In Search of the Arabian Horse

By Captain Luis Azpeitia de Moros, Translated and Annotated by Andrew K. Steen

Subjects: Russia, Usos y costumbres, Arabia, Syria, The Holy Land, Arabian horse bloodlines, Turkey, Árabe (Raza equina), Horse Breeding The history of the Arabian horse, Viajes, Spain, Arabian Horses, Travel

Description: In Search of the Arabian horse is a faithfully executed translation of Captain Luis Azpeitia de Moros' classic 1915 Spanish work, En Busca Del Caballo Árabe. It is the true saga of the 1905 Cria Caballar's (Military Horse Breeding Service)Commission to the Orient, which took place only eleven months before a similar journey made by Homer Davenport the famous American cartoonist, who also went searching for Arabian horses in the same regions. The book is a thought-provoking and entertaining chronicle of a handful of determined men on a marvelous quest, searching for stallions and mares that were destined to become the foundation of Spain's world famous present-day Arabian horse breeding program. During their arduous seven month overland horseback trek throughout parts of Turkey, Syria and the Holy Land, the small party came in close contact with various factions of the truculent Anazes and Fadaan Bedouins. The author relates his impressions of the exotic nomads and their desert-bred Arabian steeds with singular insight, irony and humor. He also included a chapter which disputes many of William Gifford Palgrave's statements and affirmations about the so-called superior qualities of the Najd horse of Central Arabia. The deluxe edition of 214 pages is embellished with over 85 rare black and white photographs, one map and three prints and includes a Glossary of Spanish and Arabic Terms. It also contains detailed biographic summarys about the four men of the commission. It is an interesting and compelling book that horse lovers and readers in general of all ages will enjoy and cherish for years to come.