365
Days in Horse Country – Darley Arabian
One of the
most famous Arabian horses in the world is not known for his accomplishments
within his breed, but actually for being the foundation for a new one; the Thoroughbred.
The Darley Arabian was a handsome bay stallion reported to have come from the Nedj, the central tableland of the Arabian peninsula, known as the cradle of Arabian equine nobility. He grew up under very harsh conditions, as all horses in that region, and proved himself to be a hardy and proficient sire.
The stallion was bought by a British horse breeder named Thomas Darley and brought to England to stand at stud. He sired a great many foals, and along with the Godolphine Arabian and the Byerley Turk, spawned the Thoroughbred breed in the 17090s.
Michael