Wanderin' Star Farm
Chaparral, New Mexico

What is an Al Khamsa Arabian?

The original Arabian horse developed as a distinctive type in the arid, severe conditions of the Arabian Peninsula.  Bedouin tribes which migrated there for thousands of years created the oldest of pure breeds from horses of Arabian type which were indigenous to the area.  The perfection of the original type was the result of both natural selection and Bedouin-controlled selection for utility. 

Unlike other horsemen, the Bedouin preferred to ride mares.  Thus, it was the mare who was tested, and on whose loyalty, speed, thriftiness, agility, and endurance her master's very life depended.  With innate gentleness, she often shared the family tent at night or wandered in during the day for escape from the heat and a drink of camel's milk.

She was honored as a bringer of wealth, for it was on her back that a Bedouin could defend his possessions and increase his herds.  Thin and ragged from privation during most of the year, her characteristic beauty became evident only when the winter rains fell in the northern deserts and pasture was plentiful.  It was she who produced precious daughters to carry on after she was gone.

The Western world named these horses "Arabians" --horses of the Arabs-- but the Bedouin called them "Kuhayl" in reference to the characteristic black skin around the eyes.  They also referred to their horses as "Asil" (meaning purebred and noble), while calling non-Bedouin horses "Kadish" (meaning of unknown or unworthy pedigree).

The Bedouin believed that the Arabian horse was a special gift to them from Allah; a gift to be cherished and preserved in its purity.  Their fanatic pride in the purity of their mare's pedigrees and their belief in the superiority of their kind of horse over any other breed is legendary and well-documented.

Spirited and alert, yet gentle, intelligent and responsive to humane training methods;  Like all animals native to arid lands, their fine bone and fine-skinned, dry appearance gave them physical beauty which was linked to what seemed to be a beauty of soul.  Their tireless, efficient movement developed over centuries of use made them ideal saddle horses which seem to dance over the earth with effortless lightness and power.

By the 1800's, horse breeders around the world began seeking Arabian horses in increasing numbers, usually with the goal of adding their characteristics of thriftiness, speed, endurance, responsiveness, and beauty to native stock.  However, only a few programs were based on the exclusive use of imported mares as well as stallions.

Written information about the Arabian was scarce, and the concept of breeding any livestock as a pure breed was in its infancy.  It was not until the 20th century that registries exclusively for Arabian horses were established.  Unfortunately, some of the Foundation Horses in these registries were not totally traceable to imported stock.

By the mid-1900's, the Bedouin Arabian horse could best be described as an endangered species.  In their native lands the Bedouin had given up their nomadic lifestyle to settle in towns where they had no need for the horse.

In the western world, many beautiful Arabians which were not considered to be totally of Al Khamsa sources had become so popular that Al Khamsa mares were being bred to them almost to the point of extinction.

Serious students of the Arabian breed had long recognized that the horses which descended entirely from the Bedouin Arabian were special.  In 1973, AL KHAMSA, a non-profit organization, was founded for the purpose of identifying and preserving those horses in North America which could reasonably be assumed to descend entirely from horses bred by the Bedouin of Arabia and to educate the public about them.

The name was chosen to commemorate the term used by the Bedouin for their favorite families of horses.  AL KHAMSA, Inc. has no dues or membership requirements.  It depends solely on donations, while research and educational material is supplied by volunteers.

reproduced with permission from AL KHAMSA, Inc.

To learn more about the Heirloom/El Deree preservation group, a breeding program that operates within the boundaries set by Al Khamsa, Inc., please click HERE.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AL KHAMSA ARABIAN AND AL KHAMSA, INC, PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

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Horses          Photography by Traci E. Fuller

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