Egyptian Arabian Horse: History and Characteristics

The Egyptian Arabian sometimes known as the Egyptian or the Classic Arabian) is considered the most beautiful and expensive type of Arabian horse. There are many varieties of Arabians depending on where they were bred. However, the Egyptian Arabian seems to be a strictly Western concoction, even though Arabians have been bred in Egypt since the late 1700s.

Some champions of the Egyptian Arabian contend that it is the "purest" variety of Arabian in the world, but this contention is probably not true. According to "International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds" (University of Oklahoma Press, 1995), the Arabian did not originate in Egypt or even the Arabian Peninsula but in Turkey, Iran and Syria. It is also possible that the term "Egyptian Arabian" was originally coined as a marketing device and caught on around the Western world in the 1950s.

However, European Arabian breeders were raving about "Egyptian Arabians" as early as 1895. All Egyptian Arabians must trace back to one of two stud farms owned by Abbas Pasha I (died in 1854) or Ali Pasha Sheriff (died 1897.)

Brief History

In America and Europe, all Arabian horses were usually just called Arabians until the importation of Arabs bred by Lady Blunt's Crabbet Stud. She received many of her horses from Egypt from the dispersal sale of the late Ali Pasha. Her Arabians were so beautiful that they were sought after by horse breeders throughout the world. The first Egyptian-bred Arabians arrived in America in 1932.

By 1908, the government of Egypt realized they had a gold mine in horseflesh because people wanted to pay for the best Arabians with the longest pedigrees that they could find. Today, the Egyptian Agricultural Organization actively promotes home-grown Arabians. It is unknown how the Egypitan Arabian horse industry has been affected by the Egyptain revolutuion of 2011. Thousands of horses opf all breeds in the tourist industry suffered, starved or died, according to the World Sosicety for the Protection of Animals.

America's premeir showcase of the Egyptian Arabian is called the Egyptian Event. Started in 1981, it takes place at the Kentucky Horse Park. Unlike many other types of Arabian shows, no makeup, baby oil or grease is allowed on the bodies of show horses. In America, the Pyramid Society (founded in 1969) is the main registry of Egyptian Arabians.

General Description

Egyptian Arabians are generally 14 - 15 hands high with an exaggerated dished head and arched neck. They have thin black skin, large eyes, a short and usually level back and deep chest. They naturally carry their tails high. Their bodies are slim, their legs tough and ideally they should not have an ounce of excess fat on them.

They come in all solid horse colors, but black and grey seem to fetch the highest prices. Other colors include all shades of bay, chestnut, roan and very occasionally a dun or palomino. Also the sabino pinto pattern very occasionally crops up, where white markings are extended above the knee and on the belly. Other white markings like stockings, stars, blazes and snips are common.

Lavender foal syndrome can occur in Egyptian Arabians more often than in other types of Arabians. There is now a genetic test for this potentially lethal condition.

Although they look fragile, Egyptian Arabians are actually quite tough and can carry an adult rider easily. Like all of the other varieties of Arabians, they excel in endurance riding events. Many breeders also try to breed for smooth gaits as well as a pretty face. They also appear in other horse sports, as pleasure mounts, carriage horses, parade and circus horses. However, the horses are intelligent enough to adjust to almost any task put to them.

Additional References

"International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds." Bonnie Hendricks. University of Oklahoma Press; 1995.

"Flight Without Wings: The Arabian and the Show World." Patti Shoffler. Globe Pequot; 2006.

World Society for the Protection of Animals. "WSPA funds member society Egypt emergency work." March 1, 2011. http://animalsindisasters.typepad.com/wspa/2011/03/wspa-funds-member-society-egypt-emergency-work.html

Pyramid Society. "Breed Standards." http://www.pyramidsociety.org/articles/category/breed-standards

University of Pretoria. "Lavender foal syndrome -- genetic test developed in South Africa." Anandi Bierman. November 4, 2009. http://web.up.ac.za/default.asp?ipkCategoryID=11671&articleID=3268