- The founder of the religion called Islam, the prophet Muhammed, contributed to the breeding of Arabian horses starting in the early A.D. 600’s. Muhammed wanted to spread the word of Islam throughout the world. He also wanted to establish a worldwide Arabian empire. He knew this could only be achieved with a powerful army mounted on purebred horses. Muhammed, therefore, ordered the breeding of noble and pure horses. He promised the reward of life in paradise after death to every person who raised and donated such a horse for the cause. He said, “However many grains of barley you give your horse, this will be the number of sins which you will be forgiven all at once.” The Muslim army made its way through Egypt, North Africa, across the Mediterranean, and into Spain and France, conquering all in its path. But the Muslims were eventually defeated. They returned to their homelands, leaving many of their magnificent horses behind. This stock was the beginning of the Arabian influence on the native horses of Europe. In Spain, Arabian stallions were crossed with the native mares. The result of this crossbreeding was the Andalusian horse. The Andalusian was introduced into many European countries for breeding to refine the existing stock of heavy, bulky horses.
- In the many wars that took place in Europe during the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, Arabian horses proved to be superior over native breeds. Two great promoters of the Arabian were Louis XV and Napoleon. Following his Russian defeat, Napoleon and his officers were only able to flee back to France thanks to the stamina of their Arabian horses. All the other types of horses fell victim to the cold and the stresses of war. European rulers realized that hte way to improve native breeds was to crossbreed with the Arabian. They acquired Arabian stallions to crossbreed with the native mares. At that time, little thought was given to the idea of pure Arabian breeding. Only a few wealthy buyers, such as King Wilhelm I, took part in the breeding of pure Arabian stock.
Arabian Horse Facts
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