Bedouin Beauty: A Radiant Coat

The pastures surrounding Sharga lake, in Mongolia, are famous for producing strong, tough horses. Similar to Ireland and to the state of Kentucky, USA, there is something in the soil, possibly limestone, which helps to build strong bones in this still wild nation. A mountain range borders the south side of Sharga lake. Mongolians believe the first horses came down from heaven and entered a small lake, located at the top of these mountains. This lake has an underground spring, which feeds clear, cold mountain water into Sharga Lake. The horses sought passage through this spring, to emerge below, in Sharga Lake. From these heavenly horses, the herd of horses grew and grew, spreading the fame of these wonderfully strong, fast and shiny horses all over Mongolia and as Mongolians believe, all over the world.

Have you read THE HORSE BOY by Rupert Isaacson? It's a great book.  I learned that "Sharga" means "shining", as in,  "a horse's coat can be really shiny." I thought of horses whom I have known with naturally shiny coats. Many of the Davenport Arabian horses, like the Tripoli daughter, Fancy Flight, pictured at left, have a radiant sheen to their coats, particularly the chestnut-colored horses. Maybe it is more noticeable in a chestnut, as opposed to the other body colors. It's a deep luster, somewhat metallic, that makes them sparkle and twinkle in the bright day's sun. I was surprised, when I saw pictures of the Arabian Horses in Bahrain, as I saw this iridescent quality in their coats too. My friend, writer and Crabbet historian and breeder, the late Gari Dill-Marlow was able to see the hide of the influential Crabbet Arabian stallion, Skowronek, and his hide, still, after so many years, was so shiny, it glowed. So, when I read the explanation for the name of "Sharga", this great story really got my attention. Is an iridescent coat an ancient indicator of the Bedouin-bred Arabian horse?

EnJOY,
Ralph