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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Marked by the Divine?

5/20/2015

 
It would seem that I have not one very special horse, but two! I've already shared Speedy G's blood spot, but I just found out that Izzy has a Prophet's Thumbprint!
There are different versions about how the bloodied shouldered horses came to be, but here is one that I like by Arabian Horse World.  
Long ago on the sands of a great desert lived a Bedouin chieftain by the name of Ahmed and his tribe. In the tents of Ahmed was his most prized possession, a beautiful grey mare who was renowned throughout the desert as the fleetest and most beautiful horse in the world. Many people coveted the mare, and kings and chieftains had tried to acquire her, but Ahmed could not be persuaded to part with his beloved mare.

Ahmed decided to breed his mare, and searched the desert for a suitable mate for her. After a time, the mare was bred to the premier stallion in the Sultan's stable. Months went by and the time for the mare to foal grew near.

Riding across the desert one day, several miles from his tents, Ahmed was seen by a group of robber Bedouins. Fearing that he would lose his beloved mare as well as his life, Ahmed turned and raced toward his tents, knowing in his heart that the mare, heavy in foal, could never out-distance the bandits. The mare seemed to realize that she was running for her master's life, and slowly, very slowly, she began to gain ground on her pursuers. Shots rang out and bullets peppered the sand around them as the distance gradually widened.

They were almost out of rifle range when one last shot rang out. A bullet pierced Ahmed's heart, and he fell forward over the neck of his beloved mare. The mare never slackened her stride, and carried her master back to his tents on their final ride together.

Ahmed's people gathered around the mare and removed his lifeless body from her back. Down one of her shoulders, his blood had dried a nasty brown in the desert heat. There the mark remained, for no one could remove it.

That night in the tent of her dead master, the mare foaled. The foal was acclaimed by all as a perfect specimen of the Arabian breed, and on his shoulder was the same rusty red mark that his dam bore.

And so it came to pass that every great horse descended from that mare carried the mark of the bloody shoulder, and it was a thing greatly prized in the desert.
Picture
Speedy's blood spot.
I noted the dimple in Izzy's neck shortly after I brought him home, but I didn't think much of it. During one of our frequent visits to the vet, I asked Dr. Tolley about it and was told that it was likely an old injury to the muscle in his neck. My trainer noticed the mark the other day and pronounced it a Prophet's Thumbprint.

Like the bloody shoulder, the Prophet's Thumbprint also seems to be a mark of Arabian origin. It's not surprising that my Oldenburg/TB cross (registered RPSI) would sport an Arabian marking as the Thoroughbred breed relied heavily on several Arabian foundation sires. 
Picture
The Prophet's Thumbprint
Picture
A close up of the thumbprint.
The tale of the Prophet's Thumbprint is told by Ilil Arbel, Ph.D.
The Five Mares of Mohammed

The hot desert wind blew against the tent, driving the dust inside. Fatima walked softly in, carrying an earthenware jug full of cold water, and handed it to the Prophet. "Please, stop tormenting yourself, Mohammed," she said, "drink some water!"

"I will drink when the test is over, and the horses can drink, too. I cannot drink knowing they are thirsty," said the Prophet to his daughter.

"I do not understand this test, nor do I like it," said Fatima angrily. "Depriving the horses from drinking for three full days is cruel. I cannot believe you would do it, a man who loves animals better than himself!"

"I must. Allah commanded me -- would you have me disobey God? The spread of Islam depends greatly on the loyalty and strength of our horses. The best of these horses, said Allah, will be honored till the end of time... But it is the evening of the third day now, so let us go to the horses and conduct the test."

He took a horn that hung at the tent’s entrance, and walked toward an enclosure where about a hundred horses were confined, a little distance from the water hole of the oasis. The horses looked reproachfully at their beloved master as he quickly opened the gate. Tormented by thirst, the horses galloped to the water hole, but before they could reach it, Mohammed raised the horn to his lips and sounded the call for war.

The horses ignored it. They were so thirsty that perhaps they couldn’t even hear it, and went on galloping toward the water. But not all of them. Five mares stopped. Without hesitation, they turned around and returned to Mohammed, ready to do whatever was required of them.

The Prophet stroked their silky manes, tears in his eyes. He led them to the water and envisioned the glorious future as they drank. He knew that these mares would foal the finest of Arab horses, the only horses of pure blood, the horses that would help bring Islam to every corner of the Earth.
The bloody shoulder or other blood marks have long been considered the mark of courage while the Prophet's Thumbprint is thought to be a mark of quality and good luck. I certainly think it is quite lucky that I have managed to acquire one of each.
Tracy link
5/20/2015 12:08:41 am

I've never heard of that "neck dimple" called a Prophet's Thumbprint before. Miles has one too :)

Kelly link
5/20/2015 12:30:06 am

Beautiful stories! Thanks for sharing!

Carol Holm link
5/20/2015 02:33:19 am

Another Arabian Legend you may enjoy, I could not find the exact wording, but I think it must have been in one of Margurite Henry's books. Long ago, when the Arabian breed was being developed, the chieftains withheld water from their most valued mares for 3 days. On the third day the mares were let loose to run for water. As the mares were running the chieftains blew their war bugles for the mares to return for battle. 3 mares turned back and returned to their masters. And those 3 mares were the foundation of the Arabian Breed. There are other legends regarding color, with chestnut being the most valued for speed. A wonderful and noble breed who can be found in almost all other breeds of horses. Best wishes, Carol

carol link
5/20/2015 07:18:51 am

I should have read your blog more carefully! I duplicated what you said! LOL

emma link
5/20/2015 04:02:24 am

i always love the stories like these! my mare has some unusual markings here and there - maybe there are stories for them too :)

Sarah link
5/20/2015 08:21:26 am

=) We are surely blessed by our horses. Love these kinds of stories.


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
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    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
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    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
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Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
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  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
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