Incitatus is my Arabian gelding.
He's Flea Bitten Gray, but has lost most of his dark bay fleas with age and now almost entirely pure white.
Arabians are one of the oldest breed of horse, and my favorite.
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I call you Horse;
I make you Arabian
and I give you the chestnut color of the ant;
I have hung happiness from the forelock
which hangs between your eyes;
you shall be the Lord of the other animals.
Men shall follow you wherever you go;
you shall be as good for flight as for pursuit;
riches shall be on your back
and fortune shall come through your meditation.
- Allah
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These are the photos that were used in Incitatus' online ad.
And so the first time I ever saw him. :)


The first photos I took of Incitatus after meeting him in Phoenix.
His make and tail was very tangled, most of it had to be combed/cut out later.


Rearing up after getting him home.


Incitatus is very beautiful, if you haven't figured that out already. :)
But don't tell him I said. He's over confident enough as it is.


Getting used to being able to graze again.


Incitatus and his crown of feathers.


I was going to use this picture to run Incitatus for town Mayor.
Maybe next time.


Under saddle


A very fuzzy and very dirty Incitatus in December 2006.


January 2007 (more photos)


January 2007 (more photos)





April 2007
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Painting

This is a painting I found on etsy.com. I think it looks a lot like
two horses that board at the stable (on the right), and even
has Incitatus standing around in the background.
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About the Arabian breed...

"The Arabian horse is a breed of horse with a reputation for intelligence, high spirit, and outstanding stamina. With a distinctively chiseled head and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most easily recognizable horse breeds in the world.

They are one of the oldest horse breeds in the world. There is archaeological evidence of horses that resemble modern Arabians dating back 4,500 years. Throughout history, Arabian horses from the Middle East spread around the world by both war and trade, used to improve other breeds by adding speed, refinement, endurance, and good bone. Today, Arabian bloodlines are found in almost every modern breed of riding horse.

The Arabian developed in a desert climate and was prized by the nomadic Bedouin people, often being brought inside the family tent for shelter and protection. This close relationship with humans created a horse breed with a good disposition, quick to learn, and willing to please. But the Arabian also developed the high spirit and alertness needed in a horse used for raiding and war. This combination of willingness and sensitivity requires modern Arabian horse owners to handle their horses with competence and respect.

Many Arabians also have a slight forehead bulge between their eyes, called the "jibbah" by the Bedouin, that adds additional sinus capacity, believed to have helped the Arabian horse in its native dry desert climate. Another breed characteristic is an arched neck with a large, well-set windpipe set on a fine, clean throatlatch. This structure of the poll and throatlatch was called the "mitbah" or mitbeh by the Bedouin, and in the best Arabians is long and somewhat straight, allowing flexibility in the bridle and room for the windpipe.

The Arabian is classified as a "hot-blooded" breed, a category that includes other refined, spirited horses bred for speed, such as the Thoroughbred and the Barb. Like other hot-bloods, Arabians' sensitivity and intelligence enable quick learning and greater communication with their riders. However, their intelligence also allows them to learn bad habits as quickly as good ones.

All Arabians, regardless of coat color, have black skin, except under white markings. Black skin provided natural protection from the hot desert sun. Although many Arabians appear "white," this is the natural action of the gray gene. Gray horses are born bay, black or chestnut, then get progressively lighter as they age, until their hair coat eventually turns pure white or becomes "flea-bitten." Their skin is black and remains so throughout their life. Therefore, all "white" Arabians are actually grays."

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