Co-authored by HRH Princess Alia, the eldest daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan, and the artist and author Peter Upton, ERoyal HeritageEtells the story of the Arab horse in Jordan, from the early days of the Bedouin tribes to the 21st century, a story closely associated with the Hashemite family of Jordan, direct descendants of the Prophet. The account also tells of the Arab Revolt of 1916, in which the Emirs Ali, Abdullah, Feisal and Zeid, withET E Lawrence, drove the Ottomans out of the region, and how some of the Hashemite mares became the foundation stock of the Royal Stud in Jordan.ERoyal HeritageEcovers many other adventures including the traumatic events which nearly led to the loss of the StudOs precious mares and describes how, despite these setbacks, the Royal Stud has flourished. In 1987 Princess Alia, Director of the Royal Stud, organised the first Arab horse show to be held in Arabia entitled OThe Arab Horse at Home.O It was an event which inspired other Arab countries to organise horse shows of their own. Princess Alia includes many fascinating personal reminiscences: about the horses she holds so dear, the people involved in the Stud through the years, the famous and infamous, family and friends, heads of state and handlers. The work is richly illustrated with paintings, drawings and rare photographs from old archives and private collections, as well as up-to-date portraits of the Stud and its horses. Peter Upton gives an in-depth account of the horses themselves; the breeding, lineage and preservation of the hugely important Jordanian bloodlines. A story of legend, romance and war, ERoyal HeritageEtells with passion for the first time the remarkable saga of the Arab horse in Jorda

Here is the long-awaited work by Peter Upton, one of Britain's leading equine painters and authors. This book on the profound influence of the Arabian horse on the native horses and ponies of Britain is certain to raise interest, if not eyebrows, among horse-lovers around the world. Upton's unrivalled knowledge of and passion for the Arab horse are well known, and his paintings and books on the subject are in demand world-wide. In Out of the Desert, he focuses on the Arab's influence on the light horse and pony breeds of Great Britain. The work is lavishly illustrated with Upton's own paintings and sketches, as well as archive photographs and fine art by artists such as Stubbs, Munnings, Sorolla and the Pre-Raphaelites. Throughout the narrative Upton draws on a rich source of quotes from contemporary and historic writers. The Arab is recognised as the world's oldest-known pure equine race, and in earlier centuries was eagerly sought after by the rich and powerful. This peerless breed had long been the first among horses, renowned for its strength, sagacity and speed. Due to the purity of its blood, the Arab displayed an unrivalled pre-potency, and its influence can be traced in breeds across the world - the Morgan horse, the Lipizzaner, the Percheron and many others. Upton's conclusion that Britain's native breeds have benefited from the benign influence of Arab blood may challenge the long-held views of some purists, but if you have a place in your heart for the horse or pony, you will undoubtedly want to find a place on your bookshelves for this superb book.