Traditionally, there are several families (or strains) of Arabian horses that share common physical characteristics and common ancestors.
The horses of Hearts Desire Arabians are mainly of the Kehilan strain. Our foundation mare, C Bint Aquila was sold to me listed as "15/16 Kahailian". I am currently doing some research to determine for myself the true extent of her Kahilan blood.
To give you an idea of the challenge in determining such a thing, the following is a brief explaination of the strains and their possible origins.
The nomadic Arab tribes, who originated the strain names, did not always use a descriptive word for the strains, but sometimes took the name from a specific characteristic of one of the foundation horses.
As an example, The foundation mare of the Saqlawi strain was supposedly one who kicked her heels in the air, so they called her "saqlawiya." the Saqlawi strain took its name from the word, "saqla" meaning a kick. Therefore, a strain name did not necessarily define particular family characteristics at the time the strain originated. However, certain tribes linebreeding and/or inbreeding their horses with the specific goal of developed a particular type, and eventually certain strains took on particular characteristics.
Because the Arabs beleived that the mare is more influcencial on her offspring than the sire the strains most often take their name through the tail female line.
1. KEHILAN, fem. Kehileh (or Kehilet before a vowel).
This strain is most numerous, and, taken generally, the most exteemed. It contains a greater proportion, I think, of bays than any other strain. The Kehilans are the fastest, though not perhaps the hardiest horses, and bear a closer resemblance than the rest to English thoroughbreds, to whom indeed they are more nearly related. The Darley Arabian, perhaps the only thoroughbred Anazeh horse in our stud book, was a Kehilan. The Kehilan is not by any means the most beautiful of the strains. Its subdivisions are very numerous, and will be given, in the list at the end of this chapter. The favourite substrains are the Kehilan Ajuz, the Kehilan Nowag, the Kehilan Abu Argub, Abu Jenub, and Ras-el-Fedawi.
2. SEGLAWI, fem. Seglawieh
One strain of this blood, the Seglawi Jedran, is considered the best of all in the desert; and the Seglawis generally are held in high repute. They are, however, comparatively rare, and exist only in a few families of the Anazeh. Among the Shammar there are Seglawis, but no Seglawi Jedrains, the last mares of this breed having been bought up at fabulous prices by Abbas Pasha. The four strains, Jedrain, Obeyran, Arjebi and el-Abd are identical in origin, being descended from four Seglawi mares, sisters--but only the first has been kept absolutely pure. Even the Seglawi Jedrain is to be found pure in the families of Ibn Nederi and Ibn Sbeni only. The Seglawi Obeyran has been crossed with the Kehilans and other strains, and the El Abd though purer than the Obeyran is yet not absolutely so even in the family of Ibn Shaalan, where it is at its best. The Seglawi Jedran of Ibn Nederi is powerful and fast, but not particularly handsome. Ibn Sbeni's strain is more perfect in appearance, and of equal purity.
3. ABEYAN, fem. Abeyeh.
The Abeyan is generally the handsomest breed, but is small and has less resemblance to the English thoroughbred than either of the preceding. The Abeyan Sherrak is the substrain most appreciated, and an Abeyan Sherrak we saw at Aleppo, bred by the Gomussa, could not have been surpassed in good looks. He was not however of a racing type. Again an Abeyeh Sherrak mare belonging to Beteyen ibn Mershid was the most perfect mare we saw. But her sire was a Kehilan Ajuz. The pure Abeyan Sherrak strain is only found in the family of Abu Jereys of the Meseka, and in a single family of the Jelaas.
4. HAMDANI, fem. Hamdanieh,
is not a common breed either among the Anazeh or Shammar. Most of the animals of this breed I have seen have been grey, but a very handsome brown horse was shown us by the Gomussa. This was a Hamdani Simri, which is the only substrain recognised as hadud. The very beautiful white mare, Sherifa, which we had with us on the latter part of our journey, was a Hamdanieh Simri. She was bred in Nejd, and had been in the possession of Ibn Saoud. Her head is the most perfect of any I have seen. She stands fourteen hands two inches, and is pure white in colour, with the kohl patches round the eyes and nose very strongly and blackly marked. Her ears are long like a hind's, and her eyes as full and soft. She was admired all over the desert. In shape, head apart, she is more like an English hunter than a racehorse.
5. HADBAN, fem. Hadbbeh,
also uncommon among the Anazeh, the best having formerly been possessed by the Roala. Hadban Enzekhi is the best substrain, and to it belonged a remarkable mare owned by Mohammed Jirro at Deyr. She stood about fourteen hands two and a-half inches, was a bay with black points, carried her tail very high, and was full of fire. She looked like a racehorse, though not an English one. The two other substrains, Mshetib and El Furrd, are not so much esteemed as the Enzekhi.
Besides these five great breeds, which are called the Khamsa, there are sixteen other breeds, all more or less esteemed, and most of them with one or more strains of blood, accounted equal to the Khamsa. These are: --
1. MANEGHI, >fem. Maneghieh (the long necked).
Said by some (but without sufficient authority) to be an off-shoot of the Kehilan Ajuz. The characteristics of this breed are marked. They are plain and without distinction, have coarse heads, long ewe necks, powerful shoulders, much length and strong but coarse hind quarters. They have also much bone, and are held in high repute for the qualities of endurance and staying power. Niebuhr's discription of the Kochlanis seems to have been written expressly for them. Of the two substains the most esteemed is the Maneghi Hedruj, of which the family of Ibn Sbeyel of the Gomusa possesses the finest mares. these are generally known as Maneghi Ibn Sbeyel, but there is no distinct strain of that name. The other substrain, Maneghi es slaji (greyhound), is described as being "the original" Maneghi breed.
2. SAADAN, fem. Saadeh.
The substrain, Saadan Togan, is in high repute. The handsomest and strongest mare we have is of this breed. She is a chestnut fourteen hands two inches, of perfect beauty and immense power, but she cannot gallop with the Kehilans. She bears a strong resemblance to one of the portraits of Eclipse, that published in the "Book of the Horse." She was bred by the Towf Anazeh, who never come north of the Hamad. She was known far and wide among the Anezeh tribes as "the Saadeh."
3. DAKHMAN, fem. Dakhmeh.
The substrain Em Amr. We saw a very beautiful Dakhmeh filly at the Gomussa. All the horses of this breed we saw or heard of were dark bay or brown.
4. SHUEYMAN, fem. Shueymeh.
Of this the only substrain is the Shueyman Sbab. Faris, Sheykh of the Northern Shammar, has a mare of this breed. She is coarse, but of immense strength and courage, and when moving becomes handsome. She is a dark bay of fourteen hands three inches, or thereabouts.
5. JILFAN, fem Jilfeh
Substrain Jilfan Stam el Bulad (sinews of steel). A --, son of Mijuel of the Misrab, rode a fine bay three-year old colt, a Jilfan Stam el Bulad.
6. TOESSAN, fem. Toesseh.
Substrain Toessan Algami. The only horse we saw of this breed was a bay, handsome but very small.
7. SAMHAN, fem. Samheh.
Substrain Samhan el Gomeaa. The tallest and strongest colt we saw among the Gommussa was of this breed. He has already been described in the journal.
8. WADNAN, fem.Wadneh.
Substrain Wadnan Hursan.
9. RISHAN, fem. Risheh.
Substrain Rishan Sherabi.
10. KEBEYSHAN, fem Kebeysheh.
Substrain Kebeyshan el Omeyr.
11. MELEKHAN, fem. Melekha.
12. JEREYBAN, fem. Jereybeh.
13. JEYTANI, fem. Jeytanieh.
14. FEREJAN, fem. Ferejeh.
15. TREYFI, fem. Treyfieh.
16. RABDAN, fem. Rabdeh.
It will be observed that in the foregoing list, all the breeds, except the last six, have at least one substrain, whose name is added to that of the breed, and these substrains only are used in choosing sires. a Kehilan without an affix to his name is not hadud, that is, not "worthy;" and of the disqualified class mares only are used for breeding -- their produce, however, inherit their disabilites, and the Arabs do not consider that a strain in the blood can be extinguished by lapse of time. On the other hand, a Rishan, with the affix of Sherabi, or a Samhan, with that of El Gomeaa, are perfectly qualified, although a Kehilan Ajuz or a Seglawi Jedran would be preferred. Of the minor breeds none are kept absolutely pure, except the Maneghi Hedruj of Ibn Sbeyel. In all cases, the breed of the colt is that of his dam, not of his sire.
Lady Anne Blunt's description, written so many years ago illustrates the challenges of identifying the "strain" of any particular horse. Today, to throw in another twist to the typical descriptions used of Arabians - it is now common to identify an Arabian by it's ancesters country of origin. Polish, Egyptian, CMK (Crabbet, Maynesboro, Kellog) Davenport, French, Russian and Spanish.
"Lady", whom I consider our "foundation mare" was 15/16 Kehailan - and also, Polish. So, when I refer to my horses as "Polish Arabians", although it does get a bit of a chuckle from some people - expecting perhaps - some sort of joke to follow - it is also true.
C Bint Aquila's ancestors really did come from Poland! But no, I don't think it takes more than one of them to accomplish any given task... ;-)
Here is a list of "strains" as described by Lady Anne Blunt (more information on this influential figure to come) in 1879 after an extensive trip reviewing (and purchasing) arabian horses: