Arabian Horse

About the breed

The Arabian horse (Equus ferus caballus), registered in Slovenia as the purebred Arabian, is a light riding horse from the Arabian Peninsula. It is recognised by its short head with a dished (concave) profile, a high-set arched neck and a tail carried high when the horse moves. The Slovenian breeding programme recommends a height at the withers of 145–160 cm for stallions and mares, while the Arabian Horse Society of Australia stresses that there is no standard height and gives the usual range as 14.1 to 15.1 hands (roughly 145–155 cm). According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, the average Arabian weighs 360–450 kg.

The war horse of the Bedouin

The Arabian took shape among the Bedouin tribes of the Arabian Peninsula, who, according to the AHA, bred it as a war mount for long treks and quick raids on enemy camps. The same source credits the harsh desert with producing a horse of large lung capacity and great endurance. Nomads shared food, water and sometimes even their tents with their horses, which the AHA sees as the root of the breed's strong bond with people.

Mares were the best mounts for raiding parties, because on a raid they would not nicker to the other tribe's horses and give the attack away. The five foundation strains, together called Al Khamsa, are Kehilan, Seglawi, Abeyan, Hamdani and Hadban. Exactly where the breed began is still debated: the Slovenian breeding programme and the Australian society call it the oldest horse breed, while the AHA admits that authorities disagree on its place of origin.

What makes an Arabian "purebred"

Under the definition of the World Arabian Horse Organization (WAHO), a purebred Arabian is any horse that appears in a purebred Arabian stud book or register listed by WAHO as acceptable. Delegates adopted the definition unanimously in Malmö, Sweden, in 1974, and in 2004 they voted to close the world's Arabian stud books to horses that do not trace to previously accepted animals.

In Slovenia the breeding programme for the purebred Arabian is run by the Veterinary Faculty in Ljubljana; the stud book was founded in 1994 and has been internationally recognised since 2004. A separate stud book exists for the "Arabian horse" breed, which takes horses of Arabian breeding that do not meet the pedigree requirements for the purebred book – so check which book a horse is registered in before you buy. Croatia's official list of breeds likewise names the "arapski konj" and the "arapski punokrvnjak" separately, and the Croatian Arabian registry became a full WAHO member on 2 February 2009.

Its mark on the Thoroughbred and the Lipizzaner

The Australian society says the Arabian contributed, directly or indirectly, to virtually all modern breeds of light horse, and the Slovenian breeding programme singles out its influence on warmblood breeds. According to the AHA, the Byerley Turk (imported 1683), the Darley Arabian (1703) and the Godolphin Arabian (1730) founded the Thoroughbred, and the majority of modern Thoroughbreds trace back to these three sires.

Closer to Slovenia and Croatia, the Lipica Stud records that the Arabian stallion Siglavy, foaled in 1810, was brought into the herd; the fifth classical line of Lipizzaner stallions descends from him and is still bred today. Croatia's Arabian stud book notes that written records mention Arabian horses there as early as 1374, when the Bosnian ban Tvrtko gave the bishops of Đakovo ten mares and a stallion of Arabian breeding.

Arabian vs Thoroughbred: what is the difference?

The Arabian and the Thoroughbred are related but separate breeds. The Thoroughbred was developed in England around the turn of the 18th century using Eastern stallions, while the Arabian is the source breed whose stud books, under WAHO rules, are closed to outside blood. The Arabian shows a short head with a dished profile, large dark eyes, a small muzzle with large nostrils and a high tail carriage, and the Slovenian breeding programme describes it as a horse "of smaller frame".

Head, tail and skeleton

The head is the easiest way to spot an Arabian. The Australian standard describes it as short, with a broad forehead, deep circular jowls set wide apart and a small, refined muzzle. Most Arabians have a dish in the profile about halfway between poll and muzzle; it ranges from almost imperceptible to quite pronounced and is usually more marked in mares than in stallions. The neck is arched, set high and rises more steeply from the withers than in other breeds, and in motion the tail is lifted in a high, proud arch.

The skeleton is often quoted as unusual, but it varies rather than following a rule. According to the Australian standard, there are usually 16 rather than 18 tail vertebrae, and occasional individuals have 5 instead of 6 lumbar vertebrae and 17 instead of 18 pairs of ribs.

Colours: grey leads, but is not the only one

Arabians are most often grey, but chestnut, bay, brown and black also occur. That is the list in the Australian standard, and Britannica adds that grey is the most common of the possible colours. In greys the coat turns grey or white with age.

Sources part ways on rarer patterns. The Australian society states that roan does not occur in Arabians and is often confused with ticking, whereas the Slovenian breeding programme allows "all colours". For a horse of unusual colour, registration in a recognised stud book matters more than appearance.

Temperament: spirited, alert and people-oriented

The Arabian is an intelligent, sensitive and alert horse that bonds strongly with people and does not tolerate rough handling. The Australian standard describes a temperament that combines spirit and courage with tractability and exceptional affinity for humans: the Arabian likes to please but resents abuse. The Slovenian breeding goal is a horse of kind character and lively temperament, trusting and balanced.

The Arabian is classed as a hot-blooded horse, a term the AHA already uses for its historical forerunners. The label describes liveliness and quick reactions, not aggression. Because it notices every change around it, a tense or inconsistent rider can unintentionally wind it up, while a calm, consistent trainer gains a willing partner.

Endurance riding and other disciplines

Endurance riding is where the Arabian stands out most: the AHA calls it the undisputed champion of endurance events, and the Australian standard credits the breed with an endurance capacity far above average. An early test came with the US cavalry endurance rides. In 1920 horses covered 60 miles (about 97 km) a day for five days carrying 245 pounds (about 111 kg); according to the AHA, Arabians earned the highest average points of any breed, although first place went to a grade Thoroughbred entered by the Army.

Endurance is not its only job. The AHA lists disciplines from English to Western riding, and the Slovenian breeding goal is a horse suited to every branch of equestrian sport and leisure riding.

Who the Arabian suits

The Arabian suits experienced riders best, or beginners who have a good instructor and a calm, well-schooled horse. Children should handle one only under the supervision of an experienced adult, as even a lighter horse weighs several hundred kilograms and can spook suddenly.

It will suit a rider who wants a tough partner for long rides or endurance competition and values a responsive horse that cooperates. It is a poorer fit for someone expecting a placid horse that stays calm after days without exercise, or who lacks time for regular, consistent work.

Herd life, forage, hooves and teeth

Like any horse, an Arabian needs the company of other horses and daily movement outdoors. The UK welfare code (DEFRA) points out that horses are herd animals that would live in relatively stable social groups in the wild, and that isolating a horse from other horses can have a negative psychological impact; another species is only a fallback.

Forage is the basis of the diet. DEFRA notes that horses evolved to spend 16–20 hours a day grazing and browsing, so outside work they should have almost constant access to grass, hay or haylage and always fresh, clean water. Vitamins and minerals are added when grazing falls short, and concentrates only in the amount needed for the work done or for weight gain. The Slovenian breeding programme lists good feed conversion among desired traits, so body condition needs watching – under the DEFRA code a very overweight horse is as much a welfare concern as an underweight one.

The DEFRA code says hooves should be trimmed or re-shod as the farrier recommends, usually every 4–8 weeks, and that teeth be checked by a vet or qualified equine dental technician at least once a year. The Australian standard describes Arabian hooves as rounded, with strong horn and wide heels, but that does not mean every Arabian can work barefoot – that call belongs to the farrier and depends on the horse's workload. Daily care means picking out the feet, grooming and checking the skin where tack sits; the standard mentions thin skin and a silky coat.

Agree a vaccination and deworming plan with your vet. The DEFRA code says a parasite control programme should be set up in consultation with a vet and include faecal worm egg counts, and that the right vaccinations depend on the horse's age and use.

Four DNA tests a responsible breeder checks

Genetic tests exist for four inherited diseases in Arabians: severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), cerebellar abiotrophy (CA), lavender foal syndrome (LFS) and occipitoatlantoaxial malformation (OAAM). SCID, CA and LFS are autosomal recessive; OAAM is presumed to be, although different mutations appear to be involved. According to WAHO, a carrier with one copy shows no clinical signs, and an affected foal can only be born when both parents are carriers; mating two carriers gives a 25% chance of an affected foal.

A SCID foal is born normal but develops fever, breathing problems and diarrhoea, typically between 2 and 8 weeks of age; UC Davis states that affected foals do not survive past six months. A CA foal looks normal at birth, but at around six weeks (sometimes as late as four months) head tremor and loss of balance appear; UC Davis notes that foals showing signs are never coordinated enough to be ridden safely. LFS foals have an unusually pale, silvery or lavender-tinged coat and severe neurological signs, usually cannot stand and, according to WAHO, most die or are euthanised within a few days. In OAAM the first neck vertebra resembles the base of the skull, compressing the spinal cord. The test detects only one known form (a deletion near the HOXD3 gene); cases of OAAM without this mutation have been published, so a negative result does not rule out every form.

The AHA's code of ethics forbids members to offer a breeding-age horse for breeding, sale or lease if they know it to be a carrier of any of these diseases without disclosing that status to all parties. WAHO supports voluntary testing and disclosure.

Melanoma in greys and lifespan

Grey Arabians carry an increased risk of melanoma. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that melanomas are especially common in Lipizzaners, Arabians and Percherons and that up to 80% of grey or white horses of these breeds may be affected. They generally occur in older horses but usually begin to develop at 3 to 4 years of age, most often on the perineum and at the base of the tail.

For horses in general, Merck gives an average lifespan of 25–30 years, depending on health, care and size. We found no reliable breed-specific figure for Arabians.

Before you decide

Before buying, check which stud book the horse is registered in (a WAHO-recognised purebred book or the separate "Arabian horse" book) and ask for SCID, CA, LFS and OAAM results; for breeding stock this is how affected foals are prevented. Consider whether you can provide daily turnout with other horses, good hay, regular farrier and dental visits and calm, consistent work. Keeping a running record of vaccinations, farrier visits and dental checks means the horse's health history is always to hand.

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