[Turbo Horseman]

Hello.

I believe I have a couple of Polish Arabs. Can anyone tell me the conformation differences between the Polish, Egyptian etc?

[Sandra-A1]

There was a time when you could tell a Polish, a Spanish, an Egyptian, and an English Arabian apart just by looking at them.
That is not really possible today with the rapidly increasing interchange of breeding stock between countries and even continents. It is now difficult if not almost impossible to do so.

While people can sometimes tell a an Arabian"s sire line such as the case of Khemosabi++++ bred horses and the *Bask++ bred horses of the recent past it is practically impossible to tell if a Arabian today is Egyptian, Polish, Spanish, Crabbet....

Now you have to look at the horse's in the pedigree. If you have a straight polish bred Arabian all of the horse's in your horse's pedigree will be horse's imported from Poland or trace back to horses that in the Polish Stud Book.

If you think you do have Polish Arabians why not contact a member of the KORONA POLISH ARABIAN BREEDERS SOCIETY and ask them. I am sure one the the Korona members will be able to answer all of your questions and if you do have a Polish Arabian they will be able to tell you all about the horses in your horse's pedigree!

Here is the link to their website:
KORONA POLISH ARABIAN BREEDERS SOCIETY

(NOW the link works...sorry about that... blushing )

<small>[ March 05, 2004, 10:20 PM: Message edited by: Sandra-A1 ]</small>

[ridegrrl]

Hey Turbo

I guess I'll have to disagree with Sandra a little bit on this one (normally I think your posts are right on the money Sandra!). Although many Arabians look alike with the mixing of strains, and in those cases it is necessary to see the pedigree, there are still some discernable differences between some strains, such as straight Polish, straight Egyptian, straight Russian, and so on.

Here are some basic characteristics and features of those 3 common strains:

Polish Arabians: One of the more stoutly built Arabian strains, powerful athletes with a lot of motion(most common strain in racing, english pleasure & park horse, and even working western such as reining). Solid and close-coupled, large-boned (cannon bones are roughly round in shape), muscular, typically flat croup with powerful hindquarters, laid-back shoulder, attractive head but a somewhat less "typey" face than other strains. The stallion Sandra mentioned, *Bask, is shown below. He's generally considered the most influential Polish Arabian sire in history, and was a National Champion in halter and park horse. He's a very classic example of a Polish Arabian.


Egyptian Arabians: These are usually finer, more lightly built. Egyptians often dominate today's halter classes because they have such extremely typey, pretty heads: small, dished faces, fine small ears that curve in at the tips, large eyes and nostrils. They are smoothly built but don't normally carry as much muscling as some strains like Polish and Russian... slender, straight legs with clean bones and good feet. The cannon bone of the Egyptian is a little less round, it tapers a little towards the back and gives the lower leg more of a triangular shape if you looked at it in cross-section. These photos are of Musalih (grey), a National champion halter stallion, and a locally owned stallion, Shy Gayfeen (bay), who is a World champion halter stallion at the 2003 Egyptian Event. They are both good examples of Egyptians.



Russian Arabians: Built a little like a Polish Arabian, the Russian is a well put-together horse with lots of power in the hindquarters. Russians are not usually quite as close-coupled as Polish, showing a little more length through the back and body. Russians often have quite a bit of knee and hock action. They've got solid bone and feet, with short stout (round) cannons and large flat joints. The Russian Arabian head is attractive and wedge-shaped, but not as "typey" as the Egyptian. Ears are not as "tippy" or small as the Egyptian either. *Muscat is considered one of the most prominent Russian stallions, and is shown here in both photos.


Sorry the photos aren't large, but I hope they help you a little.

<small>[ March 05, 2004, 11:42 PM: Message edited by: ridegrrl ]</small>

[Jumpers]

I also disagree with Sandra. I'm quite new to Arabians, but you can usually basically tell the characteristics of each Arab.

Polish Arabians are heavier, stockier, and generally more body weight than the other Arabs. They generally have a thicker neck, heavier bone, and are taller in size. The Polish I've looked at were all 15.2 or taller. Polish have an awesome foot, big, and correct.

Egyptians are extremely fine and exotic with HUGE nostrils and eyes, extreme dish to the face, very fine in body and bone, smaller in stature, which about 15.2 usually being maximum for an Egyptian. Egyptians are the Halter horses. They have the exotic look that wins. Egyptians generally have a tiny foot with a very low, thin heel.

Russians are heavier and stockier like the Polish, although I wouldn't say "as much" so. They don't have the exotic typey head that an Egyptian has, but they look more "Araby" than the Polish does. I also agree that Russians must have a great foot because all the Russians I looked at had the foot of a Quarter Horse.

My Arab is a Russian/Egyptian cross which is the best of both worlds, in my opinion. She has the refined look with a dishy head and delicate features, yet she has plenty of bone, hoof, and body mass.

Like I said - I'm certainly NO expert on Arabians, but these are the basics that jump out at most horsemen and women.

[Jumpers]

STRAIGHT EGYPTIAN Named: Midnight Bahim

This photo shows you the very exotic head of the Egyptian. Dishy face, huge nostrils and eyes, broad forehead


POLISHNamed: RV Baskadin

RUSSIANNamed: Marsianin

[Turbo Horseman]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like everyone may be right. As time goes by, the types are becoming more mixed, but you can still find typy Arabs. The answers here were/are far more helpful than anything else I could find on the web. Although it seems that the average size has increased from 14.1 - 15.0 hands to a reported 15.2 hands. Kind of goes against the old saying that I like: Admire a big horse, saddle a small one.

Both my ponies look like RV Baskidin in build and particularly facial structure. The Bay is 15.0 hands and the Grey is 14.0 hands. The thing I like about the Polish is that they don't "look" like an Arab...they don't have a dish if any.

Ridden most other "common" breeds found in North America. Its only the Arabs who have never ever heard of the word "quit". Means you have to pay more attention and look out for your horse, means more a partnership to me.

My original question was motivated by a desire to locate a young Polish Arab type pleasure riding gelding to bring along as my two are starting to get on in years. If anyone catches word of a 2 - 5 yearold for sale in Alberta, eastern BC or western Saskatchewan, please let me know.

[ridegrrl]

Turbo: Do you have registration papers for the Arabians you currently own? And what other criteria are you looking for in a new horse, do you have a preferred size, bloodline, colour? Looking for a laid-back horse or a hotter disposition? I'd be happy to keep an eye out, there are lots of good horses out there for sale!

<small>[ March 06, 2004, 10:30 AM: Message edited by: ridegrrl ]</small>

[Turbo Horseman]

Ride girl; I've papers for the one. He's a bay, 15 hands and has Ferzon for a great grandfather and great great grandfather, same non-dish face. He's about 900lbs, a bit jumpy but fun to ride. My preference is to get a horse with a little bit of heat and teach them patience so they will go the speed you want with out having to nag them.

Would appreciate hearing about any leads you might have.

<small>[ March 09, 2004, 06:48 PM: Message edited by: Turbo Horseman ]</small>

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

i think Jumpers mentioned about Polish Arabs having bigger feet, is that maybe a reason why Fiona got such big feet even though her sire is Warmblood? is it a possibility or is it all just Warmblood?

running_ Tiny running_

[Sleipnir]

Turbo,
SANDRA-A1 is right on the money.... mostly
Arabs exported their horses.

The Polish, Russian, Spanish and Egyptian regions are where specific bloodlines were maintained by royal stables. There are, like any family discernable traits for each bloodline. The types of which have nothing to do with the region of the registry. I have seen Polish Arabs that some say look Egyptian and vice versa.

Polish - (Oldest non-egyptian) King Sigmund Augustus (1548-1572) Had a Royal Stud in Knyszyn the purpose of which was to breed pure Arabian horses. Used for the Polish Cavalry because of it's superb qualities of Stamina, endurance and speedy regeneration of strength. Most other European Stud books can trace back to this one. With some exceptions when transportation of horses across great distances became more feasible.

Russian - Purchased from the Polish Stud, Obejan Srebrny, born in 1851 is one of the premier founding stallions whose line descends to Tersk of the Russian strain.

Spain - Acquired horses from Slawuta and other polish studs among which were Ursus and Van Dyck, whose lines are active in Spain today.

Egypt - where it all started histories record domestication of the Arab horse as early as 1500 BC. Different tribes of the Arab people had different strains, but they are the foundation of all Arabians.

To find out more go to:
http://www.arabianhorses.org/educati...s_overview.asp

Pretty pictures are nice, but getting the info straight from the horses mouth so to speak... well.... you get the picture.

Read all you can about the breed, Two of my favorite books on arabs are:
The Classic Arabian Horse by Judith Forbis
Great Historical refence book, and describes the various TYPES of Arab horses more in depth than just how big their feet are. Big wide feet are great for running in the sand! red_hors

and

ARABIANS
by Peter Upton and edited by Hossein Amirsadeghi
This book has lots of great photos! And easier to follow histories of the Arab Horse.

<small>[ March 14, 2004, 06:05 PM: Message edited by: Sleipnir ]</small>