The Bedouin of Arabia regarded their horses as a gift of God to them. In his fourteenth century manuscript, El Andalusi reports of the Arab tradition that Ismail was the first to tame and ride a horse: When God gave the power and strength to Ibrahim and Ismail to elevate the columns of the house (referring to the Kaaba in Mecca), He said: „I am giving you a treasure which I have saved for you.“ Then God revealed that Ismail should go out and call for it. Ismail went to a nearby place, Ajyad. He knew neither the treasure nor the call, but God inspired him with the call. There was no horse left on the face of the land of the Arabs that did not respond to him and let him subdue them.


Bedouin society was based on the principle of solidarity with strong family structures and coming from this the tribal structures. And it was characterized by an extraordinary relation between man and beast. Bedouins defined themselves by the camel. Desert life was unthinkable without the dromedary, even impossible. Science speaks of man being the parasite of the camel. The relationship towards the horse was quite different. It was a symbiotic relation. Horses could only survive in the desert with the help of man and his dromedary of which milk it was nursed in bad times. The horse meant a heavy burden for the Bedouin. But it was at the same time indispensable for combats and raids. The camel was the most important animal of the Bedouin, but the animal dearest to him was his horse. Thus a relation was formed between Bedouin and horse – and we see the strong role of women and children in it – that was coined by a mutual love. The horse was so precious that Bedouins shared them not only between each other, but sent them as gifts not only to kings and nobleman, and presented them with generosity unknown to the western world to their friends who visited them. For me, the love towards humans of the Arabian horse and his unique character are one of its most important breed characteristics and the decisive reason why it could conquer the hearts of so many people around the globe, including mine. Thus, by not holding back one of their most precious pearl, the Arabian horse became an ambassador for the Arabian world around the globe. The common love towards this breed has already insinuated countless friendships across all political, religious and ethnical boundaries.

The Arab nations can be proud of the fact that they already follow this foot- and hoofprints and that the winds of changing times could not sweep them away from the desert sands of Arabia, but even shed more light on the fact: The heritage of Ismael, a true son of his father Ibrahim, is reflected by the spirit of the many nations that came after him. This has been clearly shown by the growing Abraham Accord that can hopefully become a model for the whole world to create a better place for mankind and nature.


Let us mount our beloved Arabian horses, to follow the shining example of our common father Ibrahim and enlarge his home, the black tents of Arabia, to give room for all who want to participate.

 

​