Where have all the Arabians gone?

Desertarabian.org - Full Article

by Bruce M. Johnson

Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the flowers gone?
Girls have picked them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
© 1961 Pete Seeger

Those of us who recall this ballad may well now ask, “Where have all the Arabians gone?” as we continue to read about declines in registrations and show entrees. What is the situation? How is the Desert Arabian doing? What lies ahead, and what can we do to improve the prospects for the future?

Historical Perspective

Registrations of Arabian horses began in 1908 with the establishment of the Arabian Horse Club of America (later the Arabian Horse Registry of America). Horses were registered by year of birth. Prior to 1908, fewer than 10 foals had been born each year. That number grew to more than 20 by 1925, and then reached 75 by 1932. Breeding by Albert Harris, Henry Babson, J M Dickinson, Roger Selby, W K Kellogg, and many others drove the annual number of foals into triple digits in 1936 and reached 398 in 1945. The numbers continued to climb in most years after World War II, hitting 1,097 in 1956 and 2,084 in 1960.

Breeding grew rapidly for the next 25 years. There were so many foals that statistics were kept by year registered rather than birth year. In 1985 there were just over 30,000 horses registered...

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