What Are the Breed Standards of Arabian Horses?

History

• All modern Arabians are descended from one of five female horses. These foundation mares were owned by King Solomon around 1635 B.C. The elegant breed adapted itself for desert survival and cherished by the nomadic Bedouin tribes of the Middle Eastern and African deserts. The animals gave the tribes mobility when searching for water and pasture and provided a mounted advantage during warfare and raids. The mares were highly prized and the animals' breeding lines were preserved by oral tradition going back dozens of generations. The Arabian spread to Europe during the Muslim conquest of parts of Spain and Portugal in the eighth century A.D.

Head

• The particularly distinctive head of the Arabian horse is characterized by a delicate, triangular shape and a concave, or "dished," appearance. Many Arabians have a "jibbah," a small protrusion of the forehead between the eyes extending down the animal's face. The Bedouins bred for this feature to add sinus capacity to the horse's skull, a beneficial feature for horses living and working in arid desert conditions. The soft nose is narrow and small, capable of being enclosed in the palm of the hand. The eyes are large, dark and expressive. The horse has small ears that curve inwards, especially on stallions.

Body

• Arabian horses have a unique skeletal structure among the world's equines. The breed has 17 ribs, 5 lumbar bones and 16 tail vertebrae. Most horses have 18 ribs, 6 lumbar bones and 18 tail vertebrae. This results in the high carriage of the Arabian's tail. When they run, Arabians carry their tails high, making their tails appear to flow out behind them like a flag. Arabians' heads meet the neck at a distinctive arched angle called the "mitbah." The horse has relatively high withers, or front shoulders, and an even topline that slopes back over a long and level croup, which is another name for the top of a horse's rump.

Size and Movement

• The Arabian horse may weigh from 800 to 1,100 lbs., according to the Arabian Horse Association standards. The horse is a smaller breed, standing 14.1 to 15.1 hands at the withers. A hand is a measurement for horse height that is equivalent to 4 inches. The AHA allows some variation in weight and height among horses in its registry. The Arabian is described as having a "floating" movement when it trots and canters as though the animal is moving on springs.

Coat

• Arabian horses come in many colors, according to AHA breed standards. They can be chestnut, black, bay and gray. Occasionally a reddish-white color called a roan occurs. Horses that look white are really gray since all Arabians have black skin. Arabians may have facial markings, including white stars, blazes or strips. White noses are allowed, as are white feet and stockings that extend further up the leg. The coat is expected to be thick, silky and fine. The breed standard calls for a long and fine mane and tail.