We chose Prince Muhammad Ali Tawfiq’s books on horses; Let us present through its presentation the complete experiences of its author in the field of horse breeding, including the tips that would advance the Arabian horse globally, as well as the negatives it included in order to avoid them.
This group of books and letters includes the following:
1- A letter on horses written by Prince Muhammad Ali Tawfiq in 1918 AD, as it is written on its cover, and it was printed in 1925 AD at Al-Etimad Press.
It was written in 20 pages of medium size, and the cover bears that it was “written and printed by Ahmed Mokhtar”. The copy is kept in the Al-Azhar Library.
It deals with important topics, including: the history of the horse, the thoroughbred horse, the Arab thoroughbred, the English thoroughbred, the thoroughbred used in trotting, semi- thoroughbreds, horse men, kits, and a word on horse breeding.
2- “A Message in the Service and Care of Horses”: From the archives of the Egyptian Book House.
This treatise is located in 48 pages of medium pieces, and deals with everything related to horse breeding, health and beauty, such as: horse washing, grooming operations, stable system, habits, heating, food, breastfeeding, feeding principles, and others.
3- “About the Thoroughbred Horses in Egypt”: The cover of the copy preserved in the Egyptian House of Books excludes the date of its authorship and printing.
This copy is located in 16 pages of medium pieces, and it deals with several important topics, including: the benefits of horses for the Arabs, Ali Pasha Sharif’s care for horses, training horses, the benefits and harms of horse life in the desert, the superiority of the hammer horse, the decay of games and equestrianism, The origin is in the English horses.
4 “A Book on Arabian Horse Breeding” Part One: Its first edition was issued in the English language, and it was translated by the Royal Agricultural Society in 1935 AD into the Arabic language, and the second edition was published in 1938 AD.
This book is about 75 pages, some of which included pictures showing the care of the sons of Muhammad Ali Pasha and his grandsons on horses.
It consists of an introduction and six chapters as follows:
o Chapter One: The purebred Arabian horses in Egypt.
o Chapter Two: The Arabian Horse and Arab Culture.
o Chapter Three: On the strength of the Arabian horses and their colours.
o Chapter Four: Horse Breeding.
o Chapter Five: Equestrian Games.
o Chapter Six: Various Issues.
5 – “A Book on the Breeding of Arabian Horses” Part Two: Issued in English, translated by the Royal Agricultural Society into the Arabic language in 1936 AD, and it is about 100 pages, some of which included pictures, and it comes as a continuation of the first part, where it is devoid of an introduction, and it consists of three chapters :
o Chapter One: It includes ten chapters, dealing with: tails of horses, saddles, bridles, heels, washing horses, walking, breeding, breeding, Arabian horses, selection, and method of display.
o Chapter Two: It includes important information about horses, which the author gleaned from a number of valuable literature from different ages.
o Chapter Three: In it he reviewed – for the first time – the most important contents of Abbas Pasha I’s manuscript on “The Origins of the Arabian Horse”, which is unique in its chapter, as it contained important information about the origins, lineages and types of horses, collected by a research team of senior stakeholders in horse breeding through Live testimonies of Arab tribal elders who were met by the research team.
These five compositions complement each other; To present to horse breeders and horse lovers – as well as to the reader interested in horse affairs – a comprehensive encyclopedia that combines knowledge, experience and expertise, which is indispensable for those interested in this field.
Prince Muhammad Ali Tawfiq reveals the secret of his writings on Arabian horses
Prince Muhammad Ali Tawfiq revealed the secret of his writings in the field of Arabian horse breeding, stressing that they targeted several important matters, most notably:
o It is an answer to the desire of many of his foreign friends.
o Show the true image of the Arabian horse, which has won the greatest pride and appreciation.
o Mention what the purebred English horse has borrowed from the characteristics of the Arabian horse.
o Benefiting from his personal experience that lasted more than thirty-five years.
o Absence of important facts from European books on this subject.
As for the secret of his great love for horses, it is due to many reasons, most notably:
o His connection with her since his early years.
o His teacher’s tales about horses.
o Visiting all the horse fairs in the world.
o Acquisition of a large library on horses in foreign languages.
