Arabian Horse

A Look Back at the History of Horse Racing

2010-04-06T16:42:00.000+02:00

No matter which major city from around the world it is that you will visit, you are bound to witness a horse racing event - Australia, Mauritius, New Zealand, USA, UK, Europe, the Middle Eastern countries, and a few Asian countries. This equestrian sport has been around for centuries, but how exactly did it start out? Before delving deeper into that, let us first check on the most popular forms of horse racing. One of the most typical sights that you will see in affluent communities is Thoroughbred racing. In Australia, Standardbred horses racing is more popular - just like in New Zealand. Quarter horse racing; and purebred Arabian horses racing or endurance racing are other forms of the sport.

Important Breakthroughs in the History of Horse Racing
After learning about some of the basic facts about horse racing, let us now check on its history as a sport. Take a look at the following important specific dates, periods and breakthroughs in horse racing:

- 4500 BCE As mentioned earlier, horse racing as a sport has existed for centuries now. It actually started during this period when horses first became domesticated animals. Back then, it was Central Asian tribesmen who trained the animals - and this was the signal for horse racing to become a sport of the privileged and leisured.

- 680 BCE According to the roster of ancient Olympics during this period, two-horse and four-horse racing was added to the gaming events.

- 753 BCE One of the best ways to trace back the history of a centuries-old sport like horse racing is to consult the ancient books - and it was in the story of Romulus' founding of Rome during this period that the mythical city-founded organized a series of horse racing events. The goal was to distract Sabine men abducted the women.

- 12th Century This is the time that the horse racing that we know of today came to be. During the 12th century, a wave of battle-weary English men returned from the Crusades with Arabian horses. The endurance of these animals over the English ones is incomparable - so they were used in horse racing.

- 1702-1714 Under the rule of Queen Anne, the first modern races where spectators bid on their bets started. It was in 1759 that the Jockey Club was formed.

- 1894 Just like the English' British Jockey Club, the American Jockey Club was established in this year to set up rules for breeding racing horses.

- 1930s-1970s In the United States, the sport of horse racing has had its ups and downs - but it was during these decades when the popularity of champion horses like Seabiscuit revived the life of the sport.

Today, horse racing has become almost a national tradition - especially in the state of Louisiana. Whether you're a true-blue horse racing fan, if you're in it to win money or if you're simply interested with the different facets of the sport, nothing beats the feeling of knowing that you know exactly how the sport came about so that you would appreciate its origins even more.

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Magnificent Dubai World Cup

2010-04-06T16:39:00.000+02:00

The Dubai World Cup, a premier level horse race first conducted in 1996, is held annually at Dubai's Nad Al Sheba race venue. It holds the distinction of being the world's richest horse race, with a purse of $10 million. The race was the brainchild of the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Dubai World Cup is run in March over a distance of 2,000m, and the thoroughbred contestants run on a synthetic surface.

The creation of the Dubai World Cup is a dream that has been realized for the Ruler of Dubai, who is well known for his love of horses and horse racing. Over the past two decades Arab horse breeders and trainers have strived to make their mark on the world horse racing arena, winning championships in Great Britain, the United States, Japan and France among other venues. The Arab enthusiasts also brought competitive racing back to the Arabian peninsula, the origin of the Arabian, the ancestor of modern thoroughbred race horses. The first thoroughbred race in Dubai was held in 1981. In 1992 the now famous Godolphin racing stable was launched.

However it was the introduction of the Dubai World Cup that really put the UAE on the horse racing map of the world, as it has been acclaimed as one of the most demanding and exciting races in the world. The World Cup draws the attention of millions of horse racing fans around the world, and is televised in many countries.

The historic inaugural Dubai World Cup in 1996 set an exalted standard with the participation of the world's leading thoroughbreds including a seven race winner from Britain, a 12-time victor from Australia, Japan's 'dirt horse' champion and North American champion Cigar. Cigar emerged triumphant after a heroic and thrilling contest.

Reflecting traditional Arab hospitality and the customary warmth of the United Arab Emirates, contestants are flown in from all over the globe, and horsemen receive liberal travel subsidies for their contribution to racing in the UAE.

For the selective traveller seeking a hotel in Dubai, there is no better choice than the Raffles Dubai. This luxury hotel Dubai offers lavish accommodation, all amenities and attentive service assuring a memorable stay.

About the Author

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

Enjoying Equestrian Events with the Lusitano Horse

2010-04-06T16:37:00.000+02:00

The world of horse lovers won't be complete without the best known Portuguese thoroughbred, the Lusitano Horse. It is among the favorites of equestrian sportsmen and has ancient roots that share the same Iberian origins of the Spanish Andalusian horse.

Brief History
The breed got christened by Roman conquerors of the Iberian countries after the ancient name of Portugal which at that time was called Lusitania. Cave paintings at Escoural in Alentejo, Portugal) dating back 17.000 B.C show a primitive ancestral breed with similar features found at La Pileta cave paintings in Malaga, Spain dating even earlier in 20.000 B.C.

It is said that the ancient Greek legends refer to horses roaming the Lusitania banks of the Tagus River has been fathered by the wind - an allegorical allusion the speed and agility of the Iberian horse.

Subsequent Carthaginians and Romans conquests of the Iberian Peninsula caused the Iberian native horse to breed with the horse stock of the conquerors. The breeding continued with the horses brought by Germanic Visigoths and then the Arabian horses bought by the conquering Arab Moors. It is plain that centuries of interbreeding with foreign has result in what is now the Lusitano breed.

The Lusitano horse breed eventually flourished as military horses and later figured in bull fighting events on horseback. It was not until the 18th century when new stallions raised at the Alter Real Stud Farm and used in the Picaria Real Equestrian School became famous and caught the fancy of horse lovers around the world since then.

Characteristics
The Lusitano horse is known for its temperamental urges prompting it to lunge forward at anything it perceives to be threat. But it also exudes a calm disposition under saddled control and is reputed to be level-headed enough to bond affectionately with its master.

They exhibit great balance and an aristocratic gait that makes them popular in equestrian events. The Lusitano has thick tail and main with a profile that traces a convex Romanesque nose with long muscular legs and a firm graceful body.

It generally stands 15 to 16 hands with powerful hindquarters. Most breeds come in different colors but turn gray as they age. Buckskin, Cremello and Palomino are rare and consequently most sought.

Worldwide Interest
Portugal has exported the breed to many countries that have shown interest in propagating the Lusitano breed for sports and leisure. Many can be found in Mexico, France and Brazil. But the US and other European and Asian countries also have a community of Lusitanos raised for equestrian events. You can see them in the Philippines, Thailand and the warmer Latin American and African countries.

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For more information regarding Lusitano Horse, visit Portugal Blog.com

The Colorado Ranger Is The Original Rocky Mountain High Horse

2010-03-05T11:13:00.000+02:00

The Colorado Ranger Horse was named for its Colorado High Plains origin. Verbal references to those "range bred" horses eventually led to their being more commonly known as Rangerbreds or Rangerbred Horses. But despite its appearance, the Rangerbred is not a type of Appaloosa even though many Rangerbreds are double-registered with the Appaloosa Horse Clubs of both the United States and Canada. It has its own unique heritage.

Colorado Ranger Horses were bred for being cow savvy, and can anticipate the movements of cattle, and for their performance capabilities. They excel in ranch work with great stamina and do well in endurance competitions.

Colorado Ranger Horses are refined horses due to their Arabian/Barb ancestry and are compact animals, with powerful hindquarters. Like most popular breeds, Rangerbred sizes range from 14.2 to 16+ hands with the average height at 15.2 hands, and they have good dispositions.

Although the breed as we know it today is considered to have originated in America, its roots can be traced back to Constantinople, Turkey.

During 1878, General Ulysses S. Grant visited Sultan Abdul Hamid of Turkey as part of a world tour. The Sultan, in showing his regard for the General, gave him the gift of two desert stallions; a blue-gray Barb named Linden Tree and a gray Siglavy-Gidran Arab named Leopard. These horses are listed in the studbooks of both the Jockey Club and the Arabian Horse Club and their influence has touched almost every breed of horse in the United States.

These two horses went to Virginia at first, where they were used as foundation sires in a new breed of light-harness horse called the Americo Arab. But when the automobile was invented, along with other difficulties, the breeding project was discontinued in 1906 and his herd was disbanded.

So, Leopard and Linden Tree spent a season in Nebraska and sired a few foals, some spotted or colored, from the native mares of the General Colby Ranch. A.C. Whipple, of Kit Carson County in Colorado, obtained a herd of broodmares from the Colby Ranch who were all sired by either Linden Tree or Leopard. In addition, a black-eared white stallion named Tony was used as the herd stallion, because he was double bred to Leopard and was part of the family's extensive line-breeding program using Tony and his sons.

In the early 20th Century, Mike Ruby, of the Lazy J Bar Ranch, bought one of Tony's sons, a stallion named Patches and Max, son of Waldron Leopard. He used these stallions as the foundation sires of the new breed, in which unusual coloring was seen more and more frequently in his herd of more than 300 mares.

So, in essence, the Colorado Ranger was developed by Mike Ruby, who kept meticulous records on every foal that he bred. These records included foaling dates, coat patterns and complete pedigrees and are still in existence today with all horses still being recorded by hand in these ledgers, as well as by more modern methods in the Colorado Ranger breed registry.

After two leopard-patterned stallions were displayed at the Denver Stock Show, they created such a sensation that Mike Ruby was urged by the faculty of what is now Colorado State University to name this new breed of horse. And so the Colorado Ranger Horse was officially named in 1934 to reflect that they originated in Colorado and were bred and raised under range conditions.

And with the naming of the breed came the breed registry. The Colorado Ranger Horse Association (CRHA) is an older registry than the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC). In fact, it is the oldest of the western horse breed registries still in existence in the United States. It was founded in 1935 by Mike Ruby, who was its first president until his death in 1942. Its corporate charter was granted in 1938. Ironically, its home office is currently in Pennsylvania.

In the beginning, registration was limited only to the first 50 CRHA members, so a lot of true Rangerbreds were not allowed to be registered with CRHA. However, those horses with the appropriate color patterns were gladly accepted by the Appaloosa Horse Club which was another breed registry that was founded several months later. In 1964, the CRHA lifted the fifty member limit and registration was opened to all horses meeting the pedigree requirements, regardless of the owner's membership status. This enabled the CRHA to register many of the Appaloosas that had Rangerbred heritage that were "lost" to the organization for so many years.

About 90% of all registered Rangerbreds are also registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club, but not all Appaloosas are eligible for registration with the CRHA, unless they have the required pedigree that shows a direct descent from one of the two foundation stallions, Max #2 and/or Patches #1 in an unbroken line. Patches #1 was purchased from the Whipple Ranch and traces to both Leopard and Linden Tree. Max #2 came from the Governor Oliver Shoup ranch at Colorado Springs and is descended from Waldron Leopard.
While many Colorado ranger horses display the same color patterns as the appaloosa, the CRHA is a bloodline registry, not a color registry. In fact, color and markings are not considered in eligibility for registration, only ancestry is. The breed's founder wisely decided that a horse's ability has nothing to do with color of his coat.

As with the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC), the CRHA recognizes the same approved outcrosses as the ApHC. The following breeds are considered as acceptable outcrosses for the Rangerbred and may be used in a CRHA Breeding Program: The American Jockey Club (TB), The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA)., ApHC of USA, Canada & Foreign, The Arabian Horse Club (AHC), ARA-APP, and the International Colored Appaloosa Association (ICAA) (with certain reservations). The outcrossed mare must be registered with one of the above registries. Paints & pintos are not among these approved outcrosses.

Research indicates that one out of every eight Appaloosas is of Rangerbred heritage and also eligible for CRHA registration.

About the Author

Crystal is a writer for www.HorseClicks.com, classifieds of Colorado Ranger Horses for sale listed in Colorado, Texas, etc.

The Walkaloosa Horse - A Splash Of Color And A Rainbow Of Gaits

2010-03-05T11:10:00.000+02:00

Walkaloosa horses are gaited horses with the same exotic coloring of the Appaloosa, but contrary to what the breed's name implies, a Walkaloosa does not have to have Walking Horse ancestry. Any combination of naturally gaited horse with Appaloosa coloring qualifies as a Walkaloosa and the many accepted gaits include the Fox Trot, the Running Walk, the Rack, and the Stepping Pace or basically any smooth saddle gait somewhere between a trot and a pace. Even Gene Autry owned a gaited Appaloosa and he delighted in showing off El Morroco's smooth gait by putting a glass of water on his saddle horn and riding swiftly without spilling a drop.

Even though the Walkaloosa breed registry itself is fairly new, the breed itself has been around for centuries. Appaloosa breeders claim to have the oldest recognizable breed known; a claim that can backed up by the drawings of spotted horses in the prehistoric ice caves of France. The Paso Fino breeders claim that their breed is the oldest breed in the Western Hemisphere since their ancestors came to the New World with Columbus on his second voyage from Spain and some of the Conquistador's Paso Fino horses also carried the spotted coat patterns of what is known as the Appaloosa today. These spotted horses made their way via various means throughout the Americas and the Nez Pierce Indians eventually claimed them as their own when they turned up in the north. They were one of the only tribes to practice selective breeding. They were very proud of their spotted horses and extremely pleased with the smooth, rolling gait called the Indian Shuffle, because they could move their belongings quickly without jarring of either the rider, or their belongings. In an age when the average horse could be bought for as little as $2, cowboys were willing to pay up to $50.00 or more for a good Appaloosa Shuffler. Not only was it a mark of prestige, but the comfortable gait was as easy on the cowboy and his belongings as it had been for the Spaniards and the Indians before him.

But as wonderful as the Shuffling horses were, early breeders did not try to keep the Shufflers in their Appaloosa herds and with the large percentage of non-gaited Quarter Horse, Arabian, and Thoroughbred in today's Appaloosas, many breeders had never even heard of a Shuffler. With so much Quarter Horse influence in the breed now, the current emphasis on stock horse performance has all but erased the gait that had been so carefully bred into the horses centuries ago. In fact, breeders shy way from including the naturally gaited horses in their breeding programs because any intermediate gait, other than a trot, is cause for disqualification in the Appaloosa show ring, yet that gait is exactly what the Walkaloosa show ring is looking for to put back into their horses.

The Appaloosa horse had already been a distinct breed for over a hundred years by the time the Appaloosa Horse Club (AHC) was formed in 1938. At that time, no distinction was made between the many gaited and non-gaited Appaloosas, so they were all registered as Appaloosas. But now the AHC will no longer register any Appaloosa colored foal that has a parent from a gaited breed. However, gaited Appaloosas can still be registered as Appaloosas if they qualify under normal AHC rules (ApHC, AQHA, AHR, JC parentage only) but that gene pool is so small that these horses are extremely rare. A related breed is the Tiger Horse, a gaited Appaloosa with no added gaited breeds, but rather an attempt to find and register the original gaited Appaloosas to preserve them before they are lost completely.

The earliest recorded registration of a Walkaloosa was from 1965, but there is no other information available regarding that comment, or just when the Walkaloosa name was chosen, since the Walkaloosa Horse Association (WHA) wasn't formed until 1983. The WHA maintains the records of horses that have both Appaloosa coloring or heritage and the smooth saddle gait. In order to qualify as a Walkaloosa, a horse must meet one of three criteria: it must have both registered Walkaloosa parents; or show Appaloosa coloring and demonstrate an intermediate gait, other than a trot; or have both verifiable Appaloosa and gaited horse blood.
Because the registry is currently open to so many different breeds of gaited horses, the Walkaloosa comes in many body types, but it is the combination of the coloring and the smooth, natural gait that makes them unique. Horses of Walkaloosa breeding that do not display either color or gait at registration time are registered with a Breeding Stock number since gait often develops as the horse matures and may be passed along to offspring even if not seen in the parent. As for color, it is know that Appaloosa color just does its own thing, and if the horse does develop a gait and/or color, it will be acknowledged on the papers. The complete pedigree is not necessary to register a horse, but it looks better on the certificate.

But even with so many conformation types possible, there is a breed standard that is designed to promote the ideal look for the breed, with the goal being to create a horse that combines beauty with functionality and a docile temperament along with smooth and brilliant gaits. Walkaloosa horses are to be bred for balance of movement and harmony of form with the ideal Walkaloosa traveling in a smooth solid gait with animation, rhythm, and style. They should have radiant coloring, intelligent minds, good conformation and the genetic ability to transmit all these traits to their offspring. Breeders of Walkaloosa horses should keep a special adherence to a breed standard that ensures soundness and versatility, with conformation adhering to standards that promote a sound, hardy horse with longevity.

The Walkaloosa ranges between 13 and 17 hands with 14.2 to 15.3 hands being average and they can weigh from, 600 to 1,300 pounds, additionally, the Walkaloosa horse should be able to perform three gaits: walk, their special gait and the canter, all with equal ease. The overall physical impression of the breed should have stallions displaying masculinity and mares displaying femininity. The thickness and type of muscling pattern will vary between the gait types, but the muscling should be ideal for the specific gait that the individual horse is best suited for.

The Walkaloosa is meant to be an outstanding pleasure and trail mount, but also a working cattle or show horse and therefore they should show a kind disposition with a willingness to work and learn.

About the Author

Crystal is a writer for www.HorseClicks.com, classifieds of Walkaloosa Horses for sale and quality horse trailers such as Kingston, Custom-fab, etc.

A Little about the American Quarter Horse

2010-03-05T11:05:00.000+02:00

It is thought, by some, that the foundation American Quarter Horse stock has at its roots Arabian, Turk, and Barb breeds. Others believe that the breed began with the acquisition of Chickasaw horses which were likely of Spanish extraction. Their history seems to begin around 1690, when horses exported from England were bred with native horses in America. The result of this cross was a small, stocky horse which was extremely fast in the quarter-mile sprint which the colonists loved to participate in during their off-time. Even when pitted against Thoroughbreds, this little horse came in first more often than not. Thus, the horse became known as the Quarter Horse.

In the 1800s, when the pioneers began to move west, they wanted a horse that could endure the rigors and was always willing to work. Their horse of choice was the Quarter Horse. They quickly found that the breed was excellent to use when working with cattle. Cattlemen soon preferred this animal because it seemed to know ahead of time what the cattle would do, and naturally moved to direct the herd where the cowboys wanted them to go. Even after the automobile was invented, Quarter Horses were still used almost exclusively on many ranches.

In 1940, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) was formed. From that year until the present, Quarter Horse breeders have worked diligently to perfect the bloodlines. The Association has set forth strict guidelines with regard to registration of American Quarter Horses. AQHs are allowed to have limited white markings on their faces, and below their knees. If there are white patches or spots anywhere else on the horse, it is considered to not be a true Quarter Horse.

The AQHA recognizes 13 colors as acceptable for the breed. The most dominant color is sorrel, which is a reddish-brown. The other colors are bay, black, brown, buckskin, dun, gray, grullo, palomino, red roan, and blue roan. What is called a gray is what most of us perceive as white. But, there are no "white" Quarter Horses.

There are two main body types which are acceptable for registration as Quarter Horses. The "stock" type, which is shorter, more compact, stockier, and well-muscled, yet agile. The "running" type is lighter and is bred and trained for sprinting.

Because this breed is very versatile, bloodlines are built with specific tasks in mind when producing the offspring. For AQH's shown "at halter", the line is bred to have a heavier body appearance, because these horses are incredibly muscled. For horses used as "reiners" and "cutters", the build is usually smaller and the horses possess cat-like, quicker movement and powerful hindquarters. Those bred for Western pleasure riding have a level "topline" and smoother gaits. Those which will be used for racing have longer legs and a leaner body build and those bred as show hunters have a similar build to the runners, but their bloodlines will include traits which are suited to horses used for hunting purposes. The whole Quarter Horse breed possesses speed, stamina, power, and an inherent willingness to please.

This horse is usually 14 to 16 hands (56 to 64 inches, or 142.24 to 162.56 centimeters) at the shoulder. The weight can vary drastically, depending on the purpose for which the horse was bred.

The American Quarter Horse is the most popular breed in the United States. And there are approximately 3.7 million registered American Quarter Horses worldwide, making it one of the most populous breeds in modern history.

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Read about hamster training and hamster treats at the Types Of Hamsters website.

Arabian Horse History

2010-02-14T11:16:00.002+02:00

Arabs (Arabian horses) can be traced back 2000 years to the Arabian Peninsula.

Strength, beauty and endurance are typical traits of this breed of horse. Horse experts have researched Arabian horse origins and concluded that they are one of the most ancient breeds to exist.

The Bedouins were a nomadic people who are given credit for first taming the Arabian horse. Bedouin people took the ancestry of these breeds very seriously and could back date the lineages of the horses they owned. During these times they needed a rapid, strong and reliable horse. It was vitally important that it was able to survive within a desert setting. Regional battles were going on between the Bedouin tribes, so horses were used to take them to war.

Some of the most impressive horses ever were bred by the Bedouins. Many people would trade horses with them, and they would get together and share the lineages of the horses which were traded. Arabian horses come in a variety of different variations or strains. These Arabs have shared ancestory as well as a likeness in their appearance. Including; Kuhaylan, Dahman and Hadban.

Arabian horses are said to be one of, if not the most recognised breeds in the world. Large expressive eyes and a comparatively small muzzle can be found on a wedge shaped head. Possibly the most prized Arabs are the ones with concave noses. An Arab neckline should be arched, and they have toned muscular legs. Their coat should be shiny, and can be likened to silk. As they do not have a good bascule Arabian breeds are not frequent competitors at show jumping meets.

Generally, the coat of an Arab horse is grey or brown although some may have black coats. It is thought Arabs with dark black coats would absorb the desert heat so were considered a rarity. Such is the purity of the Arabian horse gene, it is frequently used in accentuating the features of other breeds. Arabian horses are very well mannered, an attribute breeders find very attractive.

Professional horse competitions have used Arabian horses for a great deal of time, and there are even competitions each year between Arabian horses and there owners.

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The Magnificent Modern Morab Horse

2010-02-14T11:12:00.000+02:00

The Morab breed of horse is a selectively bred equine that combines the finest traits of two treasured and well documented breeds, the Morgan horse and the Arabian horse, to form the best of both parent breeds. It has been the dream horse of breeders since the 1800's. The combination of the Arabian and Morgan characteristics is genetically complementary and gives a refined, muscular, graceful horse with enhanced beauty and strength.

Crosses between breeds can produce foals that look nothing like their own siblings or like the other crossbred foals down the road. But this is not true of the Morab. First generation Morabs have a consistently uniform look, with some degree of refinement with very little change shown in the second, third, forth, and even fifth generation of Morabs. In fact, they transmit their characteristics with such a high degree of certainty to their progeny that it is possible to predict with incredible accuracy what the successive generations of foals will look like, and what traits they are likely to inherit. It is this ability of Morabs to transmit their distinguishing characteristics to their progeny, called "prepotency", which makes the Morab a distinct breed from the very first generation, rather than just a nice cross-bred horse.

Only the first generation Morabs can be triple breed registered. They are eligible for Morab registration, Half-Morgan registration in the Archival Morgan Record, and Half-Arabian registration in the Half-Arabian Registry (IAHA), even though they are technically neither half-Morgan nor half-Arab. In addition, many are eligible for registration in the various color registries such as Pinto, Palomino and Buckskin, and also as American Warmbloods. Successive generations of Morabs, bred Morab-to-Morab, are no longer eligible for either half-registry, but they continue to be registerable in the aforementioned specialty registries, as well as in the Morab registry.

Although the Morab's official status as a distinct breed began in 1973 with the establishment of the first Morab registry, its history traces back as far as the original Morgan horse, Justin Morgan, who can be traced back to the Godolphin Arabian. The Morab history appears to have begun in the west and comes from both the Arabian horse side of the story, and the Morgan horse side, but there has been limited information prior to 1973.

When the 1857 book "The Morgan Horse", by D. C. Lindsley came out, a lot of background was filled in. In his book he stated that when mares of Morgan blood could not be obtained, mares possessing a strain of racing or Arabian blood could be considered; and he specifically recommended 1/8 to 1/4 Arabian blood as suitable. Because of this statement, there were many Morgan/Arab crosses registered in the American Morgan Horse Association registry prior to 1948. After that date outcrosses were no longer allowed.
History's first recorded Morab was bred in 1855. This stallion was named Golddust and he had great merit because his sire was a Vermont Morgan and his dam was an unregistered Hoke mare that said to be by Zicaaldi, a chestnut Arabian stallion presented by the Sultan to the United States Consul, Mr. Rhind, and imported by him. Golddust was pure gold in color, stood 16 hands and weighed in at 1275 pounds. He was never defeated in the show ring at the trot, and it was rumored that he could cover 6 miles per hour at the flat walk. No other stallion of his time produced better horses.

Golddust was recorded as Morab #69 in the Morgan Registry when provisions for recording the Morgan/Arabian crosses were made in both the early Morgan and Arabian Registries. However, this was discontinued in the Arabian Horse Club Registry around World War I just before International Arabian Horse Association formed in the 1940's and began registering only purebred Arabians. Unfortunately, with that change, those earlier records were lost, but according to the IMR records, over 100 of today's Morabs can trace back to Golddust. The connection to him passes through their pedigrees in great numbers primarily through the 103 progeny of Flyhawk MHA7526.

After that, little is recorded about Morabs until the 1920's, when the famous publisher, William Randolph Hearst, had a short-lived Morgan breeding program which included breeding Morabs for use in the mountainous terrain of the Hearst Ranch. Hearst is credited with coining the term "Morab". He registered 18 Morabs and some of them were registered as Morgans with the "Sunical" prefix, under the now-extinct outcross rule of the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA).

The first Morab registry, the American Morab Horse Association Inc. (a closed corporation where members had no vote) was founded by Ilene Miller in 1973 and was also called Morab Horse Registry of America, which was often shortened to "Clovis" for the California town where it was located. When she died in 1980, this first registry rapidly faded away. In 1976, The Hearst Memorial Morab Horse Registry was started, and registered 50 horses. With the retirement of the founders, the Hearst Registry merged with the North American Morab Horse Association (NAMHA) that was formed in Wisconsin after Mrs. Miller's death. NAMHA accepted all "Clovis" horses and began registering as many Morabs as they could find. The first Morab registered by NAMHA was in 1984.

The International Morab Breeders' Association (IMBA) was founded in 1986 as a full-service breed association and registry for Morabs and half-Morabs, and incorporated in 1987 by Morab horse breeders who wanted an organized way to promote their horses. The International Morab Registry (IMR) then started in 1992, and represents the Morab breed back to 1973. The IMR requires documented Arabian and Morgan bloodlines and allows a horse to be no more than 75% Arabian to 25% Morgan, or vice versa.

So, just what are the characteristics that make the average 950 to 1200 pound Morab that ranges from 14.1 hands to 15.2 hands in the variety of colors and markings common to both Morgans and Arabians so magnificent?

For starters, the Arabian's skeleton is different from other horse breeds in that it has fewer bones. It has 17 ribs, while other horses have 18; it has 5 lumbar vertebrae, while other horses have 6; and it has 16 tall vertebrae while other horses have 18. This skeleton was also passed onto the Morab, so there are only two breeds with this distinct and unusual skeletal structure.

The Arabian's powerful lungs and endurance capacity, combined with the broad, powerful chest of the Morgan, gives the Morab a naturally superior breathing system for enhanced endurance and stamina. The shorter back in the Morab, combined with the longer croup of the Morgan, gives the Morab a natural athletic ability, great strength and a smooth gait which enables them to excel in competitive and endurance riding, dressage, jumping and as a cutting horse.

The head of the Morab may be straight or slightly dished with a large powerful jaw in contrast to a small muzzle with large nostrils. A wide forehead sets off the Morab's large expressive eyes. The body is compact, well muscled, stylish and smooth. The Morgan genes add a thick, luxuriant mane and tail to the Morab, which balances out the breed's muscular build. Many breeders report that their Morabs are never shod and require minimum hoof trimming.

Its intelligent, dependable and affectionate nature is the Morab's most valued quality. When the people-loving nature of the spirited Arabian is added, the breed cannot be beat in temperament and it is an easy horse to train and handle.

In fact, the refined, sculpted beauty of the Arabian, joined with the Morgan's dramatic natural style and stamina, creates an elegant yet powerful horse that makes it is easy to see why Morab owners treasure their horses and usually keep them for life.

About the Author

Crystal is a writer for www.HorseClicks.com, classifieds of Morab Horses for sale and quality horse trailers such as Elite, Trails West, etc.

It's All About Color - The Pintabian Horse Adds Color To The Arabian

2010-02-14T11:07:00.000+02:00

The Pintabian (pin-TAY-bee-an) is a horse that is over 99% Arabian with tobiano markings, It is a new and rare breed with only a few hundred individuals representing it in the world at this time. Tobiano (toe-bee-AH-no) is a non-symmetrical dominant spotting pattern of large, irregular spots. The well-defined spots cover the body randomly but cross the back at some point between the ears and tail. The head usually has white markings that are common to those of non-spotted horses, such as a star, strip, blaze, and snip or bald-faced. All four legs are generally white.

All tobiano markings are unique, like fingerprints, and can range from a mostly white horse to a horse with very little white at all. The ideally patterned horse is one that is 50% colored and 50% white. But to produce this type of pattern, at least one parent must be a tobiano.

However, the modern Arabian horse does not generally have a spotted or parti-colored coat, with the notable exception of the sabino gene that is found in a number of Arabian horses that causes belly spots. This is because the majority of Arabian horse breeders have avoided breeding Arabian horses with an excessive amount of white. But recently, breeders imagined a coat pattern with two or more colors on the established beauty of the ancient Arabian horse and many set out to achieve this dream.

But a Pintabian horse is not merely a cross between an Arabian horse and a spotted Pinto or Paint horse. If you start by breeding one purebred Arabian with one Pinto horse, it will take seven generations of breeding the resulting tobiano patterned offspring back to a pure non-tobiano-patterned Arabian each time to eventually produce a horse that can be described as an official Pintabian.

So it can be appreciated why the Pintabian is such a special horse once you realize that there is no guarantee of producing the tobiano pattern every time with this method. Not all foals will get the dominant tobiano gene due to it always being a heterozygous combination throughout this lengthy process of breeding each generation of offspring back to a purebred non-tobiano Arabian until the 99% Arabian is reached in the 7th generation.

So, the truth is that a Pintabian is developed by continually crossing tobianos back to purebred Arabians until a relatively pure strain of spotted horses with nearly 100% Arabian blood is obtained in the 7th generation.
Fortunately, the time has come when there are now sufficient registered Pintabians to be able to breed them with each other which can produce the occasional homozygous tobiano, and because of the high percentage of Arabian in the breed, the Arabian physical characteristics of the Pintabian horse always breed true.
The chart below may help in understanding how the percentage of Arabian blood is determined in each generation.

1/2 Arabian=50% Arabian 3/4 Arabian=75% Arabian 7/8 Arabian=87.5% Arabian 15/16 Arabian=96.75% Arabian 63/64 Arabian=98.4735% Arabian 127/128 Arabian=99.21875% Arabian which can be registered as an official Pintabian.

So, what does that fraction of 127/128 actually mean in layman's terms?

A horse that is 1/2 Arabian has one parent that is Arabian and one that is not. A horse that is 3/4 Arabian usually has three purebred Arabian grandparents and one that is not. To put it another way, 3 out of the 4 horses in the second generation are purebred Arabian. When you get down to the seventh generation of a Pintabian's pedigree, of the128 ancestors, 127 are purebred Arabian. Only one was not and that horse is the one that contributed the tobiano pattern in the very first generation. Of course, breeding two percentage-breds together can produce an infinitely variable list of total percentages, but this is just the basic way that genetics works through each generation if there are no other variables.

The tobiano pattern comes in a variety of base colors and white. A base color is any color other than white. Some of the base colors that a Pintabian may be are black, bay, buckskin, chestnut, dun, gray, grullo and palomino. Black and white Pintabians exist, but they are very hard to come by which makes them even more precious. The black base color is based on a combination of two separate genes that must be present at the same time. One of the genes is common with dominant characteristics while the other is recessive and very uncommon. So, in order to get the base color of black, the foal must receive the dominant gene from at least one parent and the seldom-found recessive gene from both parents.

Since Pintabians are 99% Arabian, they have the distinctive Arabian appearance which includes a head with a "dished" face and large, wide-set eyes. The neck is arched, the back short and strong with high set tail. They stand between 14.2 and 15.2 hands high, and weigh between 900 and 1,100 pounds. They have graceful movement and are well-coordinated with a natural, easy stride that is animated and stylish yet sure-footed and athletic. Gentleness is important in this breed and the Pintabian is a docile, mannerly and willing horse. The breed possesses good sense and intelligence; and is responsive, enthusiastic and sensitive.

The Pintabian Horse Registry, Inc. (PHRI) was formed in 1992 for the purpose of providing permanent recognition and registration of horses with 99% (or over) Arabian blood and displaying the tobiano coat pattern only and is the official registering authority for the Pintabian breed. Two years later, in 1994, the International Pinto Arabian Registry (IPAR) formed to register the lower percentages as well as other coat patterns in the Arabian, in addition to the Tobiano. It also has a separate section for registering Pintabians. Since the majority of the development of this breed has been carried out in the United States, this is why many of the Pintos and Pintabians in Europe can be traced back to horses in the U.S.

Even though tobiano is dominant, genetic testing is available to determine the presence of the tobiano gene. This testing is most often intended to determine homozygosity of the gene, but is also useful if a horse has an unexplained loss of pigmentation.

The tobiano gene itself is not linked to lethal white syndrome, but some tobiano horses may be carriers of the gene if they have overo in their ancestry, or have produced affected lethal white offspring when bred to another horse that is also a carrier. In some cases, a horse can carry both the tobiano and overo genes and may display white markings that present both patterns. These horses are referred to as Toveros and are not eligible in Pintabian breeding.

About the Author

Crystal is a writer for www.HorseClicks.com, classifieds of Pintabian Horses for sale and quality horse trailers such as Dream Coach, Gore, etc.

AraAppaloosa Horse - The Best Of Both Of The Ancient Worlds

2010-02-14T11:04:00.000+02:00

he AraAppaloosa is a cross between the Arabian horse and the Appaloosa that combines the refined physical characteristics of the Arabian with the leopard-spotted coloring of the Appaloosa. Since both breeds have been noted for endurance and intelligence, the resulting cross tends to excel at endurance riding as well as a variety of horse show disciplines, including ranch work, which has been performed by either breed. It is also known as the Araloosa and can also be found under the variant spellings of Arappaloosa and the Ara-Appaloosa. But the AraAppaloosa is not a new type of horse, but rather it is a breed that dates back centuries. However, it is a relatively new horse registry in the United States where the breed is represented by the AraAppaloosa and Foundation Breeder's International (AAFBI) which is, in some ways, a 1995 off -shoot of the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) that was founded in 1938.

The founder of the ApHC, Claude Thompson, remembered seeing the beautiful Nez Perce Indian Appaloosa of his childhood and felt that Arabian blood was the only way to develop the true Appaloosa, so that was the only outcross originally permitted in the ApHC in 1938, which means that many of the foundation Appaloosas already have these genes.

In fact, the spotted or parti-color horse is one of the earliest, identifiably distinct breed types and many examples of this horse pattern appear in ancient paintings of the early Middle East and Egypt, as well as in cave paintings, artwork and other artifacts throughout Europe. Historians say that the spotted horse was of the Arabian breed, which dates back several centuries and that the Appaloosa and the Arabian horses are two of the oldest horse breeds with the Arabian being one of the purest. Because the Arabian has been a distinct breed type for thousands of years, this is important information about what the foundation of the AraAppaloosa looked like and there is no denying that the original Arabian was spotted.

Spotline purebred Arabian horses can be traced to the parti-colored purebreds of the Arabian Desert that had white spots or other spotting along with white sclera, some mottled skin and/or striped hooves, all of which are characteristics that make the Appaloosa breed unique. Although some experts do not agree that these characteristics on an Arabian horse are the result of Appaloosa genes, it is generally agreed that the genes that produce such color features certainly complement the Appaloosa. The AraAppaloosa also displays the "leopard" or "Lp" gene and therefore must have one of the color patterns found on the Appaloosa horse, such as tobiano, overo, and sabino. The gene for roan is also useful in attaining the optimum color in the AraAppaloosa.

The AAFBI supports those breeders who cross Arabian bloodlines into their foundation-based Appaloosa breeding stock, creating what they consider to be the original type of Appaloosa horse since the backgrounds of the both the Arab have much in common. AraAppaloosa breeders are trying to keep alive the true type of the Appaloosa as a refined, elegant, athletic and colorful horse with the AraAppaloosa of today being considered a re-establishment of the best examples of the Appaloosa breed as originally developed by the Nez Perce people of the Pacific Northwest in the 18th and 19th centuries.

So, an AraAppaloosa with one purebred Arabian parent may be registered as a half-Arabian with the Arabian Horse Association. Additionally, since the Appaloosa breed still has an open stud book to horses of Arabian breeding, many AraAppaloosas can also be registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC). However, they also have their own organization, the AraAppaloosa and Foundation Breeders' International, where they can now be registered as their own breed, so it is not unusual to find an AraAppaloosa that has been triple registered.

The AraAppaloosa averages between 14 and 15 hands high and have the general physical conformation of the Arabian horse, including the refined head, the high-carried tail and the overall elegance. The overall impression of an AraAppaloosa will be that of a more refined build than the more common type of modern Appaloosa that has a high percentage of American Quarter Horse breeding which means that the AraAppaloosa is usually lighter and more athletic than the Appaloosa.

Like both the Arabian and the Appaloosa, the AraAppaloosa horse has considerable endurance, sure-footedness, intelligence and a fiery and spirited temperament. With the careful blending of the bloodlines of these two breeds, a most amazing AraAppaloosa can be produced.

With the future of the AraAppaloosa leaning more toward sporthorse competition, many horses are now participating in endurance racing, 3-day eventing and dressage. The AraAppaloosa is a fine Appaloosa of great Arabian quality; with all the color, elegance, performance ability, and stamina that one could want.

About the Author

Crystal is a writer for www.HorseClicks.com, classifieds of AraAppaloosas for sale and quality horse trailers such as SilverLite, Hawk, etc.

The Arabian: The World's Oldest Horse Keeps Getting Better With Age

2010-01-20T17:48:00.000+02:00

The Arabian horse is also known as "Al Khamsa" in Arabic and is a unique breed because it does not exist as a result of selective breeding with other breeds, but as a breed that stands alone and has been cherished for its purity for thousands of years.

Arabians are thought to be the oldest breed in the world, dating back at least 5000 years. The Bedouin tribes who lived in the deserts of the Middle East believed the horses were a gift from God and that they could "fly without wings". They bred them for centuries and breeding was done carefully to create horses that could withstand extreme conditions of the Arabian Desert and tribal wars. Arabians were bred with a large lung capacity, incredible endurance and superior stamina and courage as well as speed and agility. This unique breed has had a distinctive national identity throughout recorded history and is an original breed that many other breeds owe their ancestry to.

However, there is controversy as to just where the Arab originated and its history is full of romance, legend, complexity and contradictions. One thing we do know is that the original Arabian horse was somewhat smaller than today's specimens. Otherwise the horse has essentially remained unchanged throughout the centuries.

The Bedouins valued purity and many tribes owned only one main strain of horse. The five basic families of the breed include Kehilan, Seglawi, Abeyan, Hamdani and Hadban. Other, less "choice" strains include Maneghi, Jilfan, Shuwayman, and Dahman. Substrains developed in each main strain which were named after a celebrated mare or Sheik that formed a substantial branch within the main strain. Each strain developed characteristics that could be recognized and identified when bred pure.

The Kehilan strain was noted for depth of chest, masculine power and size and stood up to 15 hands. The heads were short with broad foreheads and great width in the jowls and were most commonly gray and chestnut.

The Seglawi was known for refinement and almost feminine elegance. They were likely to be fast rather than have endurance and had fine boning, longer faces and longer necks than the Kehilan. The average height is 14.2 hands and usually Bay in color.

The Abeyan strain is very similar to the Seglawi and tended to be refined. They had a longer back than a typical Arabian, but were small horses, rarely taller than 14.2 hands. They were usually gray and carried more white markings than other strains.

Hamdani horses were considered plain with athletic, almost masculine, large boning. The heads were straight in profile, lacking an extreme Jibbah. It was one of the largest, standing as much as 15.2 hands and commonly gray or bay in color.

The Hadban strain was a smaller version of the Hamdani but sharing big bones and muscular build. They also possessed an extremely gentle nature. The average height of a Hadban was 14.3 hands and the primary color was brown or bay with few, if any, white markings.

In the 17th century, the Turkish rulers of the Ottoman Empire began to send gifts of Arabian horses to European heads of state. Such was the nature of the Godolphin Arabian (sometimes called "Barb") who was imported to England in 1730 as well as the Byerley Turk (1683) and the Darley Arabian (1703). These three "Eastern" stallions formed the foundation upon which a new breed, the Thoroughbred, was to be built and now 93% of all modern Thoroughbreds can be traced to these three stallions.

For centuries, Arabians have been used to improve and refine many different breeds of horses either by direct infusion or through the blood of the Thoroughbred. In other words, the Arabian has contributed to some degree, either directly or indirectly, to the formation of virtually all the modern breeds of horses. In fact, the Arabian, as the original racehorse, is becoming more and more popular competing at racetracks throughout the United States. They race distances similar to Thoroughbreds and there are more than 700 all-Arabian races every year. As an endurance horse, the Arabian has no equal.

In 1908, the Arabian Horse Club of America was formed and the first stud book was published. Recognition of the Arabian stud book by the U.S. Department of Agriculture established it as a national registry and the only one for the purebred Arabian breed. At that time, 71 purebred Arabians were registered in what is currently known as the Arabian Horse Association. Now there are more living Arabian horses in the United States than in all the other countries in the world combined and many breeders strongly support naming Arabian horses with traditional Arabian names, which to them, is as important as maintaining breed purity.

In terms of temperament, The Arabian is one of the 5 "hot-blooded" horses, which means they have more sensitivity and energy. This sensitivity has manifested itself in an interesting way. You see, the severe climate required the nomads to share food and water and they sometimes even shared their tents with their horses. As a result of being such a close companion, Arabians developed a gentle, pleasant personality and a close affinity to man with a unique ability to bond with their owners. An Arabian will take care of its owner as no other horse will. It has a loyal and willing nature that is unparalleled by any other breed. Foals, for example, have no fear of man, and are usually indifferent to sudden noises. The Arabian gentleness and tractability, while originally the effect of education, is now inherited, and is observed in foals bred in a foreign environment.
Today 's Arabian will never be mistaken for another breed of horse because of their distinctive dished profile on a wide forehead and large, wide-set eyes, small muzzle, small, curved ears and large, efficient nostrils. They have a graceful, arched neck, and a broad chest with a strong short back and are fine to medium boned. Arabians have a high, proud tail carriage. These horses weigh between 800 and 1,000 pounds, stand 14.1 to 15.2 hands high, and are usually grey, bay, chestnut, black or roan in color. They are an extremely sound breed, also.

Arabians have several unique genetic characteristics. They have 17 ribs, unlike other breeds which usually have 18. They also have one less lumbar vertebra and one less tail bone than other equines, and their skin is always black no matter what their coat color is.

Unfortunately they also have many disturbing genetic Diseases and Disorders such as Cerebellar Abiotrophy (CA) where balance and coordination are affected; Guttural Pouch Tympany (GPT), a defect that can be corrected by surgery; Juvenile Epilepsy Syndrome (JES) that is treatable by medication; Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS)/ Coat Color Dilution Lethal (CCDL) rare, but results in euthanasia of the foal; Occipitoatlantoaxial Malformation (OAAM) where the cervical vertebrae fuse together in the neck and skull causing injury to the spinal cord; and Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) which is the only genetic condition that can be tested for.

The traits that were bred into the Arabian since ancient times has created a versatile horse that is not only a beautiful, loyal breed, but one that excels at being an all-around family horse, show horse, competitive sport horse, race horse, and work horse.

About the Author

Crystal Eikanger writes for www.HorseClicks.com, classifieds of Arabian Horses for sale and other breeds, horse properties, western saddles and horse tack.

The Missing Third Arabian - The Shagya-Arabian Horse

2010-01-20T17:44:00.000+02:00

The World Arabian Horse Organization (WAHO) recognizes three separate breeds of the Arabian Horse. In North America, most Arabian aficionados are acquainted with the purebred Arabian and the Half-Arabian breeds. But a large majority of people world-wide are unfamiliar with the third and rarest Arabian Horse that is known as the Shagya-Arabian.

Its origins derive from purebred desert Arabians that were developed more than 200 years ago from selective breeding and performance testing when the Austro-Hungarian monarchy needed a superior cavalry mount back in 1789. The ideal horse had to be pre-potent for its type so that it could be used to improve other native breeds. As a result of an edict from the Emperor, the Babolna stud farm was founded 36 miles west of Budapest.

The conditions for creating a superior breed were perfect at the time, since the stud was managed by Hungary's talented native horsemen, the Magyars, who had highly developed skills as horse breeders.
By crossing quality cavalry mares of oriental type with imported purebred Arabian Horses from Syria, in particular, with a purebred Arabian stallion named Shagya, a new warhorse was created. The breed was originally known as the Araberrasse (Arab breed) or Arab Fajta Horse. The Magyars kept meticulous records of the breeding program in their studbooks and English Thoroughbred, Anglo-Arabian and Lipizzaner blood was carefully added. The breed was consolidated many generations ago so that it breeds consistently true to type. Shagya turned out to be such an influential stallion that eventually the breed was renamed to Shagya-Araber which was authorized by WAHO at the 1978 convention at Hamburg. It is now known in the United States as the Shagya-Arabian.

Historically, the Shagya-Arabian was bred in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, specifically in the main military stud farms of Bàbolna, Radautz and Piber in Hungary. Later on, stud farms in Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria also bred Shagya-Arabians. The Shagya-Arabians not only served as cavalry horses, they were also used as parade horses for European royalty. Every royal guard or officer regarded it a privilege to be able to ride a Shagya. The Imperial guards of the Habsburgs in Vienna were always mounted on elegant Shagya-Arabians, and the Royal Guard of Budapest rode the Shagya-Arabian.

The breed was nearly wiped out during WWII, along with the Lipizzaner, but one can still admire many statues in Hungary commemorating the heroic deeds of these horses and their riders. Currently, all Shagya-Arabian breeding world-wide is overseen by the Internationale Shagya-Araber Gesellschaft e.v. ( ISG) and horse must be approved before being used as breeding stock. In 2000, the total number of Shagya mares was estimated at approximately 1,500 horses world-wide.

In the United States, the Shagya-Arabian faced a dramatic birth by Adele Furby in Montana. In 1984, Ms. Furby rescued a Shagya-Arabian stallion named Bravo from the estate of a Hungarian Countess who had stipulated in her will that 22 of her favorite horses were to be destroyed upon her death so as to not fall into the wrong hands, and Bravo was on that list. His paternal grand sire, GAZAL II, was considered the "Shagya Stallion of the Century" in Europe and his son, GAZAL VII, was pictured on the cover of a studbook. After correspondence with ISG and some pedigree research, the ISG named Bravo as the foundation stallion for the United States Shagya-Arabian breeding program and in 1986, Ms. Furby started the North American Shagya Society (NASS) to help recover the rare Shagya-Arabian breed from near extinction. NASS is recognized by the ISG as the only North American registry for Shagya-Arabians. Its registry is referred to as the Shagya-Arabian Registry of North America (SHARONA) and purebred Shagya-Arabians registered with SHARONA are eligible to be branded with a patented brand showing the letters SH inside a circular 6-pointed sun.

After a visit to Europe, three Shagya-Arabian mares, and two young stallions were purchased by Adele Furby for import to America in 1987 and those horses, along with 8 purebred Arabian mares that she had selected in America became the foundation for the purebred Shagya-Arabian breeding program in the United States on the largest and oldest Shagya-Arabian breeding farm in America.

However, the Shagya-Arabian has been rather slow to establish itself in the U.S. Following several new imports since 2001, the breed is finally producing more quality horses and the Shagya-Arabian is rapidly finding new interest and new breeders. What started out as only a handful is now an amazing number of Shagya-Arabians that are doing well in the sport horse world. In 2002, three Shagya-Arabian stallions were imported from Europe as valuable new genetic material for the American Sport Horse breeder who would prefer not to use the purebred Arabian for crossbreeding. The Shagya breed is still very rare and fewer than 250 horses exist in the U.S. as of 2008 with only 25 of these being approved stallions.

Those people familiar with Arabian horses who see the Shagya-Arabian for the first time are often not prepared to see a large, very robust, oriental-based horse with swinging gaits and a quiet, calm nature. Shagya-Arabians are taller, have a larger rectangular frame, are stronger and possess better riding horse qualities than purebred Arabians. The Shagya-Arabians combine the advantages of the Bedouin Arabian; elegance, hardiness, endurance, and inborn friendliness toward humans, with the requirements of the modern riding horse; sufficient height, excellent movement and enormous jumping ability.

Shagya-Arabians stand 14.3 to 16.1 hands high but are most commonly found in the 15-16 hand range. They have a very harmonious appearance with a wide forehead and concave profile that often gives the head a very oriental look. The small, pointy ears are situated high on top of the head and the eyes are very expressive. The gracefully arched neck is often long with a slight poll. The withers are prominent and reach far into the back. The shoulders are large and sloping and the haunches are short and strong. The croup is melon-shaped, slightly sloping and long, with a high tail attachment. The hooves are small, well-formed and hard. The mane & tail is abundant and silky fine as is the rest of the body hair. They are predominantly gray in color, but can be bay, chestnut or black, although black Shagya-Arabians are rather rare.

Shagya-Arabians are known for having light, basic gaits and a good jumping disposition and have also proven themselves to be successful in open competitions against warmbloods in dressage, jumping, and 3-day eventing.

Shagya-Arabians are now being used to refine other warmbloods. Following the European method of Warmblood Sport Horse breeding, quality Trakehner, Dutch Warmblood, Thoroughbred, and Arabian mares that have been approved by the American Trakehner Association (ATA), the American Shagya Arabian Verband Inc. (ASAV), the North American Shagya Society (NASS), and the International Sport Horse Registry (ISR) are being bred to purebred Shagya-Arabian stallions. When the Shagya is used, the very first generation shows refinement without the loss of size or bone and the Shagya adds many of the good characteristics from the Arabian. The offspring from these crosses are accepted by most of the Verbands and the genes will modernize the sport horse that is sought after today, but NONE of these crosses may ever be used for purebred Shagya-Arabian breeding.

The Shagya-Arabian stud books have been closed for over 200 years and only purebred Arabian blood has been added. Currently, purebred Shagya-Arabians can have up to 9 purebred Arabian ancestors out of the 16 ancestors listed in the 4th generation. Before 1985, the ISG accepted Shagya-Arabians with up to 12 Arabian ancestors, but now those are registered in the Appendix book as part Shagya-Arabians. Today, some Shagya-Arabians have four or five generations of straight Shagya breeding before you will find a purebred Arabian in the pedigree.

About the Author

Crystal is a writer for www.HorseClicks.com, classifieds of Shagya Horses for sale and quality horse trailers such as Chaparral, Big Valley, etc.

Arabian Horse Characteristics - Not Your Ordinary Horse

2010-01-19T18:48:00.000+02:00

A Beautifully Built Head and Neck
Arabian horses have a distinct beauty that is cherished today, just as it was centuries ago in the Middle Eastern desert by the ancient Bedouins. This beauty is not only cosmetic but the Arabian horse's build also give it some great advantages.

Let's take a look at the head and neck of the Arabian:

• A refined, wedge-shaped head that is finely chiseled
• A broad forehead
• Large, lustrous eyes that are set far apart
• Large nostrils
• Small 'teacup' muzzles
• Lips that are fine and thin
• Ears that are smaller in stallions and of good size in mares. They are set evenly together and they have great flexibility.
• The skeleton of the head is characterized by a relative shortness of skull, slender lower jaw, and a larger size brain area within the skull.

The Arabian's head has always been considered a thing of beauty and the Arabian's face really sets it apart from other horse breeds.

The majority of Arabian horses display a distinctive concave or "dished" profile. Also, many Arabians have a forehead bulge between their eyes, known as the Jibbah. The Islamic people believed the Arabian horse was a gift from Allah and that the forehead bulge held his blessings. From a physical standpoint, the forehead bulge gives the Arabian extra sinus capacity, a plus for endurance. Another characteristic that helps with breathing and endurance is the arched neck with a large, well-set windpipe set on a refined, clean throat latch. This high-arched neck often signified courage to the ancient Bedouins and Islamics. The cheek bones are spread wide apart at the throat, typically between five or six inches. This enables the muzzle to be drawn in without compressing the Arabian horse's windpipe, and permitting the animal to breathe easily when running. As you can see from some of the characteristics that an Arabian has in its head and neck, this horse is built for long rides and running.

A Powerful Body, Bred to Perfection
Arabian horses have a broad chest and a short, but strong back and sloped shoulders which give them power and floaty gaits. In general, all horses that are bred to gallop or run need a good length of croup (posterior or backside) and a good length of hip for proper attachment of muscles (as a rule, both go together). Typically, a good-quality Arabian has both a relatively horizontal croup and a properly angled pelvis with good length of croup and depth of hip (or length of pelvis) to allow agility and impulsion. Of course, within the Arabian breed there are variations:

An Arabian horse with wider, more powerfully muscled hindquarters is more suitable for intense bursts of activity such as reining.

An Arabian horse with longer, leaner muscles is better suited for endurance riding or horse racing.

Size and Colors
Arabian horses typically stand between 14.1 and 15.1 hands (57 to 61 inches) tall. Of course there will be an occasional horse that is over or under this. Therefore, all Arabians, regardless of their height, are classified as horses even though 14.2 hands is the traditional cutoff height between a horse and a pony. A common misconception is that the purebred Arabian isn't strong due to its smaller height. Their bone density, though, is much greater than that of many other breeds. This gives the Arabian breed physical strength that is comparable to many taller animals.

For color, Arabian horses are bay, gray, chestnut, and black and sometimes roan. Common markings on Arabians include:

* Stars, stripes, or blaze faces
* Snip noses
* A white foot or more, or white stockings

Arabian horses that appear white are actually gray since their skin is black. White hair on horses grows out of pink skin. Arabian horses follow suit and any white markings found will show white hair growing out of pink skin.

A Pleasant Disposition
Arabian horses are well known for being affectionate and bonding well with humans. This goes back to their early history with Bedouin tribes in the Middle Eastern desert. The ancient Bedouins and Arabian horses lived inter-dependently as a means of survival. The Bedouins often prized these animals and sheltered them from the harsh elements of the desert by keeping them in their family tend. A strong bond formed and through the centuries, the Arabian breed has kept its gentleness and its willingness to learn and please. This makes purebred Arabians perfect for activities such as riding and showing and it makes them a perfect horse for children and families to enjoy. Having such a mild and gentle temperament makes Arabians one of the few breeds that the United States Equestrian Federation allows children to exhibit stallions in nearly all show ring classes, including those that are limited to riders under 18.

A High Intelligence to Boot
Arabian horses are classified as a "hot-blooded" horse. Even though they are in the "hot-blooded" category, most Arabians have a natural tendency to cooperate with humans. This category includes other refined, spirited horse breeds that are bred for speed such as Thoroughbreds. Like other hot-bloods, the sensitivity and intelligence of Arabians enable them to learn quickly. It also enables riders to communicate with Arabians more easily than other horse breeds. Thus training them is typically easier than other horse breeds.

A Perfectly Engineered Horse
Throughout the ages, romantic myths and stories have been told about Arabian horses that give them near-divine characteristics. The ancient Bedouins and Islamics considered these horses perfect, prizing them for their unparalleled beauty, sturdiness, stamina, high intelligence, and friendly nature. Virtually unchanged through careful breeding, Arabian horses still exemplify these same characteristics today and their popularity continues to grow.

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Randy_Meyer

Arabian Horse History - Rising to the Challenge in the US Army

2010-01-19T18:45:00.000+02:00

Early on in the history of the Arabian horse's arrival to America, the newly formed Arabian Horse Registry wanted a way to promote the horse in the United States. The directors of the Arabian Registry determined the best way of doing this was to get the Army interested in using and breeding Arabian horses. This was a substantial investment by the Arabian Registry because it took a lot of time, money and energy to prove to the Army and their cavalry majors that Arabian horses made the best cavalry horses.

In 1908, the Army had established the U.S. Remount Service, a horse cavalry unit. Its goal was to supply hundreds of thousands of horses for military use. To get the U.S Remount Service interested in Arabians, W.R. Brown, president of the Arabian Horse Registry at the time, organized the first Cavalry Endurance Ride in 1919. With a high regard for purebred Arabians overseas and their growing popularity in America, this was a perfect time to convince the government and the Army's Remount Service to breed them. Unfortunately, there were only 362 registered Arabians in the country in 1919. With so few Arabians, it was not an easy task to find enough of them to adequately represent the breed in the endurance ride. Even with this challenge, the Arabian horses made a superior showing, taking most of the prizes including first place in the endurance ride. W.R. Brown won first place on his purebred Arabian mare named Ramla #347. She carried 200 pounds during the ride.

The second Calvary Endurance Ride took place in 1920 and this time, the U.S. Remount Service was much more involved. The weight carried by the horses was increased from 200 pounds to 245 bounds. The horses traveled sixty miles a day for 5 days with a minimum time of 9 hours each day. The Arabian horses fared well again as they had the highest average points of any breed entered. This time, however, a grade Thoroughbred that was entered by the Army took first place.

Albert Harris, the Arabian Horse Registry Director from 1924 to 1949, believed that the Thoroughbred Jockey Club gave the Army $50,000 in 1921 so that they could purchase the best Thoroughbreds they could find in hopes of beating the purebred Arabians entered in the 1921 endurance ride. Mr. Harris wrote:

"With two endurance rides to the credit of Arabian horses in 1919 and 1920, the U.S. Remount, and incidentally the Jockey Club, felt something had to be done to beat these little horses in the next ride...".

The Army purchased several grade Thoroughbreds and planned to have Cavalry majors ride them. The Army also wanted the carried weight limit reduced back to 200 pounds. Since the Arabians had proven their mettle at 245 pounds, the Arabian Registry objected. Eventually, a the two sides compromised at 225 pounds.

In spite of the Army's efforts to have their grade Thoroughbreds beat out the Registry's Arabian horses, the first prize in the 1921 Cavalry Endurance Ride went to W.R. Brown's purebred Arabian gelding, Crabbet #309. W.R. Brown, with his Anglo-Arab gelding named Gouya, won the trophy for the third time in 1923.

W.R. Brown (and the Arabian Registry) had won the Calvary Endurance Ride three times with their Arabian horses. At that point, Mr. Brown gained permanent possession of the U.S. Mounted Service Cup. Albert Harris wrote in his history of the Arabian Horse Registry:

"... after 1923, the Arabian people decided not to enter their horses in the ride. This was done "so that the Army would have a chance of winning the cup the next time."

Actually, there was one exception. The Arabian people allowed the U.S. Remount Service to enter an Arabian stallion, El Sabok #276, in the 1925 endurance ride. The stallion ended up taking first place but he was not awarded the trophy because of a small welt raised under the cantle (projecting rear part) of his saddle. The U.S. Department of Animal Husbandry noted, though, that of all stallions of various breeds entered in all of the rides, El Sabok was the first and only one to finish a ride.

Fully convinced that Arabian horses had tremendous endurance, the Army planned to develop a supply of saddle horses that could be called to service if needed. Since Arabian horses were scarce at the time and difficult to obtain, the Army's breeding program didn't really get off the ground until 1941. This is when the Arabian Horse Registry directors decided to donate the nucleus of an Arabian stud to the U.S. Remount. Each director and Mr. W.K. Kellogg (of the Kellogg cereal company) personally donated one or more horses. A total of one stallion, seven broodmares (six in foal), one suckling filly, and three two-year-old fillies were placed at the Fort Robinson Remount Depot in Fort Robinson, Nebraska.

By 1943, the number of Arabian horses the Army owned was second only to the number of Thoroughbreds they owned. Later that same year, W.K. Kellogg (an Arabian Horse Registry Director from 1927 to 1940) and Albert Harris, helped the U.S. Remount Service gain possession of Mr. Kellogg's Arabian stud in Pomona California. The stud was originally given to the state of California, but with World War II heating up, the U.S. Remount Service felt they had a need for it. In October of 1943, Mr. Kellogg was successful in getting the California Board of Regents to turn over the Arabian Ranch (and 97 purebred Arabian horses) to the U.S. Army for use as a remount station. The ranch was owned by the War Department from 1943-1948 and was known as the Pomona Quartermaster Depot (Remount).

Later in 1948, the Army decided to dispose of all its horse operations to the highest bidder. In June of 1949, President Harry S. Truman signed a bill which transferred the ranch back to the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. On July 2 of that same year, the California Legislature passed Assembly Concurrent Resolution No.100 which favored the transfer of the ranch from the Kellogg Foundation to the California Polytechnic College. To this day, the school continues to maintain a prestigious Arabian breeding program. As warfare has become more technological, the Arabian horse has made its transition from the Army to being used in various equine sport activities and an endeared equine to horse enthusiasts and families.

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