More Bedouin poetry about Arabian horses from 1,500 years ago
A famous verse from a long poem by Beduin prince and poet Imru’ al-Qays al-Kindi (501-544 AD), where he describes his Arabian horse:
Lahu aytala zabyin wa-saaqa na’amatin wa-irkha’u sarhanin wa-taqribu tatfuli
In English (translation mine):
“He has the flanks of an antelope, the legs of an ostrich, the trot of a wolf and the gallop of a young fox.”
“He” refers to the poet’s horse, of course. Below is a picture of an Arabian wolf (Canis Lupus Arabs) from the Saudi Arabian desert reserve of Uruq Bani Ma’arid.
Great photo and even better poetry. Thanks!
Thanks for providing the poetry, Edouard. When talking with Peter Harrington he explained to me how important poetry is for so many many years to the traditional Arabs. It is their visual language, making word pictures before today’s photographic technology. I have seen horses who move like predators. The stallion Ibn Hafiza (Sameh x Hafiza) walked and trotted very much like a natural predator as did my old mare Sirbana (Sirecho x Habanna). The movement is powerful with lots of thrust but long light and quiet when the feet touch the ground. Both Ibn Hafiza and Sirbana had the long curvy neck with lots of strength at the pol [where the neck enters the head behind the ears] so that they carried their heads with confidence and strength, being able to look at anything in front of them, below them or side to side without affecting their forward movement whatsoever. Mlolshaan Hager Solomon (Rabdaan Alwasmy x Mlolesh Asila) was also like this. At speed over uneven ground he could carry his head absolutely steady with strength and confidence.
I forgot to mention that the stallions Brimstone (Dharantez x Tyrebah) and Muhairon (Sirecho x Muhaira) were also like this and there are many more of the old desert lines I recall having this movement.
We have had people tell us our stallions moved like big cats. In fact, I think you were one of them! We figure if a horse can trot along and move his head from up, down to the ground, and fling it side to side out of high spirits, and keep his equilibrium and rhythm, it was a balanced horse. And balance is the most important thing to us of all the physical attributes.
Hi Jeanne, Did you mean that I was one of the people who told you your stallions move like big cats or did you mean that you think I move like a big cat? (ha, ha). I do remember saying that your stallions have the predator movement. I love this kind of movement and it does seem natural among many of the horses close to tribal bloodlines. One thing I think that tricks many whose eyes are accustomed to the show ring types, is that horses with this predator movement are very flexible. Their necks seem to shorten on the pull stroke and then lengthen on the reach stroke at the long walk, so that some are tricked into thinking that their neck is shorter that it actually is. Photographing at the wrong moment can create the wrong impression which would explain why some horses photos really miss the mark when seen in person.
Precisely!
My trainer said this of Palisades (that he moved like a big cat), which made this picture all the more striking when Jeanne shared it with me.
This is very interesting. I was actually looking for arabian poetry. But I was please to read about the predator movement. My SBE stallion HR Hasims Legacy has this movement too. Very cat like. I love the descriptions above that Joe and Jeanne gave above of how this movement looks.
I am looking for a poem about the Arabian Horse. Found a long time ago but now I’ve forgotten. I think one of the lines is .. the breath of Allah blows between his ears …
Please can you help
Thankyou
Chris
I am looking for a poem about a champion horse. I think the last line is “You never loved my horse.” Possible name of horse is Al-Kahila. Thank you.
There was a Bedouin poem that said it you were in battle and you looked back and you were chased by bays, you were ok…if you looked back and they were greys…you’ll still be ok…be they blacks you still have hope, though if you turn around and the leaders chasing you are on chestnuts,say your prayers to Allah, you’ll see him soon….or something like that…would like find the original….true version.