The Arabian horse, also known as the "Arabian", is one of the most popular and appreciated horse breeds in the world. It is originally from the Middle East and in addition to being especially valued for its physical qualities and remarkable intelligence, it is considered one of the oldest horses in the world. It has also been especially important throughout history for its role as warhorseFor all these reasons, the Arabian horse stands out as one of the most beloved, distinguished and reputed breeds. It is not surprising then that the thoroughbred Arabian horse is so coveted among fans and riders from all over the world.
In this tab on our site we will talk in detail about the Arabian horse, its origins, the characteristics of thoroughbreds, the temperament or the most frequent he alth problems. Find out below everything about this horse, developed by the nomadic Bedouins of the Arabian Peninsula:
Origin of the Arabian horse
As we told you in the introduction, the Arabian horse grows in the Arabian Peninsula, in the Middle East, a country that stands out for having an extremely hot climate, with abundant desert areas, which is why it was especially appreciated by the Bedouin nomadic tribes It was so valued by the Bedouins who only had tents to protect your horses from the sun, sand and cold desert nights, as well as to protect them from possible thieves.
It is estimated that the first specimens, similar to those we know today, were already present more than 3,000 years ago, since there are paintings cave paintings and inscriptions in the Arabian Peninsula that look very similar. Such is its importance in its country of origin that there is currently a national program to safeguard the breed and maintain its physical characteristics. However, it is estimated that their origin is much older and that they descend from the horses that helped various civilizations flourish, such as the Egyptian. In addition to being the main means of transportation, horses were used for warfare, thanks to their excellent speed, extraordinary resistance and lack of fear in battle.
The Arabian horse began to spread thanks to Muslim merchants and armies, who showed this marvelous breed to East and West. From then on, the Arabian horse began to spread throughout different countries, being raised as a separate breed and participating in the development of new horse breeds. The Andalusian horse, for example, is one of the breeds that are born from the crossing of Arabian horses. Currently we can find breeders in Russia or various European countries, such as Germany, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom and France among others.
Later on the Arabian horse travels to the New World hand in hand with the Spanish conquerors, being the ones that would form the future lineages of all America. In fact, even George Washington owned one of them called "Ranger", which greatly popularized this breed. So much so that, although the Bedouins continued to breed Arabian horses, the breed began to decline, so exports declined and the government of King Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Saud made great efforts to keep it in your country of origin
Physical characteristics of the Arabian horse
The Thoroughbred Arabian horse has unique physical characteristics that differentiate it from other horse breeds, in fact, if we analyze the anatomy of the horse and its skeleton, we soon observe that, instead of 6 vertebrae and 18 ribs, some Arabian horses have 5 vertebrae and 17 ribs, making it easier for them to raise their tail in a characteristic way This tail is high and is located on elongated and level hindquarters, ending in strong and robust legs, which, like the front ones, have prominent and highly developed musculature, which makes them excellent jumping horses and runners.
Thoroughbred Arabian Horse
The Arabian horse is short, since the thoroughbreds are right on the border that divides a horse from a pony, which would be exactly 148 centimeters, although in general they exceed this limit, the average being about 152 centimeters in height. Since in many countries it is preferred that they be taller, they have been crossed with other breeds, obtaining specimens that measure from 153 to 163 centimeters.
These horses have a life expectancy of 35 years, reaching sexual maturity at 4 years, and weigh between 300 and 400 kilos, although some specimens can reach 450. The head is short and wedge-shaped, with a wide forehead and a small snout, which contrasts with its open nostrils. The eyes of an Arabian horse are large and highly expressive, being dark in color, while the ears are small and pointed. The coat is short and shiny, the accepted colors being grey, sorrel, chestnut and black
Character and behavior of the Arabian horse
Very likely due to the close bond that the Arabian horse has forged with human beings, the breed currently has a particularly charismatic, docile and predisposed character, as well as being a very communicative animal. Likewise, the Arabian horse is considered to be one of the most intelligent in the world, as they learn and develop new skills easily.
All of this, together with its affable nature, allows the Arabian horse to stand out not only in dealing with humans, but also in competition, although it should be noted that, like any horse, it requires positive treatment and respectful. However, despite being so docile, Arabian horses are classified in the category of horses of "warm blood" because they are, like other breeds such as the English or Irish Thoroughbreds or the Barbs, strong-willed, sensitive and intelligent.
Arabian horse care
Horses are herbivorous animals, so they only consume food of plant origin. Specifically, an adult Arabian horse will need an amount of food of 1 kilogram per day for every 45 kilos of body weight, that is, in a large horse of about 450 kilos, 10 kilograms of food will be necessary. Thus, for a correct feeding of the horse we will offer hay, green plants and grass, it being preferable to give them green fodder, vegetables such as potatoes or carrots, alfalfa and grass.
It is also important that you have at your disposal stone of s alt, as it is a source of vitamins and above all calcium, being a important nutritional contribution in all horses, and of course in the Arabian horse as well. It is important to note that, if we let them graze freely, we must watch out for plants that are toxic to horses.
But in addition, the Arabian horse will need various attentions, so in terms of horse care we highlight grooming, which should include daily brushing of both the coat and the hair, and the hygiene of the helmets. If we are going to mount them, at the end, we will have to clean at least their legs with water and, if it is a warm temperature, we will give a complete shower. If they are very dirty, you can use soap for that shower, always using a specific soap for horses, avoiding the head area.
Arabian Horse He alth
In general, we note that the Arabian horse is strong and resistant, however, as with all breeds, it shows certain predisposition for the development of certain diseases. To prevent it, it will be important to offer good nutrition, hygiene and preventive medicine, by deworming and vaccinating the horse. Some of the most common diseases of the breed are:
- Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disorder (SCID)
- Cerebellar Abiotrophy/Ataxia (CA)
- Lavender Pony Syndrome (LFS or CCDL)
- Occipito-Atlantoaxial Malformation (OAAM)
Likewise, it is also susceptible to presenting some of the most common diseases of horses, such as different oral conditions, so it is recommended that an equine dentist check our horse's mouth at least once a year, being able to detect possible anomalies, such as dental abscesses. We will also have to be attentive to the possible appearance of colic, which indicates that there are gastrointestinal disorders and can be due to many reasons, such as inadequate nutrition, too much exercise or alterations in its anatomy.
Less frequent are other conditions such as visual or auditory pathologies, as well as heart problems or the dreaded cerebellar abiotrophy, which seems to affect the Arabian horses more than other breeds. This neurological disease is hereditary and seriously affects the he alth of those who suffer from it, some of its repercussions are the inability to correctly perceive distances, head tremors or lack of balance and motor coordination. This pathology is detected, due to the notorious symptoms, at very early ages, normally between 6 and 48 months of age.
