The Asil Horse Breeding Past and Present

The word asil comes from the root esalat which signifies pertaining to the origin or untainted. Thus, etymologically, in terms of referring to a breed of horses, Asil has come to signify pure. One other reason for using the word Asil is that for the first time, emphasizes was given to follow diligently a set of rules for breeding and a derivative of the word Asil is “Osul” which means rules. The history of the Arabian horse breed has its roots in the Middle-East, where the hub of three ancient civilizations formed a triangle consisting of: the Elamites, ruling from Susa (known as Shush today) situated in Iran, in the province of Khuzestan; the Babylonians, situated near the present Baghdad, and the Assyrians, whose capital was Nineveh, near Mosul in today’s Iraq. Rock carvings from the era of the Elamites and Assyrians depict horses being used over 5000 years ago. There have been many theories on the origin of the Asil horse but there is no doubt that the Arabian horse, known as the Asil was recognized as such, some 1400 years ago at the time of the prophet Mohamed. In Iran, the province of Khuzestan, for many centuries before the discovery of oil, was in particular famous for being the most important Asil producing area of Persia. The importance attached to horse breeding through successive Persian Empires was demonstrated by the fact that there were always official breeding centers maintained by the royal courts. Many famous Arabic speaking tribes, whether sedentary, semi settled, or nomadic, lived in Khuzestan and many Asil strains are linked to their tribal names. There are probably as many Asil strains and sub-strains as there were tribes in which they were bred. The principal strains of the Asil horse in Iran are not the Khamseh and its five principal strains, commonly referred to in Arab countries (although they vary from country to country). In Khuzestan nine important strains have been identified as Asil, which in turn are divided into sub strains. They are as follow: 1. The Wadne Khersan, 2. The Koheile Ajuz, 3. The Saglawieh Jadran, 4. The Obaye Sharak, 5. The Hadbe Enzahi, 6. The Jelfe Jarjari, 7. The Manaak Hedri, 8. The Hamdanieh Semri and 9. The Showeimeh Sabah. The reader will note that all strains have feminine endings as it is commonly known that the strain is given to the horse by its dam side. These Strains were common to the region of Mesopotamia, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria or Egypt. Bloodlines have crossed the borders, at times leaving Iran and at others entering it from Nejd or present day Kuwait. The exchange of sub-lines or Strains often conformed to certain patterns arising from exchanges during war, taxation as tribute or as blood money, renewing friendship following feuds or raids, marriage, consolation gifts following death, theft and lastly, through the founding of horse partnerships. The identification of strains have traditionally been of great importance in Iran as a strain would say all you want to know about a horse’s breeding, the history of its roots and the tribe to which it belonged. The most influential tribes known for the purity of their horses in Iran are the following: The Al Emareh were one of the most wealth and powerful tribes known in Khuzestan, living in the South West, near of Omidieh and Ramshir. They have a very long history of horse breeding and many of their official pedigrees can still be found in collector’s hands. These pedigrees were always kept inside a Koran thus showing the degree of their significance.