Spanish Horses (Andalusians), Lusitanos, Shagyas – Fantasia

Andalusian’s  most common coat color is gray, although they can be found in many other colors. They are known for their intelligence, sensitivity and docility. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses Kumoterki

The Arabian is a versatile breed. Arabians dominate the discipline of endurance riding, and compete today in many other fields of equestrian activity.  Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses

Arabian horses have refined, wedge-shaped heads, a broad forehead, large eyes, large nostrils, and small muzzles. Most display a distinctive concave or “dished” profile. Many Arabians also have a slight forehead bulge between their eyes, called the jibbah by the Bedouin, that adds additional sinus capacity, believed to have helped the Arabian horse in its native dry desert climate.  Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – horse and dog

Throughout history, Arabian horses spread around the world by both war and trade, used to improve other breeds by adding speed, refinement, endurance, and strong bone. Today, Arabian bloodlines are found in almost every modern breed of riding horse. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Spanish Horses (Andalusians), Lusitanos, Shagyas  - Conquistador

It has been known for its prowess as a war horse, and was prized by the nobility. The breed was used as a tool of diplomacy by the Spanish government, and kings across Europe rode and owned Spanish horses. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses Racing

With the rise of light cavalry, the stamina and agility of horses with Arabian blood gave an enormous military advantage to any army who possessed them. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – The Pair

Fiery war horses with dished faces and high-carried tails were popular artistic subjects in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, often depicted pulling chariots in war or for hunting. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – Winter

Arabians dominate the sport of endurance riding because of their stamina. They are the leading breed in competitions such as the Tevis Cup that can cover up to 100 miles (160 km) in a day,  and they participate in  endurance events worldwide Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – The Stallion’s Attack

Another breed characteristic with Arabian horses is an arched neck with a large, well-set windpipe set on a refined, clean throatlatch. This structure of the poll and throatlatch was called the mitbah or mitbeh by the Bedouin. In the best Arabians it is long, allowing flexibility in the bridle and room for the windpipe. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – Follow me

Other distinctive features are a relatively long, level croup, or top of the hindquarters, and naturally high tail carriage.  Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – Entrance of Dragon

Like other hot-bloods, Arabians’ sensitivity and intelligence enable quick learning and greater communication with their riders; however, their intelligence also allows them to learn bad habits as quickly as good ones, and they do not tolerate inept or abusive training practices. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Spanish Horses (Andalusians), Lusitanos, Shagyas – UFO

Andalusians are known for their agility and their ability to learn difficult moves quickly, such as advanced collection and turns on the haunches. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – The Flock

Although many Arabians appear “white”, they are not. A white hair coat is usually created by the natural action of the gray gene, and virtually all “white” Arabians are actually grays. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Spanish Horses (Andalusians), Lusitanos, Shagyas – Flamenco

Strongly built, and compact yet elegant, Andalusians have long, thick manes and tails. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – Con Fuoco

A Bedouin story states that Allah created the Arabian horse from the four winds; spirit from the North, strength from the South, speed from the East, and intelligence from the West. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses

Arabians are one of the oldest human-developed horse breeds in the world. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Spanish Horses (Andalusians), Lusitanos, Shagyas – Impressionist

Generally standing between 62 – 66 inches, (157 and 168 cm) high, Andalusian horses are both elegant and strongly built.  Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Spanish Horses (Andalusians), Lusitanos, Shagyas - Real Escuela Andaluza Del Arte Ecuestre

At the 2002 World Equestrian Games, two Andalusians were on the bronze-medal winning Spanish dressage team, a team that went on to take the silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics (not the team in the image). Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Spanish Horses (Andalusians), Lusitanos, Shagyas – Shagya

Historically, however, the Andalusians were also used as stock horses, especially suited to working with Iberian bulls, known for their aggressive temperaments. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – Portrait

Horses with refined heads and high-carried tails were depicted in artwork, particularly that of Ancient Egypt in the 16th century BC Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – The End of the Battle

With the rise of light cavalry, the stamina and agility of horses with Arabian blood gave an enormous military advantage to any army who possessed them. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – Senses

Today there are more Arabians registered in North America than in the rest of the world put together. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – The Elements

Several Arabians, mostly of Polish breeding, were captured from Nazi Germany and imported to the U.S.A. following World War II. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – Carnival

In the 1980s, Arabians became a popular status symbol and were marketed similarly to fine art. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – Time… Like River

Prices skyrocketed, especially in the United States, with a record-setting public auction price for a mare named NH Love Potion, who sold for $2.55 million in 1984, and the largest syndication in history for an Arabian stallion, Padron, at $11,000,000 (neither in this picture). Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – Crocodylus Palustris

By 2003, a survey found that 67% of purebred Arabian horses in America are owned for recreational riding purposes. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – Messenger of Fall

The origin of the purebred Arabian horse was the Arabian desert, and all Arabians ultimately trace their lineage to this source. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – In the Dance

A Purebred Arabian horse is one which appears in any purebred Arabian Stud Book or Register listed by WAHO as acceptable. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – Brave and Proud

Arabians are versatile horses that compete in many equestrian fields, including horse racing, the horse show disciplines of saddle seat, Western pleasure, and hunt seat, as well as dressage, cutting, reining,endurance riding, show jumping, eventing, youth events such as equitation, and others. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – Who Stole Plinth?!

Arabian horses are used as pleasure riding, trail riding, and working ranch horses for those who are not interested in competition. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – Portrait

Arabians are involved in a wide variety of activities, including fairs, movies, parades, circuses and other places where horses are showcased. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses

Arabians are mascots for football teams, performing crowd-pleasing activities on the field and sidelines. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Andalusian Horse and Trainer

Andalusians today are used for show jumping, western pleasure and many other classes at horse shows. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Andalusian Horses – Attractive Guy

The dramatic appearance of the Andalusian horse, with its arched neck, muscular build and energetic gaits, has made it a popular breed to use in film, particularly in historical and fantasy epics. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Arabian Horses – Fire

Arabians also are used on search and rescue teams and occasionally for police work. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Andalusian Horses – Caramba

Andalusians have been present in films ranging from Gladiator to Interview with a Vampire, and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life to Braveheart. The horses have also been seen in such fantasy epics as The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, King Arthur, and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Image Credit: Wojtek Kwiatkowski