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Few good things happen by accident, and the intelligence, empathy, and beauty of the Arabian horse is no exception.

History 

The oldest breed of horse in the world (archaeological evidence indicates over 4,000 years), the Arabian horse originated in the Middle East, where centuries of careful breeding by the Bedouin tribes has produced a maternal and caring partner that today thrives on human companionship, is intensely versatile in what it can do and is, indeed, the horse who loves you back.

The nomadic Bedouin people developed the Arabian horse as an animal integral to the family and tribe’s survival. The horses were so valued, that it was customary for them to live inside the family tent to protect them from marauding tribes, where the children literally grew up under the horse’s feet.  

This close relationship with humans resulted in a breed of horse that is good-natured, quick to learn, and highly attuned to human interaction. They are exceptionally sensitive to children and naturally maternal towards their “human charges.”  

Physical Attributes

The arid desert was also responsible for the development of physical attributes that today make the Arabian a favorite of artists throughout the world: a sculpted, dished face incorporates large nostrils for greater oxygen intake and dark, liquid eyes allow them to see great distances; and their high tail carriage was a way to more effectively stay cool on hot days. The horses spread from the Middle East over the years by both war and trade and were used to improve other breeds by adding speed, refinement, endurance, intelligence and good bone.  Today, Arabian bloodlines are found in almost every modern breed of riding horse.  

Modern Arabian Horse

Today, we’ve entered the first century where horses are not an integral necessity for human survival. However, evidence shows clearly that they still have a huge part to play in our development and ability to communicate beyond the written and spoken word, and Arabians are proving exceptionally gifted due to their history.  

A sense of community connects every Arabian horse aficionado that transcends economic and social divides, and many of the horses are affordable to purchase and versatile in how they serve their owners.  

Their high spirt, alertness and sensitivity require modern Arabian horse owners to handle their horses with competence and respect, but in return, they are capable of participating with their owners in almost any discipline.  

Versatility

“The Versatile Arabian” is a slogan of the breed. Arabian horses dominate the discipline of endurance riding worldwide and compete today in virtually every field of equestrian activity imaginable, from racing to jumping to carriage driving to reining and on. They are one of the top ten most popular breeds of horse in the world, and are found worldwide, with major breeding programs dominating many parts of Europe, South America and the Middle East, as well as here in the United States and Canada.

These amazing horses are loved worldwide and we would love to share their legacy with you! Please use our Farm Finder to visit and experience Arabian horses near you.