THE ARABIAN HORSE 

NATURE’S CREATION AND THE ART OF BREEDING

by HANS JOACHIM NAGEL

This new book from Dr Hans Nagel is a fully comprehensive guide to the Arabian horse and its origins as well as examining the concepts of breeding. The book has been written with the intention of making people that feel an affinity to horses fully acquainted with one of the most special horse breeds of today – the Arabian.

The Arabian horse is the oldest horse breed known and, in the past, has made a unique and essential contribution to the English Thoroughbred, the French Anglo-Arab and the existence of all warmblood horses, as well as all other standard breeds of national or local importance. All of them carry a good portion of Arabian blood. How did it happen that this particular exotic horse, brought up in the deserts of Arabia, bred by nomads in one of the poorest environments on earth, could reach and play such an important role; and why did, again and again, some of the greatest horse people, at different times in history, become fascinated by these horses as a pure breed, as an original? This book tells the story of Arabian horses, where they come from, and where they acquired all their appreciated virtues.

Furthermore, this book outlines how rural nobles and important State Studs, mainly in East Europe, as well as dedicated private breeders, handled this breed – either as a heritage of ancient times, or as a subject of breeding that required developing, putting the breeders’ own stamp on them, according to these breeders’ tastes, just the way the ancient Bedouin breeders used to do. With that in mind, it is no wonder that today, there is such a great variety of types existing within the breed. However, they all share a common denominator, that essence that gave them their particular abilities and appearance – that special stamp that makes them Arabian horses.

Readers of this book will find a lot of answers to questions such as these. They will also find interesting examples and ideas for breeding. Hopefully, this will facilitate their understanding of why the fascination for this particular species and its outstanding qualities has never ceased. 

Annexes

• Pedigrees
• Index of horses and persons
• Reference books
• Reference of illustration
• List of paintings and prints
• Photographers