subject: Arabian Horses [print this page] In the "Son of the Sheik" silent movie buffs probably know that Rudolph Valentino rode the Kellogg Arabian stallion. Arabians are very beautiful horses and photograph well,which is apparent in such movies as,The Black Stallion who showcased the stallion Cass Ole,The Young Black Stallion which actually required the use of forty stallions during filming and the famous Hidalgo that was in the 1959 epic of "Ben Hur".You don't need to be a horse expert to distinguish the Arabian horse from other breeds. Their unique head shape, high tail, and overall elegance are easy to spot.
There is evidence that horses that resembled modern Arabian horses were in existence as far back as 4,500 years ago. From the Middle East, Arabian horses soon spread around the world because of both war and trade. Breeders who were interested in introducing increased speed, endurance, and refinement into their stock sought them. It's no wonder that today Arabian bloodlines are found in almost every modern breed of riding horse worldwide.
The Arabian horse was so valued by the Bedouin nomads of the deserts of the Middle East, they kept the horses in their tents to protect them from weather and to give them shelter from the heat. Good-natured, gentle and most anxious to please, Arabian horses have formed a compassionate association with humans.
The distinctive shape of the Arabian horse's head is valued by horse lovers, but there is also a practical reason for the slight forehead bulge between their eyes, called the "jibbah" that adds an additional sinus capacity. We think that it has helped the Arabian horse to succeed in the dry desert climate it lives in.
