a horse that you can show? Do you want a horse for work purposes? Do you want a horse to jump or ride competitively? Do you want a horse to race? Do you want a horse to ride on trails or one that is compatible with children? After you determine why you want a horse (and the answer should be better than “just because”), you can set out determining what breed is best for you. Keep in mind, even though the breed might fit everything you want, each horse will have a different personality. Before you run out and buy the first horse in your desired breed, take a careful look at the specific horse in question.

If you are interesting in showing a horse for its beauty and grace, an Arabian horse is probably your best bet. These beautiful creatures are well-liked on the show circuit and enjoy being fussed and fawned over. For those daring riders who want a horse for jump training, the strong-legged Thoroughbred may be the perfect fit. These gentle giants are rugged enough to withstand the abuse of jumping, but are agile enough to soar over the highest gates. If you would rather have a rough-and-tumble horse perfect for uneven trail rides, the American Quarter Horse should be your top pick. These famous horses are often used in competitive Western riding events, including the heart-pumping barrel racing. American Quarter Horses are perfect for the intense training required for competitive racing, but also have the sure-footed step necessary for making the quick turns and negotiating rocky terrain. A Tennessee Walking Horse or Mountain Horse is the perfect fit for the horse owners who want to go on quiet rides. The gentle gait of these beautiful creatures gives these horses the best ride over even terrain. Finally, if you are looking a horse for a child, consider a smaller breed like the Icelandic. The shorter stature better fits the proportion of a child, and their smooth gait and easy-going attitude will prevent much bumping and jostling.

Whatever your choice of breed, carefully consider its pros and cons. Even though you may have your heart set on one specific breed, if it will not meet your needs, you should carefully rethink your choice. A horse is a huge responsibility and you cannot simply return the magnificent creature because you did not seriously research all your options and hastily chose a horse that will not fit into your lifestyle.

To find more information about selecting a horse, just log on to the Internet and visit locations such as http://www.ahorsesite.com/dir/typesofhorses to do a thorough search.

© Copyright 2005 by Lynn Walls. All rights reserved.

Looking for information about horses? Go to http://www.ahorsesite.com A Horse Site is an excellent horse information directory and resource Site. Provides a consolidated listing of the best Horse sites in one easy to navigate location.

Author: Lynn Walls
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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