7 Q&A on Arabian horses Egypt exports to Europe

Cairo - 9 August 2017: The European Union received the first shipment of Egypt-bred Arabian horses in seven years on Monday. Here are seven Q&A on Arabian horses that reveal why they are so special.

1- How many thoroughbred Arabian horse strains are there?

There are five primary strains, known as Keheilan, Seglawi, Abeyan, Hamdani and Hadban, which are all Arabic names, naturally.

2- What are the most famous horses at el-Zahraa stud farm in Egypt?

They are Te, Tajweed, Afifa, Defaf, Raghdana, Monadel, Gabour, Anelaand and Safia.

3- What are the beauty standards of a pure Arabian horse?

A pure Arabian horse has a refined, wedge-shaped head, a broad forehead, small ears, large eyes, large nostrils, small muzzles, and straight legs that are 145 to 155 cm tall.

4- Is every Arabian horse registered?

Yes. There is a database that covers all information, including a horse’s name, family and ancestors.

5- What are the proper conditions of breeding and exporting?

Horse establishments should be supervised medically by a veterinary service, confirmed disease-free and equivalent to European market standards. Then, well-refined horses are transported through sanitized vehicles to a veterinary quarantine for a period of time before exporting.

6- How long does the horse stay in quarantine?

The horse stays there for about 80 to 90 days, during which it undergoes regular tests and medical examinations to make sure it is disease-free.

7- What are the pre-travel measures?

A committee from Cairo Airport finalizes all health measures and transports the horses to the airport with all the required documents.

Veterinarians examine the horses immediately after arriving at the quarantine to be confirmed disease-free and in-line with passport data and cited health conditions.