From Ancient Bedouin Legend
Byford, et al
Origination of the Arabian Horse
A Bedouin warrior raced his Arabian mare across the burning desert to war. While engaged in battle his shirt became tattered and fell from his body. His mare, knowing it was his favorite shirt, raised her tail high and caught the shirt. There it stayed, streaming behind her, carried on her high-borne tail. Since that time, all Arabians have carried their tails high like a flag, proclaiming their loyalty and understanding to man.
The Five Broodmares of Mohammed
This is a story, as told verbally from generation to generation, about how Mohammed picked out the five mares which were to become the foundation of the Arabian horse.
"By the time of this event, Mohammed was a very wealthy man and he owned a herd of horses consisting of several hundred animals. From this herd, he picked out one hundred mares of the highest quality. He kept them in a large enclosure not far from a beautiful little pond. There, beneath the burning desert sun, the mares were to stay without feed or water, for many days. During these days, Mohammed spent time with his mares and got to know them. He didn't give them any names but he knew each one of them by their looks. He also taught them a small trick: when he blew a horn, two quick signals, it meant attention and gathering. All the mares were supposed to gather around him. He did this every day so that all of the mares understood what to do.
So one day, when the mares could hardly endure any longer, Mohammed placed himself between the enclosure and the pen. Then he ordered for the gate to the enclosure to be opened. All the mares who were still able to move galloped towards the pond from where they could smell the cold, refreshing scent of water. But when the first mares were almost there, Mohammed blew his horn. Then something strange happened! Five mares, consisting of only skin and bones, hesitated and turned to Mohammed and staggered to him.
These five mares, and only these, could be saved. All the other mares continued down to the pond and burst their stomachs with the water. Mohammed turned with tears in his eyes to his five wonderful mares, which had passed his hard test and put their lives in his hands. He gave them small quantities of water and named them Hadban, Koheilan, O'Bayan, Seglawi, and Hamadan. So did these five mares become the foundation of Mohammed's continued horse breeding."
"When Allah wanted to create the Horse, he spoke to the South Wind and said, 'I want to create an animal out of you. Make yourself dense.' And the South Wind did so and by this dust Allah created a dark chesnut. Allah said, 'I call you Horse and make you an Arabian.' Then Allah blessed the Horse and gave him the sign of glory and happiness - a white star on his forehead.
