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Arabian Horses and BedouinsLiterally thousands of years ago, Arabian horses and Bedouins came together and formed a union of man and beast that endures to this day. The nomadic Bedouins reliance on the Arabian horse dates to 1635 B.C., though the existence of the horse is indicated to be much earlier in paintings and stories. The Bedouin owned five mares- in Prophet Mohammed era- and from those five mares came, the purest lines of Arabian horses that still exist. The original five mares are called Al-Khamesh, which means “five.” Bedouins cherished the Arabian horses. They were considered part of the family and stories tell of horses being taken into tents to be protected. Arabian horses and Bedouins lived in a harsh desert environment, and they became dependent on each other. The horses needed the Bedouins for food and water. The Bedouins needed the horses for transportation and battle. Arabian horses and Bedouins had an almost mystic relationship. The horses were seen as a special gift sent directly from Allah. This is why they were treated with such respect. Stories of each horse were passed from generation to generation. Because the horses developed in the desert they became exceptionally strong and capable of remarkable endurance. If you have ever tried to run in sand on a beach you have an idea of the effort it takes to maneuver through the desert. The Arabian horses are very muscular and have lots of energy. [top]
The Arabian horses and Bedouins had a symbiotic relationship. They lived together for the benefit of each other. They also lived in near isolation which made is easy to maintain the pureblood strains. The purity of the strains was seen as necessary in recognition of Allah’s goodness. The horses were never mixed with horses from surrounding areas, because those horses were seen as inferior. Arabian horses and Bedouins saw many battles together. The horse is quick and enduring. Living in the desert also resulted in lungs with large capacity. Bedouins could ride the courageous horses into battle utilizing their speed and agility. It was the mares that made the best horses for use on raids. They would not make any noises to announce their approach. As a result, the mares came to hold special honor among the Bedouins. Lineage to this day is described through the mares and not the sires. Bedouins seldom sold their prized horses. Instead they kept their horses as important family and tribal possessions. They carefully bred the horses to strengthen the five original strains. Each strain has unique characteristics ranging from differences in muscular structure and size to dominant colors. There are other lesser strains, but the original Al-Khamesh are still the most prized Arabian horses. Purebloods of great beauty, Arabian horses and Bedouins still have a remarkable association. [top]
Eventually, Arabian horses were given as special gifts to European kings who already were familiar with the horse special qualities. Bedouins developed the first recognized breeding program, and the results were renowned and envied. The first records were kept orally, but at some point began to be officially documented. The term “desert bred” means the horse lineage can be traced all the way back to the oral records of the Bedouins. Once the horses were delivered to European royalty, other breeding programs were begun. But the purebred Arabian horses, and Bedouin strict adherence to maintaining strain purity, still exists today. The horses of today are the same as the desert horses of thousands of years ago. From the desert to the countries of the world, Arabian horses have spread to the point where more exist outside Arabia than inside their country of origin. Despite their history of doing battle, they are gentle animals that get along with people extremely well. Some believe they actually bond with their owners. If so, that is one more quality that has endured since the original Arabian horses and Bedouins. [top]
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