Re: Arabian horses, anyone? Posted: May 30, 2010 at 8:01 PM
Catching up on the message board & discovered this!
Horses are my passion. I have a 50 year background with Quarter Horses. However, over the last 30+ years my personal passion has become Arabians.
I got hooked on Arabians when I saw Padron go US National Champion in 1982. A couple of years later while coaching horse judging teams we all had the great joy to be introduced to Ruminaja Ali, US Futurity National Champ & US Res. National Champion Open. I used to sneak carrots into Ali's feed tub. He was a happy camper.
For several years while still living in MI I had the priviledge of riding a friend's 3/4 Arabian mare. I'm riding her in one of my profile photos. Missy taught me a lot about Arabians and was such a great ride I was determined to have another.
I purchased my first horse in 32 years last September. A Half-Arabian mare now 4 years old - WC Sugar N Spice. Spice & I are now the primary profile photo.
Spice is sired by a Khemosabi son who has been many times US Reserve Natl. Champ Working Cow Horse. Her Quarter Horse dam is royally, and I do mean royally, bred for cutting. Spice is now in cutting training and showing a lot of potential. The goal is the US National's Half-Arabian Cutting Futurity in 2011. Then, on to both Open and Non Pro (me).
An FYI re: Arabian Cutting. The Arabian Cutting Horse Association (TACHA) has been using NCHA Rules and Judges since it's inception at all levels of competition - Class A, Regional, and National.
Re: Arabian horses, anyone? Posted: May 30, 2010 at 8:34 PM
As a riding instructor I have used many breeds of horses over the years to teach both able bodied students as well as students with special needs. I have worked for myself and also for non-profit organizations that accepted donated horses. Several arabians have crossed my path over the years. I have decided I like the breed in general even though some did not work for the programs because they tended to be a bit high strung and more of a one person or one family type horse. Some had a hard time being used one hour for leadline therapeutic and the very next lesson for an advancedpe western rider learning roll backs. I think I have experienced this problem with some horses of all breeds and not just the arabian. LOL But for myself and what I do, I have found the Polish bred to be more level headed and versatile than the Egyptian bred. In fact I still have a wonderful 20 year old Polish gelding. I use him for the smallest and most frail handicapped riders as well as for my more advanced western and english riders. In fact, Serdar Shahib won the best in show at the Women and Horses last year in Oklahoma. At 20 yrs. old this guy is still going strong. Pssssssssssst, hate to tell some folks but your favorite horse probably have arabian way back somewhere in it's history. LOL Enjoy!!!!!
Re: Arabian horses, anyone? Posted: May 31, 2010 at 9:34 AM
Hey walkerryder, you hit the nail right on the head! Arabians are the ancestor to all of the light breeds, all of them.
The QH mare I owned in the 1960s traces to all 3 founding sires of the Arabian breed (Byerly Turk, Godolphin Arabian & Darley Arabian) so many times I lost count.
Using www.allbreedpedigree.com I've traced QHs, Paint, Apps, Morgans, and, Saddlebreds. It's what I discovered on that website about Thoroughbreds that really got my attention!
The British are known for developing the TBs. Here's how they did it. They bred 2 Arabians and called the resulting foal a "Thoroughbred".
Then they bred that foal to a known Arabian and called it, too, a "Thoroughbred". They continued this pattern until they had enough "Thoroughbreds" to breed them to each other.
I discovered this while researching QH pedigrees.
I find it most interesting that AQHA states specifically in their registration rules that TB breeding only is allowed to register a QH.
No, I'm not being sarcastic at all. I've been an AQHA member for many years. Considering how TBs were developed just how silly is it that "only" TB blood is allowed to register a QH? I find that most interesting.
Re: Arabian horses, anyone? Posted: Jun 28, 2010 at 3:14 PM
My competition Mounted Shooting horse is an overo paint Arab..He is so fluid in his movement and really quick. He is 25 yo and still going strong. He doesnt need shoes and his legs are perfectly clean. I do think Arabs are like Aussies. They do best with just one owner they can really count on. They will always complete their jobs honorable and babysit those who cant really ride. My arab has way more personality than my quarters. Hes a big goof ball and goes out of his way to be a pest. I swear he pulls pranks around the barn just to make sure he gets all the attention first. Yet he is so so very gentle. My daughter rides him in cowboy extreme, gymkhanas, trail trials and anything she wants. He steps out so proud to carry her. Yet when I ride, he know I know more and expect those flying leads changes and he gives them so gracefully.
Re: Arabian horses, anyone? Posted: Aug 1, 2010 at 10:16 PM
Hi, I just found this msg brd a few days ago. Though I raise Caspian Horses, I also have an Arabian mare in my barn. I have been in love with the Arabian for over 20 years. My mare, from what I can tell by her pedigree, has everything but Egyptian blood in her. She is an absolute sweetheart.
Re: Arabian horses, anyone? Posted: Aug 4, 2010 at 10:48 PM
I had the pleasure of owning several Arabs in the early 80's - great horses, smart and healthy. However, I do not agree the way the Arabs are bred now days with too strait of a back, etc. or Apps w/no spots and stripes, QH with too small of feet to carry their weight and, so on and so on.....
I have owned many different breeds and I think each are wonderful in their own right - however, humans being what they are can screw up anything. Especially breeding for the "Show" ring - Horses or Dogs - Ah well - another day in the neighborhood :)
I have had Arabians for over 30 years and love them. I also had Quarterh Horses, Paints, gaited ones, cross breed and a half Andulusian. But with them all my favorite is my arab mare who is now 21. I was there when she was born, imprinted her all over which was a good thing because her mother totally rejected her when she was born. So I bottle fed her until it got too expensive and the vet told me to get her a goat. So I did, ended up with 2 goats for her to nurse. I have pictures that are so cute of her nursing these goats. So of course that bonded her and I for life. Since she had to be fed every 2 hours I took her everwhere with me. So she will literally climb into anything I ask here to. I trail ride her and she has taught all my grandkids how to ride. Yes she is more senstive than the others, and tends to spook more easy, but she spooks in place and has never dumped anyone. You can't beat an Arab into doing anything, you have to ask them. They want to please so bad that they will try just about anything you ask them too.She has the most "go" of any horse I've ever had and nothing seems to tire her. She is a great mother unlike her own.
Re: Arabian horses, anyone? Posted: Aug 5, 2010 at 10:21 PM
I have owned Arabs and Part-Arabs for 40 years. As with all breeds, you have the good ones and the not-so-good ones. The Arab is very intelligent. Most of the time you have to be one step ahead of them. They don't tolerate abuse and will get back at the abuser in some fashion. They have endurance and athletic ability as well as a "pretty face" :) The Polish and Spanish horses are, generically speaking, more athletic than the Egyptians. There are the exceptions to that also. The foals are easy to train and, if handled properly, are loyal companions and make some of the best kid's horses
