TYPES OF ARABIAN HORSES 47 



the right influence, have proved that sometimes gold wins, 

 despite the Sultan and the wily horse-copers of the desert.' 



Because of their scarcity, any prejudice against them 

 must be founded on ignorance? 



'Ah, yes, ignorance is a quality which "knows it all," and 

 to proclaim that they have deteriorated is due to the same 

 cause. The pedigree which boasts an ancestry of great 

 deeds and lengthy traditions, is as jealously guarded by 

 the haughty sheiks now as in form.er days.' 



But they are brought out once in a while, although the 

 Sultan, considering he doesn't own any, has forbidden the 

 export of the ' true air-drinker ' ? 



' It has been always as much the result of good luck as 

 good management when a purchase has been negotiated. 

 In the times of Abd-el-Kadir fine stallions even were scarce 

 in the Sahara, while to secure an Arab mare was to employ 

 stratagem, which would be considered unworthy in any 

 other trade than horse-dealing.' 



But aside from the many fine points you have mentioned, 

 why are they so coveted and valuable ? 



' Because the Arab horse is the primitive blood cause, 

 and has successfully withstood the tests of in-breeding for 

 many centuries. Experience for many decades has so fully 

 justified the production of the Anglo-Arabian thorough- 

 bred, that to reproduce it new blood must be infused, for 

 which new importations of the Arab are necessary.' 



Is the name Anglo-Arab arbitrary ? 



'The English discovered, some two centuries ago, that 

 with their native horses, together with the blood of the 

 "Eastern horses," they were creating several distinct types. 

 Among these was the racehorse, which soon became the 

 favourite type, and received the most attention. In due 



