Evolution of the Arabian Horse Breed

Around the turn of the nineteenth/twentieth century, the single-origin theory of Equus Caballus-- the first horse-- was reversed through discoveries of J. Cossar Ewart of Edinburgh. He made a series of hybridization experiments published in 1904 that proved several Equus foundations rather than one.

Following research and studies by later prehistorians refined his theories with the advantage of carbon dating, radiology and the discovery of archeological finds made since Ewart's day. A current accepted theory states that four species of horse existed at the dawn of civilization:

Equus przewalski, the prehistoric horse of Central Asia;

Equus tarpanus, the dun horse of Russia;

Equus robustus, the cold-blooded horse of Europe; and

Equus agillis, the hot-blooded pony sized horse of Africa.

This latter is bred into a multitude of domestic races, endowing them with many of its qualities, not the least of which is beauty. The Arabian horse of today, say these theorists, is one and the same as Equus agillis. This not only makes the Arabian the oldest breed inthe world, but also a distinct sub-species of horse in and of itself.