Spectacular Horses

With its refined head, curved neck, high tail carriage and floating movement, the Arab is the stuff of romance. Add to that its exotic eastern origins, its courage, agility, loyalty and intelligence, it's no wonder the Arab has long been prized, inspiring both poetry and war.

Bred in the Arabian desert for millennia, the Bedouins' horses were their wealth and their pride, and the purity of the breed was jealously guarded. In a harsh environment where sweltering days, freezing nights and little water allowed only the strongest to survive, horse and human shared their meagre rations and came to rely on each other.

Along with new ideas in mathematics, science and architecture, the Moorish invasions of Europe from the seventh century also brought the beginning of a revolution in horse breeding. Their fast, tough mounts with legendary stamina began to be used to upgrade the native stock.

Though not easily parted from their Bedouin breeders, further importations of the desert horses trickled into Europe over the centuries. Among the most notable were the Darley Arabian, Byerley Turk and Godolphin Arabian, three stallions who were the foundation of the English thoroughbred.

In the meantime, Arab blood continued to be used to improve Europe's horses, from ponies to Percherons, war horses to warmbloods. But it wasn't until rising fortunes in the west combined with the devastations of climate and warfare in the Arabian peninsula that the Bedouin chiefs considered selling more horses, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Wealthy Europeans and Americans were then able to buy quality horses to set up their own purebred studs, enabling the breed to be maintained while its fortunes were flagging in its original home. Influential players included Lady Anne and Wilfred Blunt, who set up the Crabbet Stud in Sussex, England. The horses they bred went on to become foundation stock for Arab breeders all over the world, notably in New Zealand and Australia.

New Zealand breeders are still widening the gene pool in this country via imports, made easier these days through embryo transplants and frozen semen. Breeding is regulated by the New Zealand Arab Horse Breeders' Society, whose brief is to ensure the continued purity of the breed. A number of studs are scattered throughout the country, including several in the Franklin area.

Once used for many purposes, from racing to stock work, pig sticking to steeplechasing, the versatility for which Arabs were formerly so highly prized is now, sadly, seldom exploited. Other horses can run faster, jump higher, piaffe more powerfully, though it is arguable that those abilities may well derive from their Arab ancestors.

One field in which Arabs indisputably rule the roost, however, is endurance riding, where their desert heritage gives them the stamina to outlast any other breed. New Zealand has been internationally successful in this field, several times sending teams to the world championships and winning gold in 1998.

Ironically, the wheel has come full circle, with middle east buying power now dominating the sport while providing a good market for our home bred horses. Chinese interest is also high in our show horses, with sales of top stud stock raising the profile – and the value - of New Zealand-bred horses in recent years.

Locals have the chance to enjoy Arabs on the weekend of December 2nd and 3rd, at Showfields Equestrian Centre, Te Kauwhata, when the cream of the North Island's purebred and derivative Arab horses will be on display. Hosted by the Auckland Arabian Horse Club for the last 26 years, the Arabian Spectacular incorporates the North Island Championships so the stakes will be high as horses and handlers vie for titles.

The led classes on the Saturday and ridden classes on Sunday will be judged by Debbie Taylor Theis, a top Australian judge who has been involved with Arab horses for over 30 years, breeding, showing, judging and occasionally still competing. She has produced champions in halter, performance and dressage.

The chance to view these beautiful horses is one not to be passed up. Two classes in particular provide entertainment and excitement for spectators on Sunday, 3 December. The working Arab class tests horses' agility and riders' mettle as they negotiate a series of deviously devised obstacles, with some interesting results. But the piece de resistance is the costume class, with riders and mounts bedecked in colourful Bedouin-inspired outfits as they gallop round the ring, truly embodying the spectacular.

With no worries about the weather inside the covered arena, it will be a weekend to remember for all.

In a separate box

Not Your Ordinary Horse

 Arabs are the world's oldest and purest breed, said to have originated with Noah's great-great grandson 3200 years ago.

 Desert raised Arabs were fed dates and camels' milk, and lived closely with their human family.

 Bedouin warriors rode mares into battle – stallions were too noisy.

 Arab horses have one less set of ribs, one less lumbar vertebra and one less tail vertebra than other breeds.

 The head has a concave profile, large eyes set lower than in other breeds, and tapers from a broad forehead to a small muzzle.

 Colours include grey, bay, chestnut and occasionally black.

 Heights average around 14.2-15hh, but Arabs have great weight carrying capacity.

 Hooves and bone are very dense and hard.