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Arabian Horse StrainsWhen you speak about Arabian horse strains what you are actually referring to are the origins and descendants of a particular horse. Arabian lineage is described by that of the dam and not the sire. Horses of the same strain have similar characteristics that are recognizable by an Arabian horse enthusiast.The terminology can be very confusing because people tend to use the word ‘breed’ and ‘strain’ interchangeably. Arabian horses are all the same breed. But within this breed are strains or families. The lineage, or pedigree, of the Arabian horse is a description of the family line through the dams or mares. Describing lineage only through the female line goes back to when the horses were bred by the Bedouins. The nomadic Bedouins did not consider the sire important and place importance only on the mare. The custom has been followed ever since those long ago days. There are five original strains of desert Arabian horses that form the five families which breeders use for pedigree. Together the five families are called by the word which means five - Khamseh.
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There are other Arabian strains or families besides the five of the Khamseh. They include the Maneghi, Saadan, Dakhman, Jiffan and Samhan to name a few. Much more information on additional strains is available online. Arabian horses have been introduced in countries around the world. The five pureblood strains account for some of the most beautiful horses in the world. The primary Arabian horse breeding countries are England, Poland, Germany, Egypt, United Arab Emirates-Dubai, Spain, Russia and the United States. Each country has an interesting story concerning the first Arabian horses to arrive. For example, three Arabian horses were imported into England in the early 1770’s. The formed the first Thoroughbred breed and to this day most Thoroughbred lineage can be traced back to one of these three horses. Arabians have been the progenitors or foundation stock of highly prized horses such as the Orloff Trotter in Russia and the Morgan in the United States. Arabian horse strains are recognized for their ability to produce horses with agility, endurance and intelligence. As a result, they are often used to strengthen a non-Arabian horse line. Crossing an Arabian and a Thoroughbred is very common. It is so common the resultant horse has a separate name which is the Anglo-Arabian. There is an ongoing debate over the purity of the bloodlines or strains of Arabian Horses. Definition of strains affects the registration of horses as pureblood Arabians. It is important to know the lineage of an Arabian horse before purchasing it, because this can affect value, stud fees and future resale opportunities. [top] |
