The origin of the breed

THE ORIGIN OF THE BREED

The origin of the Arabian horse has never been thoroughly documented, making it difficult to trace the roots of this noble breed. Through the writings and notebooks of Count Emir Rzewuski from Poland, great friend of the Arab people, we learn some some interesting, albeit occasionally inconsistent, details on the subject. Considered to be one of the best horsemen of his day (the late 1700s/ early 1800s ... an era when excellent horsemanship was de rigueur for the aristocracy), Rzewuski left his native Poland and journeyed extensively through Arabia. His book, Sur les chevaux orientaux et provenants de races orientates, chronicles his first-hand observations about the Arabian horse, and offers a fascinating look at some of legends that surround the origin of the breed.

According to Rzewuski, purity of the breed was the prevailing concern in Arabian horse breeding long before the birth of Mohammed (570-632 A.D). Writings from the beginning of Mohammed's reign say that Arabian horses trace their origin to the prophet's five favorite mares from the Nejd desert, all of whom were said to be sired by the famous stallion Mesch-Kour: Seglavi, Koheil, Manaki, Gilfi, and name of the fifth - Tuisich, Foregich, Abu-Arkub, Daa-gianih, Kassanih, Kobeiszech or Misenech - varies according to which source one reads.

One interesting tale Rzewuski relates in his book involves the creation of the "asil" Arabian. Long ago, when Mohammed's teachings were just beginning to take hold in Arabia, the city of Mecca turned away from his ideas, choosing instead to to embrace paganism and idolatry. Mohammed set forth from the dty of Medina in an attempt to capture the city, but the assault failed.

Managing to escape with the aid of several friendly chiefs, Mohammed once again gathered his forces together,and this time, the conquest of Mecca was successful. News of the Prophet's initial defeat had already spread like wildfire, however, and it was feared that if that message got back to Medina before news of the conquest,

Medina, too, would succumb to paganism again. So Mohammed dispatched 360 riders to Medina to proclaim his victory in Mecca, only five of whom reached their destination. The five mares they rode were honored with places in the Prophet's herd, and thus began the chosen race, the "asil."

The prophet then ordered all the stallions from the desert to be gathered in one place. For two days and two nights, the horses were neither fed nor watered; but on the third day, their mangers were filled with barley grain of the highest quality. Just as the famished horses put their heads down to eat, the war trumpets sounded. Only seven horses stopped eating and raised their heads, curious and ready for action - and these stallions were chosen by Mohammed to cover the "asil" mares. They were: Sakab, whose smooth gaits made him Mohammed's favorite riding horse; Lezaz, strong and muscular; Tarb, light while moving; Wonard, reddish chestnut, with dark mane and tail; Lakif, whose name means "rock cleft"; Nakif, nervous and excitable; Martagiaz, whose name means "idolatry," as he had been captured from a pagan chief. Legend also mentions the stallions ridden by Mohammed's commanders as being used to cover the asil mares: fetor, whose name signifies his ability to find water in the desert; Meterschild, whose rider got lost in the desert, but the stallion found the way and rescued his rider; El Szekeb, who took part in Mohammed's escape from Mecca to Medina, and hid for three days in a cave; Lehan, whose small white spot on his foreskin ensured his fecundity; and Jazib, a brave horse who could endure the hardships of war.
Arabian horses were named for their unique characteristics - an exceptional feature or virtue — or for the event in which the animal participated; seldom for a place. The families of the Arabian horse, which took the mare's name (never the stallion's), were divided into branches.

Arabian horses were named for their unique characteristics - an exceptional feature or virtue — or for the event in which the animal participated; seldom for a place. The families of the Arabian horse, which took the mare's name (never the stallion's), were divided into branches.

seglavi foundation stock. 1) Seglavi - the foundress. 2) Seglavi-Dzedran - legend says the founding mare of Rzewuski also provides the descriptions of several branches of foundation stock from Nejd which doesn't

belong to any of the chosen ones but is, nevertheless, noble, of ancient lineage, and purely bred. Some of the given information is worth mentioning since the original names appear in the present pedigrees of Arabian horses. The number placed in front of the name signifies the horse's classification. 1. Obejan - the term means "shape and beauty." The foundation stock of this much-respected branch was represented by Proskury stud in Ukraina, USSR, and was exterminated in the 19th century. 5. Obejan-El-hard — a very good branch, the foundress was grey. 6. Obejan Zahab - after a long distance race, the foundress of this rare and sought after branch stopped in Yemen, an area rich in gold. 7. Obejan Himidisi - the horses of this branch are very brave and fleet of foot. 8. Obejan Scharaki — the founding mare's rider got lost in the desert, but she led him back to safety; the branch is very rare and sought after. 9. Obejan Aben-Gerif — an excellent and fairly rare branch, the name literally means "father-thief." 10. Obejan El Hamri — rare and respectable branch from the Hamrah generation, Jemen. 11. Obejan El-Hamlah — the name means, "the one that easily carries its weight." The founding mare earned her name because of her great speed while carrying the famous warrior, Nemmer. 12. Abou-Arkub El Sehnih — Honorable, beautiful, stalwart, and fairly rare, the the branch should not be mistaken with Abu Arkub — one of the five chosen mares. The founding mare was famous for her obedience, and the term "Sehnih" refers to the name of the talisman the horse carried, which was supposed to protect the mare from hostile blows and reptiles' bites. 23. Dahman - the foundress was born on the third day after the moon - set, and from this branch came the extremely rare Aben Dahman branch, considered the most ideal. 31. Habadah — the foundress of this beautiful and sought after branch belonged to an old widow, and gave birth to her offspring on the top of a hill.

So much for the information passed on to us several centuries ago by the Polish count, who in turn had gleaned stories that were many centuries older than that. The reliability of these truths should be assessed by the Arabian breeders today, as the legend continues to unfold with the descendents of these ancient progenitors of the breed.

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