DISCOVER 3 CURIOUS FACTS ABOUT THE ARABIAN HORSE BREED!
The history of horses is intertwined with the progress of human civilization itself. Domesticated about five thousand years ago, they became the means of transport in cities and countryside, as well as essential companions for farmers. Today, they are mainly in equestrian sports such as equestrianism and horse racing. Among the most popular breeds is the Arabian horse.
Considered one of the most beautiful, the Arabian horse is easily recognizable. It has a very particular neck posture, as well as a small, thin head. In addition, it is relatively docile, as the Arab populations that domesticated it were very close to them.
In this post, you will learn about other characteristics of the Arabian horse and understand why it is so successful in shows and races! Check out!
1. The Arabian horse has existed for over 3,500 years
Although knowledge about horse domestication is something that scientists still don't have complete mastery of, we already know some important points. The horses we know today are the result of artificial selection, made by man when choosing certain animals to breed, and mixing breeds. All this began to happen about 5,500 years ago.
The oldest artifacts ever found are about this age. It was precisely in these steps that horses began to be part of the daily lives of human tribes. But they didn't come out of nowhere. The wild horse that occupied Asia at that time was the result of an evolution of an animal called Mesohippus, which lived in North America 40 million years ago. From there it migrated to Asia, while growing in size.
But when did the Arabian horse appear?
While other Asian peoples tamed the horses that roamed the region's steppes, peoples of the Arabian Peninsula also began to live with animals, which would come to have a very close relationship with those people.
There is no consensus among researchers on the exact origin of the first Arabian horses, but we do know those 3,500 years ago, the people of the region already had great control over the species. It was mainly used by Bedouin populations, nomadic people who need animals to help transport loads.
This reciprocal dependence between the animal and the Arab people can be seen in biblical passages, in the Koran, in cave paintings and in Egyptian hieroglyphs. As the climate in the region is very arid, it is speculated that the animals even stayed inside the tents.
The arid and dry environment meant that only the best animals continued the species, which gives today's animals the resistance they have.
With the various historical events that created contact between Europeans and Arabs, the animal became widespread and its genes are in practically all horse breeds that exist. However, the true Arabian horse needs to have a purity and some specific characteristics. See below!
2. The Arabian horse has a posture similar to that of a swan
As the Arab people highly valued the preservation of the breed's characteristics, rigorous selection for crossing horses was very common. Arabian horses are between 1.43 meters to 1.53 meters tall and are easily recognized by their swan-like posture, with the neck relatively curved and the head pointing downwards. Its weight is usually 450 kilograms.
In addition, the animal's head is small and narrow, highlighting the size of the nostrils, which are larger than other breeds. The animal's ears are smaller when compared to other breeds, such as purebred English and appaloosa.
The colors that the animal has are gray, chestnut or sorrel. An interesting feature is the bone formation of the Arabian horse, which is different from other breeds. In the lumbar region, he has five vertebrae. Other horses have six. In the tail, there are 16. Other horses have 18. In addition to these differences in the vertebrae, Arabian horses have one rib less. There are 17 of them.
Among the sport’s most practiced with the animal are horse racing and horseback riding. In turf, they share space with another very famous race, the purebred English. Despite having quite different characteristics, the purebred English descends from an Arabian horse, taken to England, which crossed with other breeds.
The USEF (United States Equestrian Federation) is very strict with the classification of animals as Arabian horses. He needs to meet some requirements, which are nothing more than characteristics present in horses of the breed.
Some characteristics of an Arabian are: the head should be small, with small snouts and large nostrils. In stallions, the ears should be smaller than in mares. The USEF also discriminates what the neck, rump and tail should look like. The latter, for example, must be straight when seen from behind.
3. Horse care resembles a luxury spa
The temperament of the Arabian horse is considered relatively docile, but even so, it maintains an energetic and competitive spirit. As we saw above, its proximity to the Arab peoples made less aggressive genes perpetuate themselves. This does not mean, however, that the horse is shy. On the contrary, the Arabian horse is known for a “fiery” temperament.
Animals are also quite intelligent. Therefore, they need a routine that does not make them bored. At many racecourses, racehorse care is compared to that of a luxury spa. They receive massage, swim, among other activities.
Now you know a little more about one of the most famous horse breeds in the world: the Arabian horse.
Domesticated more than three thousand years ago, the animal is the result of a selection made by Arab peoples in desert regions to maintain the characteristics they believed to be important. Easily recognized by its muzzle and small head, the Arabian horse is one of the most popular horse races around the world.