Breed Standard
Bint Bint Moniet
The photograph to the left is a Johnny Johnston photo of the mare, "Bint Bint Moniet" (Rashad Ibn Nazeer x Bint Moniet El Nefous) Bay mare of 1972. Note the "flag" tail carried straight and set on high at the croup. The croup is level and long and smoothly transitions to the short back. The body is deep, cannons are straight and short, hocks show great action and power, driving from behind. The horse has an overall elevated and animated action that is powerful, yet light and elastic. The horse's expression is alert and the horse moves with a sense of dignity and nobility of character.
Photo: Johnny Johnston
Photo: Johnny Johnston
Shams Majiida MA
This photo was taken in the late summer 2011. Although the angle is slightly different than the previous photo of Bint Bint Moniet, you can see the distinct similarities of type and conformation of these two Asil horses that were born over thirty years apart. Majiida's sire, El Majiid is by Ansata Ibn Halima, a son of Nazeer so the two share common desert anscestors and the prepotency of the bloodline is evident.
Photo: Nancy Pierce Photo
Photo: Nancy Pierce Photo
*Romanaa II
*Romanaa II was imported and bred to *Morafic to produce Dalia++, the dam of Imperial Imdal. Her tail female strain is Kuhaylah Rodania and you can see the striking resemblence of these two mares who exemplify the K. Rodania "type".
Shams Majiida MA
Although Majiida is slightly "stretched" in her halter pose in this photograph, it's obvious the similarities of type and overall balance in her conformation and that of her relative *Romanaa II, pictured above.
Photographer: Unknown
Photographer: Unknown
El Majiid (Ans. Ibn Halima x Ans. Jellabia)
Johnny Johnston Photo |
Shams Majiida MA by El Majiid
Photo: Nancy Pierce 2011 |
Overall Type:
Exerpts From the Pyramid Society On Breed Standard
TYPE: This is the totality of qualities that makes a horse an Arabian horse: The exquisite head and high tail carriage, dignity, vigour, elegance and refined power, a short back and well laid-back shoulder, standing over a lot of ground, strong and clean legs with very hard hoof-a hallmark of the breed-Free and expressive action with natural balance...
He is a perfect animal; He is not large here nor small there. There is a balance and harmony throughout his frame not seen in any other horse... the quintessence of all good qualities in a compact form.
~R.D. Upton~
The Arabian should present the appearance of short coupling and great weight-carrying capacity for his height, holding his head and tail high, with alert bearing and arched neck and show action with stability.
~W.R. Brown~
TYPE: This is the totality of qualities that makes a horse an Arabian horse: The exquisite head and high tail carriage, dignity, vigour, elegance and refined power, a short back and well laid-back shoulder, standing over a lot of ground, strong and clean legs with very hard hoof-a hallmark of the breed-Free and expressive action with natural balance...
He is a perfect animal; He is not large here nor small there. There is a balance and harmony throughout his frame not seen in any other horse... the quintessence of all good qualities in a compact form.
~R.D. Upton~
The Arabian should present the appearance of short coupling and great weight-carrying capacity for his height, holding his head and tail high, with alert bearing and arched neck and show action with stability.
~W.R. Brown~
Manners:
He is of extraordinary docility and absolute loyalty to his master; possesses innate courage and an infallible memory... even in the most frightening din of battle, he retains his coolness and presence of mind.
~Th. Brown~
All of his visual and functional beauty is crowned by a gentleness and affection for man that springs from a courageous and noble spirit.
~S.B. Burgess~
~Th. Brown~
All of his visual and functional beauty is crowned by a gentleness and affection for man that springs from a courageous and noble spirit.
~S.B. Burgess~
Presence:
...A most intelligent and yet singularly gentle look full-eye...an air and step that seem to say, "look at me"...
~W.G. Palgrave~
The Arabian horse should always show a proud bearing in its movement. High nobility and great energy should immediately be obvious as the horse begins to move... its charisma unfolds in its free, unchecked movements with a beautiful, high head carriage. The perfect arch of an elegantly carried tail adds a finishing touch to the overall impression.
~O. Saengar~
The authentic Arabian horse should present the overall appearance of dignity and nobility, capable of showing off her extreme charismatic action and pride in her own beauty, while also maintaining her bold and loyal character.
~L. Weinrich~
~W.G. Palgrave~
The Arabian horse should always show a proud bearing in its movement. High nobility and great energy should immediately be obvious as the horse begins to move... its charisma unfolds in its free, unchecked movements with a beautiful, high head carriage. The perfect arch of an elegantly carried tail adds a finishing touch to the overall impression.
~O. Saengar~
The authentic Arabian horse should present the overall appearance of dignity and nobility, capable of showing off her extreme charismatic action and pride in her own beauty, while also maintaining her bold and loyal character.
~L. Weinrich~
Color
A Brief Note About Color:
Many breeders focus a lot on color, breeding for a particular color or color combination, breeding to minimize white, etc. I feel that as we live in modern times we have the luxury of these particulars and it's too easy to forget the most important aspects and traits that made our Al Khamsa horses so special and unique. In other words, we don't have to depend upon our horses for survival, transportation and battle, so we become more particular about things like markings and certain coat colors. By breeding too selectively we see a reduction in genetic diversity which is undoubtedly detrimental to our already limited gene pool. Everyone will have a personal color preference and the responsibility then lies with the breeders who are "preserving" the horses for future generations. By keeping as broad a range and diversity of colors within our Al Khamsa bloodlines we have but one more tool to maintain the most possible amount of genetic diversity.
While some horses may have trouble with excessive white on the nose, muzzle and face, the above Al Khamsa mare seems particularly immune to sunburn... perhaps the "survival of the fittest" law of nature was at work in creating a horse with a lot of white and none of the problems associated with it!
That said, if you are breeding and attempting a particular color never sacrifice conformation in order to achieve that color. The rarest horses are those with exceptional conformation and ideal color whatever your preference may be! :)
Many breeders focus a lot on color, breeding for a particular color or color combination, breeding to minimize white, etc. I feel that as we live in modern times we have the luxury of these particulars and it's too easy to forget the most important aspects and traits that made our Al Khamsa horses so special and unique. In other words, we don't have to depend upon our horses for survival, transportation and battle, so we become more particular about things like markings and certain coat colors. By breeding too selectively we see a reduction in genetic diversity which is undoubtedly detrimental to our already limited gene pool. Everyone will have a personal color preference and the responsibility then lies with the breeders who are "preserving" the horses for future generations. By keeping as broad a range and diversity of colors within our Al Khamsa bloodlines we have but one more tool to maintain the most possible amount of genetic diversity.
While some horses may have trouble with excessive white on the nose, muzzle and face, the above Al Khamsa mare seems particularly immune to sunburn... perhaps the "survival of the fittest" law of nature was at work in creating a horse with a lot of white and none of the problems associated with it!
That said, if you are breeding and attempting a particular color never sacrifice conformation in order to achieve that color. The rarest horses are those with exceptional conformation and ideal color whatever your preference may be! :)
