Starting with the birth of Islam by the Prophet Mohammed around 600 A.
D.
, Arabia underwent a vast change in culture.
Fired with an intense passion over their new-found Islamic faith, Arab warriors tore through the desert, mounted on Arabian horses, spreading the word of their Prophet.
These fiery war horses, having evolved in harsh desert climates, were graceful yet powerful and magnificent in the heat of battle.
During this time, these horses helped Arab warriors spread Islam across the Middle East, North Africa, the Mediterranean countries as far west as Spain and others as far east as China.
This was the introduction of Arabian horses and their transcending beauty to other parts of the world.
Muslim invasions weren't the only way that Arabian horses reached Europe.
During the Crusades, starting in 1095 A.
D.
, European armies invaded Palestine.
These religiously-sanctioned military campaigns were waged by Christian Europe to restore Christian control to the Holy Land and they were fought over a period of nearly 200 years.
Upon return to Europe from the Middle East, many knights brought Arab horses with them as part of the spoils of war.
Eventually, knights and heavy armor became obsolete; a faster, lighter, more agile horse was needed.
The robust, speedy Arabian horse fit the bill and they were in high demand for use as cavalry mounts.
In subsequent wars during this period, the Arabian proved its superiority as an outstanding military mount.
One major infusion of Arabian horses into Europe occurred when the Ottoman Turks sent over 300,000 horsemen into Hungary in 1522.
Many Turks, who were mounted on pure-blooded Arabian, were captured during raids into Arabia.
By 1529, the Ottomans reached Vienna, where they were stopped by the Polish and Hungarian armies.
The Ottoman calvary was defeated and their Arab horses were taken, again as part of the spoils of war.
Later on, people of the western world began to look to the Middle East for Arabian bloodstock.
Between 1683 and 1730, a revolution in horse breeding was touched off when three Arabian stallions were imported to England.
The imported horses were a Darley Arabian, a Byerly Turk and a Godolphin Arabian.
These three imports eventually founded the Thoroughbred breed which is known today for its use in horse racing.
Just as Arabian horses, Thoroughbreds are considered a "hot-blooded" horse, known for their agility, speed, and spirit.
The majority of all modern Thoroughbreds can be traced back to these three Arabian sires.
By direct infusion, and through the blood of the Thoroughbred, the Arabian has contributed in some form to all of our "light" breed of horses.
Later, in the 1800's, travelers during the Victorian era were enchanted with these "horses of the desert".
This led to the founding of many Arabian stud farms throughout Europe.
The royal families of Poland, kings of Germany, and other European nations established a number of notable studs.
Also during this time, Lady Anne Blunt and Wilfred Blunt led a historical journey into the desert to obtain Egyptian and desert stock.
This led to the founding of the world-famous Crabbet Arabian horse breed which was founded in England.
This stud eventually provided the foundation horses for many countries, including: Russia, Poland, Australia, North and South America, and Egypt.
By the late 1800's, the popularity of Arabian horses in Europe was exponentially growing.
It would be only a matter of time before the Arabian horse would take America by storm
D.
, Arabia underwent a vast change in culture.
Fired with an intense passion over their new-found Islamic faith, Arab warriors tore through the desert, mounted on Arabian horses, spreading the word of their Prophet.
These fiery war horses, having evolved in harsh desert climates, were graceful yet powerful and magnificent in the heat of battle.
During this time, these horses helped Arab warriors spread Islam across the Middle East, North Africa, the Mediterranean countries as far west as Spain and others as far east as China.
This was the introduction of Arabian horses and their transcending beauty to other parts of the world.
Muslim invasions weren't the only way that Arabian horses reached Europe.
During the Crusades, starting in 1095 A.
D.
, European armies invaded Palestine.
These religiously-sanctioned military campaigns were waged by Christian Europe to restore Christian control to the Holy Land and they were fought over a period of nearly 200 years.
Upon return to Europe from the Middle East, many knights brought Arab horses with them as part of the spoils of war.
Eventually, knights and heavy armor became obsolete; a faster, lighter, more agile horse was needed.
The robust, speedy Arabian horse fit the bill and they were in high demand for use as cavalry mounts.
In subsequent wars during this period, the Arabian proved its superiority as an outstanding military mount.
One major infusion of Arabian horses into Europe occurred when the Ottoman Turks sent over 300,000 horsemen into Hungary in 1522.
Many Turks, who were mounted on pure-blooded Arabian, were captured during raids into Arabia.
By 1529, the Ottomans reached Vienna, where they were stopped by the Polish and Hungarian armies.
The Ottoman calvary was defeated and their Arab horses were taken, again as part of the spoils of war.
Later on, people of the western world began to look to the Middle East for Arabian bloodstock.
Between 1683 and 1730, a revolution in horse breeding was touched off when three Arabian stallions were imported to England.
The imported horses were a Darley Arabian, a Byerly Turk and a Godolphin Arabian.
These three imports eventually founded the Thoroughbred breed which is known today for its use in horse racing.
Just as Arabian horses, Thoroughbreds are considered a "hot-blooded" horse, known for their agility, speed, and spirit.
The majority of all modern Thoroughbreds can be traced back to these three Arabian sires.
By direct infusion, and through the blood of the Thoroughbred, the Arabian has contributed in some form to all of our "light" breed of horses.
Later, in the 1800's, travelers during the Victorian era were enchanted with these "horses of the desert".
This led to the founding of many Arabian stud farms throughout Europe.
The royal families of Poland, kings of Germany, and other European nations established a number of notable studs.
Also during this time, Lady Anne Blunt and Wilfred Blunt led a historical journey into the desert to obtain Egyptian and desert stock.
This led to the founding of the world-famous Crabbet Arabian horse breed which was founded in England.
This stud eventually provided the foundation horses for many countries, including: Russia, Poland, Australia, North and South America, and Egypt.
By the late 1800's, the popularity of Arabian horses in Europe was exponentially growing.
It would be only a matter of time before the Arabian horse would take America by storm
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