The History of the Spanish Arabian

The beautiful graceful Arabian horse can trace its genetic history to the seventh century.

It is known that the Arabic people, otherwise known as the Moors, were pushed out of Spain in 1492.  The Moors had occupied this country for eight hundred years.  It is known that they brought with them Arabian horses, and left them behind when they fled.   Columbus and Cortez brought horses with Arabian blood to the New World, and left them behind rather than make them suffer the arduous journey back to Spain.  Although the lineage of these horses has been lost, as early as 1847 a stud book was established by the Queen of Spain.  These old bloodlines are written in Arabic and kept in the “Golden Book” in Madrid.  The book is called:  Importado de Desierto por S.M. la Reina D. Isabella II.

In the early days of importing these horses to Spain by the government, they were considered an important war machine, and the selecting, buying, and breeding of them was done by the Department of War.  This is still true today at the Yeguada Militar of Spain.  Often the Arab blood was used to improve native stock; however, purebred horses were also produced.  From 1905-1927, groups of military officers and veterinarians were sent to Egypt, Turkey, Polish-Russia, and France in search of top bloodlines. 

From 1927-1930 the Fifteenth Duque De Veragua imported horses purchased from Lady Wentworth at Crabbet Park, and also horses bred by Cecil Hough. 

The Duque was fanatical about producing and breeding the best purebred Arabian horses, and would go to great lengths to achieve this end.   In her memoirs, a note was written that stated that Lady Wentworth regretted selling her finest Skowronek daughters to the Duque.  In 1936, during the Spanish Civil War, the Duque, his family and servants were killed, and his palace and papers, including breeding records, were burned.  Unfortunately, Veragua Stud, the all important breeding facility met the same fate.   More than seven hundred Spanish Arabians lost their lives during this war; however, some of the mares and foals were moved to safety.  Because the pedigree records were lost, many of the dam lines that can be traced back to that time, will begin with the words “Veragua mares.”

Today, Spanish Arabians are bred in breeding programs all over the world.  Because of their small gene pool, the emphasis has been placed on outcrossing them.  Spanish and Egyptian crosses are prevalent, and both the purebred and Spanish/Egyptian crossed horses have gone on to become National Champions on the Arabian Horse Show Circuit. Spanish Arabians are known to have quiet temperaments, large eyes, athletic conformation, and are highly intelligent.