Riders of the Wind

The sacred bond between humans and horses

There’s something to be said about the majesty and intelligence of horses, let alone their steadfastness. They don’t call it horsepower for nothing. Horses are unique creatures that have changed the course of human history not only in helping with transportation and work, but also in understanding the human-animal bond. Thought of as hyperintelligent beings, horses are more than just an animal in many cultures: They are kin. With quite the evolutionary and expansionary history, horses have made their way around the world, introducing the power of their spiritual bond to every walk of life. While there are over 200 domesticated breeds, the Arabian is the oldest — and one of the most intelligent, loyal, and empathetic. These horses are a sacred family to Arabian culture for more reasons than one.

The Arabian Horse

Painting by William Barraud

Arabian Horses in Saudi Culture

Arabian horses have long been considered sacred in Saudi culture. Bedouin tribes saw them as gifts from God, recording their pedigrees as carefully as their own family lineages. Early Islamic history is filled with their presence: The Prophet Muhammad is said to have blessed them, and military commanders like Khalid ibn al-Walid rode them in battles that shaped the Arab world. The five great strains — Kehilan, Seglawi, Abeyan, Hamdani, and Hadban — remain legendary symbols of honor and heritage. Horses are seen as a moving prayer, divine creations that link earth, sky, human, and spirit.

Traits That Made Them Indispensable

Bred in the desert, Arabian horses developed unmatched endurance, resilience, and intelligence. Their wide nostrils, strong lungs, and deep chests gave them stamina, while their agility and spirit made them prized in war and travel. Arabian horses contain one less rib (17 instead of 18) and one less vertebra in their backs and in their tails than other breeds, positively impacting their stamina and endurance, and aiding them in their native desert terrain. Traditionally, Arabian horses have black coats, which help protect them from the desert sun. These qualities made them the foundation of many modern breeds, spreading their influence far beyond Arabia.

A Bond of Loyalty and Trust

Arabian horses are known to seek out human companionship and often show signs of physical affection with their owners, like nuzzling, following around, and being eager to please. Sort of similar to what you would see in a Labrador retriever. In the desert, survival often depends on the trust between rider and horse. Bedouins sheltered their horses in tents during storms, sharing food even in scarcity. This closeness created loyalty, resulting in responses not just to commands, but to the emotions of their rider. Arabian horses, like all horses, possess a high level of sensitivity, allowing them to pick up on the most subtle of signs such as body language, tone of voice, facial expressions, and energy. They are able to understand their rider on a deeper level, strengthening the trust and loyalty within the bond. To this day, they symbolize courage, companionship, and a living connection to Saudi heritage.

A look at the human-horse bond throughout history 

~3500 BCE

The Botai culture is believed to be the first to domesticate horses, using mares for their milk near what is now Kazakhstan. We know this from signs of corrals and vessels containing their milk. 

~2000 - 1500 BCE

Horses begin to appear across the Indus Valley, Mesopotamia, and Egypt, and are recognized with more divinity. This marks the first use of the chariot for war and royal transport, along with the start of horses being buried alongside pharaohs and honored in ancient temple artwork. 

1500 BCE - 2nd Century 

The first look at what would become the much-revered Arabian horse, bred by the Bedouins for loyalty, endurance, and beauty. Horses begin to expand their existence thanks to the Silk Road.

5th - 15th Century 

The Mongolian empire takes a note out of the Bedouins’ book and views horses as more than just tools, but as family, forming deep, spiritual bonds with them. At the same time, Native American peoples show complex spiritual and cultural bonds with horses. The Plains Nations involved horses in their ceremonial life and identity. 

18th - 19th Century 

Horses are seen as symbols of freedom and resistance among Indigenous people worldwide. Meanwhile, the Romantic Era brings forth a wind of philosophers, writing of horses as friends, muses, and mirrors of the soul. 

20th Century 

As technology advances, the idea of a workhorse diminishes. Horses are now viewed more strictly as companions and for equine sports. On top of this, the undeniable hyperintelligence of horses is acknowledged, and equine therapy rises in popularity thanks to horses’ empathy and intelligence, which aid in healing trauma, most commonly for veterans and children. 

21st Century 

In both Indigenous and Bedouin cultures, horses are still seen as sacred beings — symbols of spiritual guidance, stamina, and heart. When we look to the Middle East, Arabian horses are seen as a living legacy of divine connection. And zooming out, you’ll see horses honored in ceremonies, art, and healing work, not just as animals, but as ancestral partners.