MY LIFE WITH THE ARABIAN HORSE: BETTY FINKE
In 1980, Betty Finke submitted her first article to Arabian Horse World. Nearly 40 years later, she is still enriching Arabian Horse World’s pages through the breadth of her knowledge and her astute and soulful commentaries about our breed today. As she once wrote, “I try to keep the perspective focused on the Arabian’s rich history and the characteristics that made it the horse which, once upon a time, was used to upgrade all other horse breeds. I try to keep alive and pass on those things which are in danger of being forgotten.” And in so doing, Betty Finke has become one of the finest writers on the subject of the Arabian horse today. This magazine is proud to have her on the masthead.
HOW WERE YOU INTRODUCED TO ARABIAN HORSES?
Like many kids, I was attracted to horses very early. I’m not sure where that came and the Flicka novels), but books on various breeds and on breeding. Among them was a classic German reference work on horse breeding and stud management, which is still in my possession. In this book I first saw the picture of my ideal horse, and it has remained so to this day: a 19 century painting of a white stallion named Amurath. Many years later, I discovered that this horse was one of the most significant ancestors of the Arabian breed.
