Introduction
The Arabian horse (Arabic: الحصان العربي; ḥiṣān ʿarabī), also called Thoroughbred Arabian, is an equine breed that originated in the Arabian Peninsula. With a peculiar skull and tail shape, the Arabian horse is one of the most easily identifiable horse breeds in the world. The Arabian is also one of the oldest horse breeds, with archaeological evidence going back to around 2500 BC The Arabian horse spread throughout the world through war and trade, being used to improve other breeds, giving them more speed, refinement, strength and bone structure. Today, Arabian bloodlines are found in almost all modern riding horse breeds. Arabian horses are used in various equestrian sports, in which they generally perform better than other breeds.
Characteristics
The Arabian horse is quickly identified by its delicate head, often with its concave profile, large expressive eyes, small ears and small muzzle with large nostrils. It is necessary to highlight another striking feature of this breed, the long and arched neck, similar to that of a swan, which makes it even more expressive, raising the head. Finally, another aspect that stands out is the “top line” (back and rump line) with a high insertion of the tail, which is lifted by the animal when it is in motion.
The accepted coats for the Arabian Horse are: Sorrel, Chestnut, Tordilla and Black.
Description
The eyes of the Arabian horse are typical of many species of desert animals; large and protruding, they are responsible for providing the animal with excellent vision, which warned the primitive Arabian horses of the attacks of their predators. The Arabian horse's nostrils, which flare when it runs or is excited, provide a great intake of air. Normally, the nostrils are semi-closed, reducing the dust from breathing in drier climates such as the desert. The size and wide separation between the jaws or ganach in the Arabian horse provide good space for the passage of its developed trachea, which is probably another adaptive factor to increase air intake. The Arabian horse's natural head loading is much higher than any other breed, especially at gallop. The high loading of the head facilitates the passage of air, opening the flexible nostrils and lengthening the trachea. Arabian horses have been shown to have a higher number of red blood cells than other breeds, which may indicate that they use oxygen more efficiently. Its black skin is visible due to the delicacy or absence of hair around the eyes and muzzle. This dark skin around the eyes reduces the reflection of sunlight and also protects you from sunburn. The thin skin of the Arabian horse allows the rapid evaporation of sweat, cooling the horse more quickly.
Temperament
For centuries, Arabian horses lived in the desert in close association with humans. For shelter and protection against theft, they were often kept in tents with their owners, close to children and daily family life. Only horses with a naturally good disposition were allowed to breed, with the result that today's Arabians have a good temperament which, among other examples, makes them one of the few breeds where United States Equestrian Federation rules allow children to display stallions in exhibitions. On the other hand, the Arabian is also classified as a “hot-blooded” breed, a category that includes other refined and spirited horses bred for speed, such as the Akhal-Teke, and the English Thoroughbred. Like other types of warm-blooded horses, the sensitivity and intelligence of the Arabians allow for quick learning and greater communication with their owners and riders. However, their intelligence also allows them to learn bad habits as quickly as good ones, and they do not tolerate inept or abusive training practices. Some sources have stated that it is more difficult to train a “warm blooded” horse. Although most Arabians have a natural tendency to cooperate with humans, when treated incorrectly, like any horse, they can become excessively nervous or anxious, but they rarely become vicious unless seriously harmed or subjected to abuse. extremes. At the other end of the spectrum, Romantic myths are sometimes told about Arabian horses that give them almost godlike features.
Sports and Work
Due to its great resistance and strong gallop capacity, the Arabian horse is used in long distance races (up to 160km), the Equestrian Enduro, a worldwide widespread modality, in which it is unbeatable.
Known as “the complete horse”, the Arabian is considered the most versatile breed in the world, being competitive in several sports such as equestrianism (classic and rural), dressage, reins, barrel and goal, racing, roping, cutting, among others. .
Also due to its high resistance and intelligence, the Arabian horse is widely used to work with cattle on farms.
Source: Wikipedia