Anglo-Arabian horse
Modified: 30-11--0001 00:00:00
THE ANGLO-ARAB results from the crossing of the two pre-eminent horse breeds: the Thoroughbred , and its ancestor the Arab. It originated in the UK, where the Thoroughbred was developed in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, of course, it is bred in many other countries, especially in France, which has specialized in the production of hard, versatile Anglo-Arab horses for over 150 years. Both the UK and France recognize the cross as a composite breed, but they differ in the requirements that have to be met for entry into the respective stud books.
In the UK, an Anglo-Arab is a cross between than pure-breds of either breed. A Thoroughbred stallion and an Arab mare, or vice-versa, with their subsequent re-crossing. These two are the only strains in the pedigree and to obtain entry in the stud book a horse must be able to claim a minimum of 12 1/2 per cent Arab blood.
The UK produces some very high-quality Anglo-Arabs, but on very minimal scale in comparison with the large, well-organized French operation. The popular practice of British breeders and others is to put an Arab stallion to a Thoroughbred mare, if the progeny are likely to be larger than either parent. The opposite combination, the mating of a Thoroughbred sire with an Arab dam, is thought to result in smaller offspring, which are of less value.
THE ANGLO-ARABS IN FRANCE
The main breeding centers for the French Anglo-Arabs are at Pompadour, Tarbes, Pau, and Gelos. Although the French allow more breeding permutations, the requirement for stud book entry is still at least 25 per cent Arab blood, with only Anglo-Arab, Arab, or Thoroughbred ancestry.
The French Anglo-Arab owes its pre-eminence to the encouragement given by the long-established national studs. These have been the principal factor in horse-breeding since they were first created in the 17th century by Louis XIV's minister, Colbert. Initially they supplied the royal stables, but with the arrival of Napoleon Bonaparte at the end of the 18th century their functions began to include providing cavalry remounts for his campaigns. Central to the breeding systems employed were desert-bred Arabs, largely from Syria and Tunisia, which were crossed with native mares.
BREEDING AND SELECTION
'Thoroughbred blood was introduced to 'reach horses rather imprudently in 1830, but in 1836 systematic breeding began at 'pompadour in France. It was based on the progeny of two principal Arab stallions, Massoud ad Aslan (who was described as a Turk), and three Thoroughbred foundation mares, Dair, Common Mare, and Selim Mare. A rigorous system of selection based on performance, stamina, and conformation was built into the early breeding policies and persists to this day. Additionally, a racing programme, confined to the breed, has been evolved to provide a further means of selection according to performance. There are over 30 annual race meetings for Anglo-Arabs, as well as jumping and cross-country tests for the breed. Some of the cross-country trials take place over the formidable bank country of Pau.
In theory the crossing of the Arab with the related Thoroughbred should result in the ideal riding horse, suited to the modern competitive disciplines of show jumping, dressage, and eventing. The Thoroughbred gives size, improved scope, and a more appropriate action, while the Arab confers a level, manageable temperament, together with inherently sound limbs and constitution, intelligence, and unsurpassed qualities of endurance and stamina.
CHARACTERISTICS
The modern Anglo-Arab of French breeding may be a trifle less elegant than its British counterpart, but it is a tough, hard, enormously versatile horse, well-proven in the Olympic disciplines. The ones bred at Pompadour are, in general, larger and more muscular, but all the French stock are athletic types with pronounced jumping ability and notable correctness of action. In appearance they tend far more towards the thoroughbred than towards the Arab, with a straight rather than concave head profile, a longer neck (indicative of greater speed), more prominent withers, and very oblique, powerful shoulders. However, the frame is usually more solid than that of the Thoroughbred, and the croup is longer and more horizontal. Obviously, the Anglo-Arab is not as fast as the Thoroughbred, but it has far greater jumping ability. It is also well-suited to dressage, on account of both its temperament and its natural paces.
The best French Anglo-Arabs have between 25 and 45 per cent Arab blood; many of France's Olympic and international medals have been won by such Anglo-Arabs.
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