Arabian Horses
14.2hh - 15 hh
Colors: Chestnut, grey, white, bay and black
The oldest and purest of all horse breeds, the Arabs careful breeding is what gives the breed its very distinctive look. They're recognizable by their long, arched necks, dish-shaped face, large eyes and flat croup. Records of the Arab as a horse breed go back as far as 2,500 B.C. and they have easily had the most influence on the modern horse of any breed. The Thoroughbred, Morgan and Quarter Horse owe much to the Arab, just to name a few. Their harsh native habitat and demands of nomadic life give the breed an inherent soundness and amazing endurance.
Interesting fact: Arabs are physically different from any other breed of horse. They have one less rib, one less lumbar vertebrae, and two less tail vertebrae that give them a shorter, flatter back.
Deceptively strong despite their small size, the Arabs' stamina makes them very successful as endurance horses. Intelligent and quick-footed, they also excel at a number of other sports as well. They're competitive as hunters, jumpers and dressage horses. At horse shows featuring strictly Arabs and half-Arabs, you'll even see exciting costume classes, where both horse and riders wear colorful traditional Arab attire!
