British Breeder Magazine May 2021

Studbook - News
Endurance Riding – Lumahla Gold ridden by Mary
Chowne – Photo Eric Jones
Arabian Stallions at the famous Crabbet Arabian
Stud in Sussex – Photo Crabbet Archives
death adventures. They made a plan
after a few weeks of arriving in Syria.
Originally, they were going in search of
descendants of the Darley Arabian but
their plans changed and they decided to
bring back Arabian horses to preserve
the blood and start a stud at Crabbet
Park, Worth, Sussex, England. In 1887
this plan became reality as the first
Arabians arrived at last.
When the Blunt’s daughter, Lady
Wentworth took over the stud, it
flourished. Horses were sold all over the
world, including the Americas, Russia,
Australia and South Africa. The Blunts
also had a stud in Cairo called Sheikh
Obeyd. They were very fortunate to be
able to purchase many horses from Ali
Pasha Sherif which were highly sought
after. The horses were bred to be ridden
and conformation and endurance were
important criteria. If the horses did not
breed to standard, they were sold on.
So, the Arabian horse is found
world-wide with lines from Crabbet,
Egypt, Russia, Spain and Poland. The
Polish Government studs played a huge
part in the Arabian breed and were
renowned for fine moving and beautiful
mares. The Russian State Studs also had
a huge influence in performance horses.
Egyptian Arabians trace back to the
Egyptian Agricultural Stud. Interestingly
the EAO purchased many of the horses
from the Blunts Sheikh Obeyd stud.
Bio-diversity in the Arabian Horse
By Caroline Sussex
The Arabian horse has a unique origin
and history. Not only is it one of the
founding breeds of the Thoroughbred
but it has its own history steeped in the
Middle East. It was the horse used in
gazu raids between the tribes of the
desert and the Arabian was renowned
for its speed and agility together with
endurance. The Arabian Horse is the
horse of the Middle East and it is from
there that the breed was purchased and
is now world renowned. A few Arabians
were imported to the UK in the 1700’s
and 1800’s.
However, it was a chance journey to the
Middle East by Lady Anne and Wilfrid
Scawen Blunt that the history of the
Arabian really took shape.
The Blunts were an intrepid and colourful
couple. Wilfrid with his impetuous
character and good looks got involved
with politics and Lady Anne with her
amazing mind, grand-daughter of Byron
and gentle nature had many talents
including being able to speak fluent
Arabic. Their journeys into the desert in
the 1800’s were fraught with life and
The UK Arab Horse Society was
formed in 1918 and the first President
was Wilfrid Scawen Blunt. The Society
started their own stud book to register
the Arabian Horse as the GSB, who had
been registering Arabians, closed this
section of their stud book to any new
horses. However, descendants of the
original entries were maintained in the
GSB until 1966. The Arab Horse Society
promotes the cross breeding of Arabians
into light horse breeding. Many famous
horses and ponies carry Arabian blood
to name just a few: Tamarillo, Rex the
Robber and Pretty Polly (the feature
article in the 28th March edition of
Horse and Hound).
In 1970, a group of Arabian enthusiasts
from around the world, including some
from the UK held a historic meeting in
London. Here the World Arabian Horse
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