The Anglo-Arabian, also known as the Anglo-Arab, is a horse breed that originated in France by

cross-breeding A crossbreed is an organism with purebred parents of two different breeds, varieties, or populations. A domestic animal of unknown ancestry, where the breed status of only one parent or grandparent is known, may also be called a crossbreed though ...

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

with an

Arabian The Arabian Peninsula (, , or , , ) or Arabia, is a peninsula in West Asia, situated north-east of Africa on the Arabian plate. At , comparable in size to India, the Arabian Peninsula is the largest peninsula in the world. Geographically, the ...

. The Anglo-Arabian has origins tracing back to the Limousin Horse. It was officially recognized by Emperor

Louis Philippe I Louis Philippe I (6 October 1773 – 26 August 1850), nicknamed the Citizen King, was King of the French from 1830 to 1848, the penultimate monarch of France, and the last French monarch to bear the title "King". He abdicated from his throne ...

and produced by the Haras National du Pin. The Anglo-Arabian has long legs, a refined head, larger hindquarters, and are most commonly seen in

gray Grey (more frequent in British English) or gray (more frequent in American English) is an intermediate color between black and white. It is a neutral or achromatic color, meaning that it has no chroma. It is the color of a cloud-covered s ...

bay A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a ''gulf'', ''sea'', ''sound'', or ''bight''. A ''cove'' is a small, ci ...

, or

chestnut The chestnuts are the deciduous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Castanea'', in the beech family Fagaceae. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Description ...

. To be recognized as an Anglo-Arabian with the Arabian Horse Association, the horse must have at least 25% Arabian blood. There are no color or height restrictions to be registered. Due to its lineage and physique, the Anglo-Arabian is utilized for sports-related activities such as

dressage Dressage ( or ; , most commonly translated as "training") is a form of horse riding performed in exhibition and competition, as well as an art sometimes pursued solely for the sake of mastery. As an equestrianism, equestrian sport defined by th ...

show jumping Show jumping is a part of a group of English riding equestrian events that also includes eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes are commonly seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics. Sometimes shows ar ...

endurance Endurance (also related to sufferance, forbearance, resilience, constitution, fortitude, persistence, tenacity, steadfastness, perseverance, stamina, and hardiness) is the ability of an organism to exert itself and remain active for a ...

, and cross-country.

Genetic diseases A genetic disorder is a health problem caused by one or more abnormalities in the genome. It can be caused by a mutation in a single gene (monogenic) or multiple genes (polygenic) or by a chromosome abnormality. Although polygenic disorders are ...

are possible as the foal is likely to inherit a combination of both parent genes.

Genetic testing Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, is used to identify changes in DNA sequence or chromosome structure. Genetic testing can also include measuring the results of genetic changes, such as RNA analysis as an output of gene expression, or ...

will help limit fetal

DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid (; DNA) is a polymer composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix. The polymer carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of al ...

exposure and ensure knowledgeable breeding. The most common genetic diseases associated with the Anglo-Arabian lineage include

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), also known as Swiss-type agammaglobulinemia, is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the disturbed development of functional T cells and B cells caused by numerous genetic mutations that result in diff ...

, Cerebellar Abiotrophy, Lavender Foal Syndrome, and Occipitoatlantoaxial Malformation.

Origin

The Limousin horse was a breed that originated from the region of

Limousin Limousin (; ) is a former administrative region of southwest-central France. Named after the old province of Limousin, the administrative region was founded in 1960. It comprised three departments: Corrèze, Creuse, and Haute-Vienne. On 1 Jan ...

in France during the

Medieval times In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and t ...

. They were created by breeding French native mares with imported English Thoroughbreds and a sprinkle of Arabian blood. Although this breed is now extinct, the Limousins were the predecessor of the Anglo-Arabians and significantly influenced the creation of this breed. In the 1750s, breeders from

Normandy Normandy (; or ) is a geographical and cultural region in northwestern Europe, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy. Normandy comprises Normandy (administrative region), mainland Normandy (a part of France) and insular N ...

, France, bred

Syrian Syrians () are the majority inhabitants of Syria, indigenous to the Levant, most of whom have Arabic, especially its Levantine and Mesopotamian dialects, as a mother tongue. The cultural and linguistic heritage of the Syrian people is a blend ...

imported Arabians with native thoroughbred mares. There is limited documentation on their breeding of the Anglo-Arabians, but the breeders are credited with the first traceable origins as the offspring of these mares were later used to produce the officiated Anglo-Arabians. In 1833, Emperor Louis Phillipe I passed an ordinance that led to the creation of the French Studbook. The primary aim of the Studbook was to help establish the breeds of horses suitable for race horsing. The Studbook officially recognized English, Arab, and Anglo-Arab horses as suitable breeds. It also served as a valuable resource for those interested in locating the horse's pedigree. HarasDuPin 07

In 1836, the French National Stud Service, Haras National du Pin, began officially breeding Anglo-Arabians. Their service was responsible for maintaining the breedings for private cooperators, and they were highly selective in picking and breeding the most exceptional candidates. They crossed the imported English Thoroughbred mares with Arabians that remained in the country after the French defeated the

Muslims Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

in the

Battle of Tours The Battle of Tours, also called the Battle of Poitiers and the Battle of the Highway of the Martyrs (), was fought on 10 October 732, and was an important battle during the Umayyad invasion of Gaul. It resulted in victory for the Frankish an ...

. The service also attempted to crossbreed in the opposite direction, where Arabian mares bred with English sires, but found that the foal was less desirable as the size of the mother’s uterus affects the adult size of the foal. In 1880, the Anglo-Arabian breed criteria formally established that a horse only needed 25% Arabian blood to be considered an Anglo-Arabian. As long as they have the minimum ratio, they can be registered with the Anglo-Arabian Horse Registry of the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) and are eligible to participate in AHA shows. Horses registered with the Arabian Horse Association will be given the breed brand.

Characteristics

The size and appearance of the Anglo-Arabian breed mix varies depending on their ancestry, just like other breed mixes. On average, they stand between 15.2 and 16.3 hands (62-67 inches, 158-65 cm) tall, which is taller than the average Arabian but just below the height of a thoroughbred. Their body is sturdily built, similar to the thoroughbred, with refined heads that showcase their Arabian lineage. They have a deep chest, round hindquarters, prominent withers, and lengthy legs. The most common colors for the Anglo-Arabian are

, or

. The Arabian Horse Association accepts any color and height for the breed, but the association requires photos of their coloring to be submitted for registration.

Genetic diseases

Breeding Arabians and thoroughbreds comes with a risk of breed-specific diseases that can be inherited. When breeding Anglo-Arabians, it is vital to prioritize the breed's well-being and genetic health by noting potential health problems. Genetic testing can help identify carriers of these diseases, prevent them from entering the breeding stream, and assist breeders in making informed decisions before breeding. By being mindful of these health concerns, breeders can ensure the breed's continued success. The following diseases are

autosomal An autosome is any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome. The members of an autosome pair in a diploid cell have the same morphology, unlike those in allosomal (sex chromosome) pairs, which may have different structures. The DNA in autosome ...

recessive traits that will lead to the death or euthanasia of the affected foal. ; Severe Combined Immunodeficiency :

Severe combined immunodeficiency Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), also known as Swiss-type agammaglobulinemia, is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the disturbed development of functional T cells and B cells caused by numerous genetic mutations that result in diff ...

(SCID) is a fatal genetic disorder by a mutation which causes the complete absence of

immune cells White blood cells (scientific name leukocytes), also called immune cells or immunocytes, are cells of the immune system that are involved in protecting the body against both infectious disease and foreign entities. White blood cells are genera ...

. The foals will have

immunodeficiency Immunodeficiency, also known as immunocompromise, is a state in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious diseases and cancer is compromised or entirely absent. Most cases are acquired ("secondary") due to extrinsic factors that aff ...

, where they will be cease within 4-6 months. ; Cerebellar Abiotrophy AwkwardGait

: Arabian horses and other horses of Arabian ancestry can inherit a neurological condition called cerebellar abiotrophy (CA), which causes the progressive death of

neurons A neuron (American English), neurone (British English), or nerve cell, is an membrane potential#Cell excitability, excitable cell (biology), cell that fires electric signals called action potentials across a neural network (biology), neural net ...

. Affected foals will have head tremors, lack of balance equilibrium (

ataxia Ataxia (from Greek α- negative prefix+ -τάξις rder= "lack of order") is a neurological sign consisting of lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements that can include gait abnormality, speech changes, and abnormalities in e ...

), and other neurological problems. ; Lavender Foal Syndrome

: Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS), also known as Coat Color Dilution Lethal (CCDL), is a rare genetic condition that affects foals. This syndrome causes the foals to have a unique pink-gray coat and neurological dysfunctions that hinder their ability to stand and nurse properly. The syndrome is caused by a mutation in the myosin Va ( MYO5A) gene. Clinical signs of LFS include

seizures A seizure is a sudden, brief disruption of brain activity caused by abnormal, excessive, or synchronous neuronal firing. Depending on the regions of the brain involved, seizures can lead to changes in movement, sensation, behavior, awareness, o ...

nystagmus Nystagmus is a condition of involuntary (or voluntary, in some cases) Eye movement (sensory), eye movement. People can be born with it but more commonly acquire it in infancy or later in life. In many cases it may result in visual impairment, re ...

, and severe hyperextension of limbs and back (

opisthotonos Opisthotonus or opisthotonos (from and ) is a state of severe hyperextension and spasticity in which an individual's head, neck and spinal column enter into a complete "bridging" or "arching" position. This extreme arched pose is an extrapyram ...

). ; Occipitoatlantoaxial Malformation : Occipitoatlantoaxial malformation (OAAM) is a neurological disorder that affects the first two

vertebrae Each vertebra (: vertebrae) is an irregular bone with a complex structure composed of bone and some hyaline cartilage, that make up the vertebral column or spine, of vertebrates. The proportions of the vertebrae differ according to their spinal ...

of the neck and the base of the

skull The skull, or cranium, is typically a bony enclosure around the brain of a vertebrate. In some fish, and amphibians, the skull is of cartilage. The skull is at the head end of the vertebrate. In the human, the skull comprises two prominent ...

. This disorder is caused by a deletion in the homeobox D3 gene (

HOXD3 Homeobox protein Hox-D3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''HOXD3'' gene. Function This gene belongs to the homeobox family of genes. The homeobox genes encode a highly conserved family of transcription factors that play an importa ...

), resulting in spinal compression, damage to the

spinal cord The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue that extends from the medulla oblongata in the lower brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column (backbone) of vertebrate animals. The center of the spinal c ...

, reduced body coordination, and limited movement of the foal.

Use

The Arabian breed was initially developed to be war horses, known for their great stamina, endurance, and intelligence, which aided their riders on the battlefield. On the other hand, thoroughbreds were primarily bred for

racing In sports, racing is a competition of speed, in which competitors try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time. Typically this involves traversing some distance, but it can be any other task involving speed to reach a specific g ...

and

due to their athleticism. Combining these two breeds resulted in the Anglo-Arabian, which is an ideal breed for sports-related activities such as show jumping, cross-country,

, or

. The best examples of this breed inherit the Arabian's refinement, structure, and endurance as well as the speed and scope of the Thoroughbred.

References

External links

Association Nationale Anglo-Arabe
(France)
Arabian Horse Association
(USA) {{Authority control Part-Arabian breeds of horses and ponies

Origin

Characteristics

Genetic diseases

Use

See also

References

External links