Arabians - Softcover

The oldest breed of horse in the world, the Arabian's beginnings are anything but humble. Born, according to ancient Arab tales, of the south wind, coming from Hoshabeh, now Yemen:

To create the Arab horse, God spoke to the south wind: 'I will create from you a being which will be a happiness to the good and a misfortune to the bad. Happiness shall be on its forehead, bounty on it back and joy in the possessor.'

Such passion is not unusual when it comes to talking about the Arab--a passion that authors Peter Upton and Hossein Amirsadeghi, along with photographers Rik van Lent, Senior and Junior, lovingly share in Arabians: The Classic Arabian Horse. Both a stunning photographic journey--comprised of over 250 full-colour photographs and arranged by geographical area--and a fascinating history lesson, the authors begin with a thorough examination of the horse's origins, dating back to 1700 BC and boasting such notable historical figures as the Prophet Mohammed and the Queen of Sheba, as well as the breed's growing popularity outside of the Arab world, which first took form in the last half of the seventeenth century and "reached a high point in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries." Other areas of discussion include the distinct features and characteristics of the breed (its exquisite head and high tail carriage as well as its "vigour, courage and great powers of endurance") and the numerous strains and sub-strains of the breed, which, when combined with a glossary of Arabic terms and a complete listing of Arabian horse organisations, registries, and societies, truly makes Arabians the "definitive book on this revered breed." --Stefanie Hargreaves

celebrates the world's oldest breed of horses. Edited by Hossein Amirsadeghi and introduced by the president of the United Arab Emirates, H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin-Sultan al-Nahyan, the book lavishly incorporates paintings and drawings, as well as numerous photographs by Rik van Lent Sr. and Jr. The clear, if rather dry, text and captions by Peter Upton and Amirsadeghi detail the horse's origins, characteristics and history. Horse lovers will dote on the impressive, handsome volume. Color photographs.