Table of Contents

Preface Foreword by Osama bin Abdulaziz Al-Nujaifi, Speaker of the Parliament of Iraq Introduction by Atheel bin Abdulaziz Al-Nujaifi, President of the Iraqi Arabian Horse Organisation (IAHO) and Governor of Nineveh Province, Iraq Chapter One Arabian Horses in Pre-Islamic and Islamic History Chapter Two The Origin of the Modern Arabian and its Relationship to Ancient Horses Chapter Three The Story of Iraq's Arabian Horses and the Development of Flat Racing Chapter Four Marabit (Strains) of Iraqi Arabian Horses Chapter Five Some Extraordinary Iraqi Arabian Horses, Past and Present Chapter Six The Story of Tabeeb (Al-Suri or Dhaman Amer) Chapter Seven The Stud Farms of Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Nujaifi in Mosul Chapter Eight Iraqi Arabian Horses and their Influence on World Breeding Programmes Bibliography

About the Author

DR MOHAMMAD BIN ABDULAZIZ AL-NUJAIFI's family have been breeding horses since the family arrived in Arabia in 1638. Keeping the tradition alive on their stud farm in Mosul has not been easy - wars and internal strife have taken their toll - but horses have remained an abiding passion throughout his life. Dr Al-Nujaifi, is the Chief Advisor to the Speaker of the Iraqi House of Representatives, has a Doctorate in Agriculture from Oxford University and divides his time between Iraq and Europe. He has a property management company in the UK where his children attend school. The owner of many successful purebred Iraqi Arabian racehorses, he is often to be found in winner's enclosures at home in Iraq as well as at major race courses, particularly in the UK, Sweden, France, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States. The breeding of Arabians has inevitably suffered over the past two decades, but it continues nonetheless, and Mohammad Al-Nujaif is committed to ensuring his country's bloodlines survive and flourish. As Vice President of the Iraqi Arabian Horse Organisation, Chairman and international representative of the Registration, Stud Book and Rules Committee, he is ideally placed to continue with his mission.