AHSSA

Purebread Arabians

The purebred Arabian horse is renowned for its striking beauty and elegance. Key features that define an Arabian include a finely chiseled head, a dished face, a long, arching neck, and a high tail carriage. These horses exude energy, intelligence, courage, and nobility, and their famous “floating trot” displays their proud and graceful nature.

In general, Arabians have a short, straight back (usually one less vertebra than is common with other breeds), perfect balance and symmetry, a deep chest, well-sprung ribs, strong legs of thick density and a more horizontal pelvic bone position.

Here are the key breed standards:

Head: Comparatively small with a straight or slightly concave profile, large nostrils, a small muzzle, and deep jowls. The eyes are large, round, and expressive, set wide apart. Glass eyes are penalized in breeding classes.

Ears: Small, thin, and well-shaped, with tips slightly curving inward—stallions often have smaller ears than mares.

Neck & Shoulders: A long, arched neck set high, blending smoothly into moderately high withers, with long sloping shoulders that are well-muscled.

Body: Short back, broad and strong loins, well-sprung ribs, and a comparatively horizontal croup with a natural high tail carriage.

Tail: Natural high tail carriage. Viewed from rear, tail should be carried straight

Legs: Strong and muscular thighs, gaskins, and hips with well-defined large joints. Straight, sound, flat bone with sloping pasterns of good length and proportionate, round feet.

Height: Typically between 14.1 and 15.1 hands, though some individuals may vary slightly above or below.

Coat & Color: Fine coat in colors of bay, chestnut, grey, and black, with dark skin except under white markings.

Stallions should particularly exhibit vitality, animation, spirit, balance, and suppleness, embodying the Arabian’s proud and noble nature.