The Arabian horse is one of the most distinctive and admired breeds in the world, with stamina and hardiness that make them by far the dominant breed in the sport of endurance riding. Along with their remarkable athleticism, the beauty of the Arabian is treasured by its fans around the world, and halter classes are among the most popular and competitive at breed shows.
In the United States, Arabians are noted for their versatility, with different bloodlines producing exceptional horses for show horse disciplines, including saddle seat, hunter pleasure, and western pleasure; working western horses for ranch, reining, and cow horse classes; and sport horses for dressage, jumping, and eventing. Other bloodlines are selected for both endurance riding and track racing, preserving the breed’s history of speed and stamina. Modern Arabians in the U.S. are treasured as youth and family pleasure horses and trail riding companions.
Arabian horses are frequently crossed with other breeds to combine their athleticism with the specialization of other breeds. In the U.S., the Arabian Horse Association registers both purebred and half-Arabians, with popular crosses including Thoroughbreds (known as Anglo-Arabians), American Saddlebreds, Quarter Horses, and Paints.
The Arabian is considered to be the oldest breed of horse existing in the world today. It traces its origins to horses bred by the Bedouins on the Arabian peninsula for thousands of years. Arabians exist to some degree in the historic bloodlines of most modern breeds, most notably the Thoroughbred. Modern Arabian horses in the U.S. typically stand from 14.2 to 15.2 hands. They have a concave or “dished” facial profile with large, prominent eyes and wide nostrils. They have a naturally high tail carriage and an arched neck set high on the shoulder. Purebred Arabians are most often gray, chestnut, bay, or black.