The Pure Arab Horse in Portugal
The country with the oldest unchanged frontier lines of Europe,
isolated like an island on the continent's extreme west, looking out
onto the Atlantic, Portugal, from its beginnings, is a country of
horsemen, where the horse has always been considered an ally and a
friend.
With such a great tradition, it is not surprising that the Portuguese have always worshipped the Pure Arab Horse with the mysticism of his own origin, the charm of his conformation, his vivacity, nobility, intelligence and generous character and his improving influence on every other major breed.
Nobody knows exactly when the Arab Horse was introduced into the Iberian Peninsula, but there is no doubt that this happened no later thab 711, when the Islamic invasion brought to Portugal numerous Oriental horses which certainly left their mark, since the Arab presence in the extreme South of Portugal lasted up to the 12th century (1248).
During the 16th century, as a result of the extraordinary Portuguese expansion in the world, Portugal dominated many Oriental markets, bringing back to the country the rarest things they found. Why not the Arab Horse? Does not the famous historian Damião de Góis (1502-1574) give an account of the gifts sent by King Manuel I to His Holiness Pope Leo X, reporting that along with spices, jewellery "which in the memory of mankind had never been seen before" and elephants, they included a "puma on a gold embroidered blanket which covered the croup of a magnificent Persian horse"? And to confirm that it was usual for the King of Portugal to receive Oriental horses as gifts, does not the same writer also give an account of a splendid Persian Horse which was sent as a present by the King of Ormuz?
From the 18th century the oriental horses distinguished themselves, particularly in Great Britain, where they gave rise to the English Thoroughbred, in Russia to the Orloff, and in the 19th century in France, to the Anglo-Arab. In this country, the Napoleonian campaign of Egypt increased this tendency, bringing back to the French court the Arab Horse fashion, the Emperor's favourite. Thus, most of Europe was invaded by Oriental stallions, a fashion that did not exclude Portugal as is recorded in various documents of imports made from Egypt and Constantinople in 1812, 1861, 1867, 1872 and 1876.
Of these, there are no known pure descendants, and for history of the Arab Horse in Portugal, only the purchases made in 1902 and in 1903 in Beirut, Constantinople and Djeddah are of interest since their progeny are still represented nowadays. On that occasion three stallions (Fehran, Dehiman and Nemyr) and four broodmares (Saada, Nazly, Fhara I and Fhara II) were imported. Saada was in foal to Pakir, who left excellent progeny. The same is true for Nazly and Fehran whose descendants have reached our days in pure lineage. The extraordinary Nazly and Saada, acquired from Beih Abdel Melek, can be considered the matriarchs of the oldest purebred lines in Portugal.
In 1921 and 1935 various horses were imported from Great Britain, among them excellent horses such as Fursan and Silfire from Crabbet Park, a famous stud founded by Lady Blunt, Lord Byron's granddaughter.
In 1932 the first import from famous breeder the Duque of Verágua, descendant from Christopher Columbus took place. This purchase was completed in 1961 with the import of of the prestigious herd of mares of António Egea Delgado, also from Verágua
Many other famous lines were later introduced into Portugal, such as Comet, Wielki-Szlem, Elokuencja, Flipper, Djerba Oua, Piruet, Shazamah, Golden Sceptre, RR Magic Count, Nil, Nitochka, Pomeranets, Klinika, Jacyo, El Shaklan, Shaker El Masri, etc.
This, in order to avoid any error, always possible because of frequent use of Arab Horses to improve local breeds, no horse existing in Portugal before 1902 has been accepted and registered in the Stud Book and only those imported subsequently and their descendants have been admitted as purebred.
This rigor along with the exact Official Registers of the National Studs and APCRS, and compulsory blood typing, are an undeniable guarantee of the purity of the arab Horse in Portugal. This purity, together with the strict selection process for stallions and broodmares, not only perfectly built but also truly functional, physically and in their character, makes the Portuguese Arab Horse one of the most sought-after in the world, and certainly also one of the best.
Having always considered that the Arab has more qualities than just beauty, that he can and should be used like any other horse since he is not inferior, and taking into account that the most beautiful of horses would be just an amusement if he didn't display functional capabilities, those responsible for the breed have done everything possible to maintain the aesthetic, qualities of character and athletic abilities of the oldest and most prestigious of known breeds.
This preoccupation which is responsible for the great quality of Arab Horse breeding in Portugal since 1934 made the authorities proceed with a most rigid and unprecedented selection of its stallions and broodmares, from 1934 to 1972.
In order to prove the real value of these horses, the "Coudelaria Nacional Portuguesa" first made a preliminary selection of colts and fillies at the age of three, and of stallions at the age of six, accepting for breeding only those that obtained a reasonable classification in terms of pedigree, conformation, movement, and in performance tests. The last, at their hardest stage, consisted of:
- a cross country course of 3 000m with 15 obstacles of a maximum height of 1.20m, to be covered at a minimum speed of 600m/minute;
- a race of 2 500m, at minimum speed of 700m per minute;
- a jumping course of 12 fences with a maximum height of 1.2m;
- a road course of 70km, at a speed of 20km/h;
- a dressage test, similar to a horse trials dressage test, to evaluate the psychological and functional qualities;
- a thorough medical examination.
Obviously the horses subject to these tests were previously trained and prepared in order to take part i this physically demanding, strenuous event.
This selection, which we believe to be the toughest carried out in the world, made the Portuguese Arab Horse an exceptional, robust and beautiful horse, which has kept all his ancient qualities of character and functional abilities. That is why the officials currently in charge are applying this kind of selection again, since October 2002, in tests meant to improve the breed.
The successful results of decades of selection are proved by horses like champions Cejuba El Berana, Juxito, Ohxul Ben Biarritz, Reject Ibn Biarritz, Aicha Ibn Biarritz, Qkyjul Ibn Biarritz, Diniz met Biarritz, etc, and the many championships won in various showrings, along with various sports competitions: Champion of Champions in Mexico, Champion of Champions in Brazil, six European Champion titles, five European Vice-Champion titles, two fifth placements in World Championships and various times the biggest winners of the year in Arab horse races in France. In this last country, the Stallions Dunixi and Blaise out of Oxylla Ben Biarritz and Nacayr Ben Biarritz are stallions in the French National Stud and have produced and exceptionally good lineage, one of the most illustrious in race horses.
The Portuguese Arab Horse, many times among the best in long-distance tests, have also shown their great courage, mobility and surprising cleverness at the "Tourada" (*). Such horses as Gramático, Gibrahim, Imoral, Jasmim, Larix Ben Soljana, Urano, Valoroso, Xistre, etc, are real "stars".
It is interesting to note that many Portuguese Arab Horses participated with great success in competitions for all breeds, having obtained, amongst others, the following results in various Olympic disciplines, where we rarely see any Arab Horse.
In Showjumping: - Finalist of the "Cycle Classique", four-year-olds, Fontainebleau, France 1983
- 9th best winner in France, six-year-olds, 1985
In Dressage: - 2nd in the Paris Grand Prix, France, 1981
- 3rd in Madrid, Spain, 1984
- Champion of the international class, Portugal, 1986
- Winer of "TopEquestre", Portugal, 1986, 1987
- Selected for Olympic Games (did not participate as horse died).
In Eventing: - 3rd in the French Outdoor Championship, AA, Pau, France, 1981 (having participated with a special licence for being a purebred Arab)
- 1st in Golegã, Portugal, 1984
- 1st in Mafra, Portugal, 1984
- 1st in Mafra, Portugal, 1985
Thus, like our ancestors, who for centuries knew how to preserve the Arab Horse's unique qualities, Portugal is one of the few countries that have maintained the breed's beauty, character and functional excellence. This is our contribution to the improvement of the Arab breed, and therefore to the improvement of all arab crossed breeds
With such a great tradition, it is not surprising that the Portuguese have always worshipped the Pure Arab Horse with the mysticism of his own origin, the charm of his conformation, his vivacity, nobility, intelligence and generous character and his improving influence on every other major breed.
Nobody knows exactly when the Arab Horse was introduced into the Iberian Peninsula, but there is no doubt that this happened no later thab 711, when the Islamic invasion brought to Portugal numerous Oriental horses which certainly left their mark, since the Arab presence in the extreme South of Portugal lasted up to the 12th century (1248).
During the 16th century, as a result of the extraordinary Portuguese expansion in the world, Portugal dominated many Oriental markets, bringing back to the country the rarest things they found. Why not the Arab Horse? Does not the famous historian Damião de Góis (1502-1574) give an account of the gifts sent by King Manuel I to His Holiness Pope Leo X, reporting that along with spices, jewellery "which in the memory of mankind had never been seen before" and elephants, they included a "puma on a gold embroidered blanket which covered the croup of a magnificent Persian horse"? And to confirm that it was usual for the King of Portugal to receive Oriental horses as gifts, does not the same writer also give an account of a splendid Persian Horse which was sent as a present by the King of Ormuz?
From the 18th century the oriental horses distinguished themselves, particularly in Great Britain, where they gave rise to the English Thoroughbred, in Russia to the Orloff, and in the 19th century in France, to the Anglo-Arab. In this country, the Napoleonian campaign of Egypt increased this tendency, bringing back to the French court the Arab Horse fashion, the Emperor's favourite. Thus, most of Europe was invaded by Oriental stallions, a fashion that did not exclude Portugal as is recorded in various documents of imports made from Egypt and Constantinople in 1812, 1861, 1867, 1872 and 1876.
Of these, there are no known pure descendants, and for history of the Arab Horse in Portugal, only the purchases made in 1902 and in 1903 in Beirut, Constantinople and Djeddah are of interest since their progeny are still represented nowadays. On that occasion three stallions (Fehran, Dehiman and Nemyr) and four broodmares (Saada, Nazly, Fhara I and Fhara II) were imported. Saada was in foal to Pakir, who left excellent progeny. The same is true for Nazly and Fehran whose descendants have reached our days in pure lineage. The extraordinary Nazly and Saada, acquired from Beih Abdel Melek, can be considered the matriarchs of the oldest purebred lines in Portugal.
In 1921 and 1935 various horses were imported from Great Britain, among them excellent horses such as Fursan and Silfire from Crabbet Park, a famous stud founded by Lady Blunt, Lord Byron's granddaughter.
In 1932 the first import from famous breeder the Duque of Verágua, descendant from Christopher Columbus took place. This purchase was completed in 1961 with the import of of the prestigious herd of mares of António Egea Delgado, also from Verágua
Many other famous lines were later introduced into Portugal, such as Comet, Wielki-Szlem, Elokuencja, Flipper, Djerba Oua, Piruet, Shazamah, Golden Sceptre, RR Magic Count, Nil, Nitochka, Pomeranets, Klinika, Jacyo, El Shaklan, Shaker El Masri, etc.
This, in order to avoid any error, always possible because of frequent use of Arab Horses to improve local breeds, no horse existing in Portugal before 1902 has been accepted and registered in the Stud Book and only those imported subsequently and their descendants have been admitted as purebred.
This rigor along with the exact Official Registers of the National Studs and APCRS, and compulsory blood typing, are an undeniable guarantee of the purity of the arab Horse in Portugal. This purity, together with the strict selection process for stallions and broodmares, not only perfectly built but also truly functional, physically and in their character, makes the Portuguese Arab Horse one of the most sought-after in the world, and certainly also one of the best.
Having always considered that the Arab has more qualities than just beauty, that he can and should be used like any other horse since he is not inferior, and taking into account that the most beautiful of horses would be just an amusement if he didn't display functional capabilities, those responsible for the breed have done everything possible to maintain the aesthetic, qualities of character and athletic abilities of the oldest and most prestigious of known breeds.
This preoccupation which is responsible for the great quality of Arab Horse breeding in Portugal since 1934 made the authorities proceed with a most rigid and unprecedented selection of its stallions and broodmares, from 1934 to 1972.
In order to prove the real value of these horses, the "Coudelaria Nacional Portuguesa" first made a preliminary selection of colts and fillies at the age of three, and of stallions at the age of six, accepting for breeding only those that obtained a reasonable classification in terms of pedigree, conformation, movement, and in performance tests. The last, at their hardest stage, consisted of:
- a cross country course of 3 000m with 15 obstacles of a maximum height of 1.20m, to be covered at a minimum speed of 600m/minute;
- a race of 2 500m, at minimum speed of 700m per minute;
- a jumping course of 12 fences with a maximum height of 1.2m;
- a road course of 70km, at a speed of 20km/h;
- a dressage test, similar to a horse trials dressage test, to evaluate the psychological and functional qualities;
- a thorough medical examination.
Obviously the horses subject to these tests were previously trained and prepared in order to take part i this physically demanding, strenuous event.
This selection, which we believe to be the toughest carried out in the world, made the Portuguese Arab Horse an exceptional, robust and beautiful horse, which has kept all his ancient qualities of character and functional abilities. That is why the officials currently in charge are applying this kind of selection again, since October 2002, in tests meant to improve the breed.
The successful results of decades of selection are proved by horses like champions Cejuba El Berana, Juxito, Ohxul Ben Biarritz, Reject Ibn Biarritz, Aicha Ibn Biarritz, Qkyjul Ibn Biarritz, Diniz met Biarritz, etc, and the many championships won in various showrings, along with various sports competitions: Champion of Champions in Mexico, Champion of Champions in Brazil, six European Champion titles, five European Vice-Champion titles, two fifth placements in World Championships and various times the biggest winners of the year in Arab horse races in France. In this last country, the Stallions Dunixi and Blaise out of Oxylla Ben Biarritz and Nacayr Ben Biarritz are stallions in the French National Stud and have produced and exceptionally good lineage, one of the most illustrious in race horses.
The Portuguese Arab Horse, many times among the best in long-distance tests, have also shown their great courage, mobility and surprising cleverness at the "Tourada" (*). Such horses as Gramático, Gibrahim, Imoral, Jasmim, Larix Ben Soljana, Urano, Valoroso, Xistre, etc, are real "stars".
It is interesting to note that many Portuguese Arab Horses participated with great success in competitions for all breeds, having obtained, amongst others, the following results in various Olympic disciplines, where we rarely see any Arab Horse.
In Showjumping: - Finalist of the "Cycle Classique", four-year-olds, Fontainebleau, France 1983
- 9th best winner in France, six-year-olds, 1985
In Dressage: - 2nd in the Paris Grand Prix, France, 1981
- 3rd in Madrid, Spain, 1984
- Champion of the international class, Portugal, 1986
- Winer of "TopEquestre", Portugal, 1986, 1987
- Selected for Olympic Games (did not participate as horse died).
In Eventing: - 3rd in the French Outdoor Championship, AA, Pau, France, 1981 (having participated with a special licence for being a purebred Arab)
- 1st in Golegã, Portugal, 1984
- 1st in Mafra, Portugal, 1984
- 1st in Mafra, Portugal, 1985
Thus, like our ancestors, who for centuries knew how to preserve the Arab Horse's unique qualities, Portugal is one of the few countries that have maintained the breed's beauty, character and functional excellence. This is our contribution to the improvement of the Arab breed, and therefore to the improvement of all arab crossed breeds
by Manuel H. Dominues Heleno in Stud Book da raça Puro Sangue Árabe
(*) - The "Tourada" (Portuguese bullfight) is a show of courage and elegance, formerly performed only by noblemen. It has practically nothing to do with the Spanish corrida, as the bull will not be killed in the arena. The stars of the show are the horsemen, in their beautiful 18th century outfit and the highly schooled horses who must give proof of their exceptional bravery.
(*) - The "Tourada" (Portuguese bullfight) is a show of courage and elegance, formerly performed only by noblemen. It has practically nothing to do with the Spanish corrida, as the bull will not be killed in the arena. The stars of the show are the horsemen, in their beautiful 18th century outfit and the highly schooled horses who must give proof of their exceptional bravery.
