"If I do not believe as you believe, it proves that you do not believe as I believe, and this is all that it proves." Thomas Paine The terms "strain" and "family" constantly crop up in literature as well as in discussions about the Arabian horse.  This aspect of breeding, though controversial, is not only of historical importance, but it is of infinite assistance to the breeder once a thorough understanding of strains and families is obtained. Simply defined, a strain is a family of Arabian horses that share common ancestors and physical characteristics.  Historically speaking, strain names came into being among the Arabs through various and peculiar circumstances, as the Abbas Pasha manuscript affirms.  For example, the Saqlawi strain took its name from the word, "saqla" meaning a kick.  Because the foundation mare was one who kicked her heels in the air, they called her "saqlawiya."  Therefore, a strain name did not necessarily define particular family characteristics at the time the strain originated.  However, certain tribes developed a particular type through linebreeding and inbreeding, and eventually certain strains took on particular characteristics. Much confusion has arisen regarding strains because all horses take the strain name through the tail female line, as was the bedouin custom.  Historically speaking, America more so than Europe, has been a sire line breeding country.  As a result, most of the praise or the blame for the foals quality has been given to the sire with less attention give to the dam.  The Arabs, however, believed (like many other great horsebreeders) that the mare has more influence over its offspring than the sire, although they do believe the sire is of great importance.  Therefore in Arabian culture the foal inherits the strain of its dam regardless of the sire's strain.  Tradition continues to dictate this practice which is not without merit when carefully put into perspective.  First, however, one must be able to read a pedigree with the knowledge of the characteristics representing each horse therein, especially up to the great great grandparents.  One of the main reasons for laying out these chapters according to strains and families is to give the serious student and breeder an opportunity to compare the various inheritable qualities available to them through the use of linebreeding and inbreeding to particular strains, tail female lines or families.

When we began studying Egyptian horses thirty years ago we spent much time at the Egyptian Agricultural Organization's farm, El Zahraa.  As a result of collecting and cataloging old photographs for Dr. Marsafi, I observed certain characteristics with each strain and family.  By lining up photographs of these, then taking five generations of more and placing the photographs one under the other to study, it was readily apparent to me that certain structural qualities were retained by that tail female line no matter how many different strains had been introduced through the sire lines.  One has only to review the columns of families in the Arabian Horse in Egypt from Antiquity to Present Day chapter, as well as in the succeeding chapter, as well as in the succeeding chapters, and it is immediately apparent that there ARE certain characteristics and family differences that appear to breed forward no matter what.  When studying pedigrees it should be remembered that although a horse takes the strain of the dam, it may not necessarily represent all or any of the characteristics attributed to that strain or family.  Usually, it depends on how much linebreeding or inbreeding has been done within the strain and its family branch. As an example, suppose a study of the eight great-grandparents reveals that seven ancestors are Saklawi and only the tail female line is Kuhaylan.  The pedigree would be predominately Saklawi, yet the horse would be considered a Kuhaylan because of its tail female line.  The horse may or may not look like a kuhaylan depending upon the linebreeding of the Saklawi individuals.  As an example, refer to the pedigree of Prince Fa Moniet.  This description applies to him.  He is all Saklawi-related breeding except for his tail female line, which is Kuhaylan Jellabia.  Nevertheless, although he physically represents the Saklawi type one must never forget the hidden genetic power behind his tail female lineage.  Now compare the pedigree of Prince Fa Moniet with that of Mohummed Sadden.  They both have the same Kuhaylan Jellabia tail female line and ancestress (Fada) although they have different sires representing different strains.  While both are excellent stallions they do reflect as individuals the differences in their pedigrees.  The Dahman influence through Ibn Halima and Bint Nefisaa is evident in Mohummed Sadden. Comparing the pedigree of Fadl Dan with the other two, it is evident that he represents the Kuhaylan Jellabi strain in type.  The Jellabi strain is reinforced in his pedigree through *Fadl, who is both his paternal grandsire and his maternal great grandsire, with additional Jellabi crosses if one goes further back.  He is linebred to *Fadl and his full sister *Maaroufa, and he more closely represent the masculine Kuhaylan Jellabi strain in type than the other two.  This comparison does not relate to the quality of individuals; it does relate, however, to genetic prepotency when selecting for certain traits.  Because straight Egyptian bloodlines are confined to a relatively small nucleus of strains and families, consistency is far more predictable than in the "open" pedigrees found in the majority of Arabian horses throughout the world today.  Predictability or non-predictability is important to a breeder not only from an artistic viewpoint, but from an economic one.

Historically Raswan and other authorities have divided the Arabian breed into three main strains based on their observations that by linebreeding or inbreeding within these strains, they bedouin breeders had 'fixed' certain characteristics which remained dominate for generations.  Saklawi was representative of feminine elegance, grace and refinement, while Kuhaylan signified masculinity, strength, boldness and power.  The Muniqi strain was of racier build, usually more developed in the forehand and lighter behind.  Numerous other strains related in type to these three primary strains.  Raswan theorized that by adding up the sum total of each strain within a pedigree, the breeder could arrive at the distinctive type his horse should resemble.  Some authorities, such as Dr. Edward Skorkowski of Poland, also adhered to a strain theory but disagreed with Raswan's categorization of the characteristics.  Lady Wentworth disagreed with both, stating in her Word's Best Horse that exclusive "strain breeding" had no foundation, that it was impossible to segregate any strain, and that all pure strains could be bred together with equal success provided the type is preserved.  She rightly believed that if a horse departs from the proper type, it is not a good Arab.  Yet when she tried to buy certain horses form Egypt, the Egyptians recalled she wanted them from particular strains!  In fact, the Blunts were staunch admirers of certain strains for certain qualities.

One danger of an obsession with family or strain as opposed to type is that it may lead to a serious under valuation of the other elements of a pedigree.  It cannot be denied there are off types among all the strains.  The main point is that an off type is not desirable in the breeding herd, and to breed away from it is wisdom. Whether one goes along with specific strain theories or not, the fact of the matter remains that certain strains and families, no matter what they may be called, have specific characteristics and will continue to have them so long as breeders practice selective linebreeding.  Further study of picture-pedigrees relating to the strain and family composition of specific stallions and mares will go a long way in helping to determine what might or might not work for one's personal breeding program.  The Pyramid Society's Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses are ideal for this purpose.  The value and importance of planned breeding are further discussed at the close of this chapter. There is no quick way to develop a breeding program.  It requires time, patience, practice and a long-term commitment.  It should be remembered that breeding is an ART, not a science and that Rembrant and Bach did not become masters overnight.

The following sections present the historical background of those strains and families which have been preserved and play an important role in all Egyptian -Arabian pedigrees, and consequently throughout the world.  The most accurate records to date regarding strains are those of the bedouins themselves - their own words as transcribed by Aly Gamal Shamashirgi for his master, Abbas Pasha.  The foreword to the Abbas Pasha manuscript sets the stage:  "Notice about the classification of horses:  I say about classifying the lineage of Arabian Horses, the first to take precedence is Dahman Shahwan of the Kunayhir strain and Duhaym al-Najib.  Secondly is Kuhaylan Mimreh.  After the Saklawi Jedran, which is divided into three sections: the dearest and most precious is the family of Al Samniyat, then the family of Al Sudaniyat, and third the family of Al'Abd.  And after that is Saklawi al-Obeyri and Marighi - both from the same family. And after that Hadban al-Nazhi, which includes six families in the following order:  Hadban al-Munseriqah, Hadbah Mushytib, Hadbah Jawlan, Hadbah al-Fard, Hadbah al-Mahdi and lastly Hadbah al-Bardawil, which is not to be mated. And after these Kuhaylan al-Tameri; then Shueyman al-Sabbah, Hamdani Simri al-Khales, Abeyan Sherrak, Rabdan Khoshaybi, Kuhaylan om Arqub Shuwayhah and then Kuhaylan om-Janoub. And I say yes, although the Saklawi is the most preferred, I prefer Dahman Shahwan of the family of Kunayhir and Kuhaym al-Najib, and Kuhaylan al-Mimreh.  And therefore I have arranged the classification in the order of what I consider best" The quotations in the following sections are taken from the Abbas Pasha manuscript.  A generalized description of each strain follows each history.  Like stars in the night heavens by which ancient mariners charted their course, pedigrees too have their useful patterns.

To Be Continued............  This section is currently under construction. Please return soon for the missing detailed descriptions of each of the strains to be covered in this section, completed chapters are highlighted: Al Duhaym - Dahman Shahwan; Al Saqlawiyat - Saqlawi Jedran Ibn Sudan; Al Hadb - Hadban Enzahi; Al Abeyyat - Abeyyan Om Jurays; Al Kujaylat, Kujaylan Mimreh, Kujaylan Jellabi, Kuhaylan Rodan; Strains and Families in the Inshass Stud.  Extensive Photographic Illustrations are Present in the Book From Which This Section is Taken.  We Highly Recommend the Book, "Authentic Arabian Bloodstock" by Judith Forbis. Return to the News and Articles Section Return to Arabian Horses of the Great Pyramids, or Arabians International or go to: Stallions - News - Pedigree Database - Farms - Bazaar - Design Internet Representation of Ansata Arabian Stud and these pages are designed and managed by Golden Ring Web Services and may not be reproduced in any form. All copyrights apply. 080400