Quick Facts

"An Arabian will take care of its owner as no other horse will, for it has not only been raised to physical perfection, but has been instilled with a spirit of loyalty unparalleled by that of any other breed."

• Oldest purebred in the world
• Foundation horse for popular recreational breeds such as Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse and Morgan
• Refined and beautiful physical appearance called "type" which includes a dished or concave face; large, dark, expressive eyes set wide apart; arched neck with clean throat latch; high tail carriage; light, elegant way of moving. Average weight is 1,000 pounds and height is 15 hands (one hand = 4 inches) at the withers. Intelligent, easy to train, enjoys human companionship.
• Excels at endurance racing because of: shorter, stronger back that allows it to carry substantial weight in comfort; large nostrils and trachea for greater lung capacity; dense, compact bone; and lighter muscling which dissipates heat and lactic acid more readily. Top racers complete 100-mile races in less than 10 hours. The American Endurance Ride Conference, the official governing body for the sport in North America, estimates that well over 70 percent of their members ride Arabian horses exclusively.