Shagya Arab

The origins of the Shagya-Arabian breed lie in the purebred Arabian horse. These horses originated from the Arabian Peninsula and eventually made their way to Europe and then the rest of the world. One drawback of the original purebred Arabians was their rather delicate and less powerful build, which made them unsuitable for certain purposes. In the 19th century, a new line within Arabian breeding was developed to create a more robust yet still fast riding horse. While purebred Arabians continued to be used exclusively in the paternal line, foreign blood was selectively introduced into the maternal line to improve desired traits.

Today, the Shagya-Arabian is recognized as an independent breed with a closed studbook. Breeding is conducted in purebred form, and each national breeding association maintains its own closed studbook. Only selected purebred Arabians are allowed for refinement within the breed.

The Shagya-Arabian typically exhibits a dry, expressive head with large eyes and well-defined facial features. The limbs are strong and correct, with a harmonious and functional body structure. Unlike the purebred Arabian, the so-called "dished" profile (concave face) appears less frequently in Shagya-Arabians; instead, a straight or slightly concave profile is more common.

The neck is long, well set, and slightly arched. The withers are pronounced and extend far into the back. The back itself is medium-length, well-muscled, and transitions into a relatively long, slightly sloping croup. The tail is set high and is often carried in the typical Arabian fashion.

As with purebred Arabians, many Shagya-Arabians have a reduced number of vertebrae. It is common for them to have 17 instead of 18 ribs, 5 instead of 6 lumbar vertebrae, and 15 instead of 16 to 18 tail vertebrae. This unique feature contributes to the breed’s compact and unified appearance.

Shagya-Arabians are uncomplicated, capable, and mentally stable horses. Initially bred for military purposes, the goal was to produce horses that were easy to handle, even-tempered, and willing to perform.
Furthermore, like other Arabian lines, Shagya-Arabians are known for their friendly, honest, and people-oriented temperament.

A noticeable but harmless trait in Shagya-Arabians is the progressive depigmentation of the skin and coat around the eyelids and muzzle.
Other genetic disorders relevant to the breed include:

• Cerebellar Abiotrophy
• Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
• Occipital Atlanto-Axial Malformation (OAAM)

1. Shagya-Araber: Charakter, Eignung und Pflege | FRESSNAPF
2. Shagya Araber im Rasseportrait