NATCHEZ — Down Lower Woodville Road, at the end of an almost hidden driveway, is the key to the Spanish Department of Defense — in 1750.

Spanish Arabian horses may have originally been bred for war, but at Gilead Arabian Farm, it’s the docile nature of the breed, which is somewhat smaller than its American cousins, that owner Marybeth Dawes likes to brag about.

“These are some of the gentlest horses you can find,” Dawes said.

Co-owned with Dawes’ husband Paul, Gilead Arabian Farm is a designated Discovery Farm for the Arabian Horse Association.

Essentially, that means that if someone in the area contacts the association about getting more information about the horses, the association would point them to Gilead.

“We’re open to people who aren’t in the market to buy and just want to come out and visit and meet our horses,” Marybeth Dawes said.

In fact, that’s exactly how John Harter, a friend of the Dawes who helps out with the horses, came to be their friend.

“One day, John just wandered up and asked us if he could come and see the horses,” Marybeth said.

Harter spent his formative years around horses, and he’s glad to get the opportunity to head out to Gilead and work with the Arabians.

“I’m getting to relive my childhood,” Harter said.

Marybeth Dawes had always liked Arabian horses from what she had read about them in books, but didn’t get a chance to own one until 1997, when a friend offered one to her.

“My friend sent me some pictures, and I sat there looking at them and I just fell in love,” she said.

Since then, the couple has bought a few more and started breeding the horses — 14 have been born since 2001 — on their 25-acre spread on the south side of town.

And it’s from that farm that Marybeth Dawes wants to see interest in the breed spread from.

“I really want to generate interest in the breed,” she said. “These horses live approximately 30 years, and in that time they live a lot of life.”