III. Horses

The spiritual meaning of the Arabian horse has been very high to Bedouins for hundreds of years. The care for a horse is described by the Koran as a „holy duty“.Horses are treated like a „family member“ by the Bedouins. They are a sign of greatest wealth and a topic for many conversations and poems.

Many positive characteristics are accredited to the Arabian horses. Among these are courage, patience, loyalty, docility, a quiet temper and a very good memory.

Arabian horses have the oldest tradition of pure breeding of the world. Certain laws for pure breeding were introduced by the prophet Mohamed in order to encourage the improvement of the race. The „bloodline“ of each animal is passed on by oral tradition.

In the Sultanate of Oman there are currently about 2,000 horses. Horses are highly valuable and Oman is well-known for its pure-bred Arab horses. In 1970, with His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said's accession to the Omani throne, new directives were implemented pertaining to the breeding and care of Arab horses. A horse-breeding department was set up in Salalah which concentrates on the breeding of pure-bred Arab horses.

To read more, please download "Camels, Goats and Horses - the most important livestock species in Oman" by Natacha Crozet and Julia Jawtusch.