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Anglo-Arabian Aiglonne won Olympic Gold in three day eventing in 1948 |
Anglo-Arabian, or Anglo-Arab, horses ara a crossbred between
Thoroughbred (thus, the prefix "Anglo") and Arabian horses. The cross
can be made between a Thoroughbred stallion and an Arabian mare, or vice versa.
It can also be a cross between either an Anglo-Arabian and a Thoroughbred or, alternatively,
an Anglo-Arabian and an Arabian. Another permitted cross is between two Anglo-Arabians.
No matter the cross, a horse must have a minimum 12.5% of Arabian blood to be considered
an Anglo-Arabian.
France is one of the largest producers of Anglo-Arabian horses.
French Anglo-Arabian horses can trace their liniage back to two stallions: the Arabian
stud Massoud and Aslam, a Turkish horse, probably of the now-extinct Turkoman breed.
These Syrian imports were then crossed with a trio of Thoroughbreds, specifically,
the Comus Mare, the Selim Mare, and Daer. Some years later, three of their daughters
— Clovis, Danae, and Delphine — formed the foundation of the French Anglo-Arabian
breeding program.
Anglo-Arabian horses have used for military purposes. But
these days they are mainly used as a general riding or sport horse. They doe well
in eventing, due to its stamina, speed, and jumping ability. In the United States,
the Anglo-Arabian is considered a "part-bred" Arabian and, consequently,
is registered within a separate section of the Arabian Horse Association.
As a result of different crosses that can produce an Anglo-Arabian
horse, their size and appearance can vary a lot. However, on average, an Anglo-Arabian
is a bit taller than the average Arabian horse (Anglo-Arabians average 15.2–16.3hands). The largest horses are usually produced
by breeding a Thoroughbred mare to an Arabian stallion. The best examples of this
breed inherit the refinement, good bone, and endurance of Arabian horses, as well
as the speed and scope of a Thoroughbred.