The beauty of the Arabian horse has been celebrated for thousands of years. The earliest tributes were recorded in the  “Golden Odes” written by the most famous pre-Islamic poets.
The Arabian horse is considered the world’s oldest breed. Most researchers believe a type of horse, known as the proto-Arabian, originated in the Fertile Crescent and the horse appeared at a much later time, around 300-400 BC, in the Arabian Peninsula. However, no proof exists of a connection between the horses of Ancient Egypt and the distinct breed later developed in Arabia. The unique qualities of the Arabian breed stem from centuries of adaptation to the harsh conditions of the desert under the watchful eye of the Bedouins, regarded as the greatest horse breeders of all time: “The Bedouins jealously guarded the purity of their horses, observing that judicious breeding was the key to maintaining the physical attributes and character required of their mounts” says Cynthia Culbertson, in the informative introduction.
The horses’ exceptional friendly and faithful character is derived from the way they were reared over the centuries, by their Bedouin breeders. Arabian horses have feelings, and they form bonds with their owners and stay loyal to them for the rest of their lives.
Arabian horses are also praised for their exceptional features such as arched necks, short backs, well-sprung ribs and deep chests, which provide strength and stamina to cover long distances. The veins, bones and tendons appearing under a fine skin, give the Arabian horse, its regal sculptural appearance. When it is arched, the graceful and slender neck expresses the stallion’s pride while he is showing himself in front of an audience or other horses.
Their triangular shaped heads are exceptionally beautiful with their chiseled look. This appearance is due to the skin which becomes tighter as an Arabian grows from foal to adult. However, the large, expressive eyes, with their almost human spark, remain the most striking feature.
According to Nasr El-Marei, “anyone who has the good fortune to be close to these horses, it is always the eyes that capture and hold full attention. They truly show the soul of this wonderful creature with its intellect, gentleness, and curiosity to know and understand everything that it sees. The Arabian horse can hold you with the force of his gaze”.
The Arabian horse entered Egypt during the conquest of Egypt in 639 CE and, became a part of the country’s history. This was the first time in Islamic history that a military campaign was conducted with a cavalry. In time, Egypt became a breeding center for the classic Arabian type of pure desert descent. Although Egyptian Arabians represent only four percent of the total Arabian horse population, it has become the source for the classic Arabian horse.
The Arabian peninsula is currently, witnessing a rebirth of Arabian horse breeding; a growing number of people realize that the Arabian horse is an essential part of Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage. Moreover, Arabs have always had a deep connection to their horses and many want to open their own stables and breed horses
“Far-sighted breeders began seeking horses that would once again ensure that the Arabian Peninsula was home to the best Arabian bloodlines. An overwhelming majority of these breeders turned to the Egyptian Arabian to provide their foundation bloodstock recognizing that these horses were the world’s best remaining source of pure desert blood,” says Cynthia Culbertson.
In the foreword, Princess Alia Bint Al-Hussein of Jordan praises the book for its “tantalizing taste of the magic that is the Arabian horse”. El-Marei whose Albadeia Stud is the oldest registered farm in Egypt (1835)  provides the superb pictures which capture that ‘magic’. He is the co-founder of the Egyptian Arabian Horse Breeders Association.
Born into a family with a prosperous farm, El-Marei acknowledges that horses were always a part of his life: “It was not unusual for me to wander into one of the horse stalls with my breakfast when I was four years old… This initial interest blossomed through the years into a full-blown love of the horse.”
In the mide-1990s, he retired from the academic and business worlds and decided to devote the rest of his life to breeding and living with, and for, the Arabian horse.
The amazing selection of photographs highlights the unique characteristics of the Arabian horse which evoke the dramatic events that have shaped its distinctive nature. For thousands of years, horses had to find ways to survive in the harsh desert environment of Najd, the heart of Saudi Arabia: “A substantial part of the beauty of the Arabian horse is its utility. Its refined beauty can seem a contradiction to the hardiness of the breed. However, you cannot separate its overall appearance from its adaptability and survival skills,” explains El-Marei.
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