Arabian Horse Breeding and the Arabians of America by Dr. Ameer Zaher 1961 second ed.

Description

ARABIAN HORSE BREEDING

and

ARABIANS OF AMERICA

by DR. AMEER  ZAHER

This is a very rare and fascinating classic book on Arabian horse breeding in Egypt and America. Dr. Zaher (b. 1908) served as Arabian horse breeder in the stud of the Royal Agricultural Society of Egypt and head of livestock breeding programs in Egypt. The earlier edition is still useful but in this second edition entire chapters had to be rewritten especially on concerning Arabian horse breeding in Egypt and Dr. Zaher visits to stud farms he had not been able to visit before. This book is a must have and includes many vintage photos and charts. Published more than 65 years ago, this  large book has long been out of print and it is now rare. The 1950 First Edition sells for around $1200.

From the Preface: “In 1946, I was asked by Ahmet Abdel-Ghaffar Pasha (Past Minister of Agriculture), and The Royal Agricultural Society of Egypt to visit, inspect, and report the conditions of the, Arabian Horse Farms of the United States. I visited almost all the large Arabian studs in the States. In all farms I went to, the breeders were courteous, and keen to know as much as they could about the Arabian horse. Many of them had a very good idea about the breed, the type, and the conformation of the Arab; and many have put the Arabian horse under test to prove that he could be used as a riding horse, stock horse and parade horse. Many of them used the blood of the Arab in creating light horses out of heavy draft horses. Some of the have advertised the Arabian horse by all possible means, and some of them have founded associations for improving the breed. This book is intended to discuss the plans of breeding that I got acquainted with and to, compare them with the old Arabian plans. It is to throw some light on the Arabian horse breeding in this country, compare it to that of other countries, and to discuss the investigation that has been done by myself about the genetic history of the Arabian horse. Generally, it could be a reference for the breeders, to show them what other breeders are doing and what plans they have. . . Theoretical breeding plans and their application will be discussed, using examples from the American breeders themselves. I hope this kind of work will help and satisfy the Arabian horse enthusiasts.”

From the Preface to the Second Edition: “During the ten years since the appearance of the first edition, many changes have been going on in Arabian horse breeding in all parts of the world. . . .The genetic history of the Arabian horses of to-day in the United States must have been changed through new systems of breeding. In order to find out what lines of breeding were preferred, the same work done in this book had to be done again.”

Contents include: “THE HISTORY OF THE ARABIAN HORSE; THE HISTORY OF THE ARABIAN HORSE IN AMERICA; THE GENETICS OF THE HORSE; SYSTEMS OF BREEDING; THE ARABIAN HORSE OF EGYPT; THE GENETIC HISTORY OF THE ARABIAN HORSE IN AMERICA; FAMILIES AND STRAINS; JUDGING THE ARABIAN HORSE; ENTHUSIASM TO ARABIAN TRADITIONS – ARABIAN NAMES FOR HORSES; MY VISITS TO THE LARGE ARABIAN STUDS IN AMERICA”

Hard cover book,  165 pages of text + over 160 pages of photographs. Very Good condition: no torn or missing pages, some underlining and notes. Original publisher’s hardcover binding with gilt lettering on the front cover  and spine.  A solid copy of this interesting and very rare book. Cairo: Cairo University Press, 1961. Second Edition.