Racial portrait of the Arabian Purebred

The Arabian Purebred is acknowledged as the world’s oldest breed. The roots of the breed reach back to the house horse bloodlines of 3000 B.C. Since approximately 1300 years, the race has been bred for purity on the Arabian Peninsula. It is only natural that with so vast a history the origins of the breed has become woven in mysticism and been integrated in so many legends.

The Arabian Purebred is the definition of nobility, beauty, endurance, sturdiness and fertility. These qualities have led to his globe spanning proliferation. Almost every horse breed has at some point, past or present, been refined with the Arabian Purebred. The English Thoroughbred can also trace its pedigree primarily back to the Arabian Purebred stallions. The variations in appearance are the result of different selection processes in the various breeding programs.

The Arabian Purebred is from a distance through its elegant appearance and harmonic proportions easily recognized. Light footed, swinging movements with a proudly raised tail are typical identifying traits. Up close the breed impresses through a handsome head with a concave to straight profile, a wide brow with large expressive eyes and large lively nostrils. The, often interpreted, conceited appearing high held head in combination with the wide often lively snorting nostrils have led to the nickname "Drinker of Winds". A natural explanation for this trait is that over hundreds of years of existence in the desert it was critical for continued survival to be able to identify enemies at a large distance.

The Arab has a square form with an average withers height between 145 and 155 cm. In the last years, a certain tendency with regard to increasing size can be recognized. The weight rarely exceeds 450 kg. The basic colours are all represented, whereby the prototype color of the Arab is still grey.

The line of the back is in comparison to warm bloods shorter. The highly set and raised tail come from less angled quarters. The extremities show clear, well outlined joints and dry, well visible ligaments, as well as small, but firm hooves, which rarely need horseshoes under normal circumstances. Striking is the elegant skin with shiny silk like short hair.

The Arab is blessed with a high level of fertility. This is demonstrated primarily by the fact that the stallion fertilizes the mare in a smaller number of attempts. The milk production is in relation to the body weight of the mare. The production is particularly high in the second and third lactation months. The proven longevity of the race is a very treasured characteristic. Arabian Purebreds can be used as riding horses as well as breed animals well into their higher ages. The prerequisite therefore is that one gives them enough time to grow and develop. Their predisposition to slower development and a tendency for later maturation of the bones forbid a too early and to demanding training. If one gives the Arabian Purebred an extra year in their youth one is rewarded with many more productive years later.

Their versatility is an outstanding characteristic of the Arabian Purebred. One would be hard pressed to find another race which is suitable for so many aspects of riding. The true strength of the race does not however lie in Dressage. A 5000 years old race cannot be expected to compete in the higher classes with modern warm bloods that have been specifically selected and breed for this niche. The eagerness to perform, perseverance and hardiness improve the innate characteristics of all races and make the Arab the ideal distance horse. An excellent jumping ability is also often shown by the breed. As an elegant riding horse for the hobby rider it cannot be surpassed, that is if they are willing to accept and adjust to its intelligence and responsive mouth. An Arab does not handle an insensitive and heavy handed rider well. The Arabian Purebred needs to be convinced not brutalized into submission. Those who accept these qualities will receive much more willingly from this breed than they could ever achieve through force.