Editorial Reviews

The author presents ideas, arguments and philosophies which have been discussed among the community of straight Egyptian Arabian Horse breeders. Some of these concepts have caused heated arguments in our community and caused heartache and trouble. It is important to recognize the passion these horses cause in the lives of the people who adore them. So, as far as presenting any new or extraordinary information, that's not this book. It's more like one man's love song to Egypt's national treasure: The Egyptian Arabian Horse. While I agree with the author on some points, there are many other areas which I strongly don't agree with or frankly, have not formed any opinion. That's good, because a book like this, forces me to examine and review these areas of study which maybe, I have avoided thinking about. I think the book succeeds no matter how you feel, because it pushes the reader out of his or her comfort zone and into provocative thought, followed by possibly, a refreshing change. Maybe even forcing the reader to take inventory of all he thinks he understands and may need to reevaluate. The book is controversial, especially in the author's criticism of Western Arabian Horse breeders and the subject of selective breeding (in-breeding). The author is not the first person to convict successful, long-time breeders of being more dollar-focused than horse-focused. I am certain that the controversy that this book will surely initiate, will also succeed in driving book sales out of curiosity or further divide the community into two camps: the mainstream, popular bloodline SE breeder and the eccentric, individualistic SE breeder working diligently to rescue obscure, key bloodlines from extinction. I know the author piqued my curiosity over volume 2 and the information that he is going to present on Shahloul and Nazeer. I am glad for the book and for the dialogue this book will cause, all over the world.