Dressage trainer or Arab trainer?

Today my trainer told me she is definitely moving out of state in March. This really sucks, because even though I've been taking lessons with her for over a year, I bought a new horse only a month ago.
I've done lessons on 2 OTTBs and one Swedish WB, but my new guy is a green broke 4 year old Arab mix (Arab/Saddlebred) and now I need to find a new trainer.
I am aware of JT's limitations when it comes to dressage. His confirmation is mostly Arab with the high head set and high tail. From the Saddlebreds he inherited the long back and legs.
Now I am wondering if I should find a dressage trainer, who might not be as impressed with JT as I am and who may not be used to Arabs or an Arab trainer who will love him, understand him, but who probably doesn't know dressage very well. Or both? Or first one and than the other?

Here are some pictures:
JT second lesson 010110 :: JT25.jpg picture by knaskedov - Photobucket
JT second lesson 010110 :: JT23.jpg picture by knaskedov - Photobucket
JT second lesson 010110 :: JT14.jpg picture by knaskedov - Photobucket

(Yes, those are hives, but that is a whole different story..)

The ideal situation would be a dressage trainer who is able to customize their training based on the horse. Dressage is meant to benefit the horse and rider by providing balance, regardless of breed. A good dressage trainer should be able to recognize the limitations (and benefits) of a given horse's conformation and act accordingly. Also, dressage is wonderful base training so you could easily let him do dressage for a while and then switch to something else. In the given pictures he looks quite hollow and tense, if a good dressage trainer worked with him he would learn how to carry himself better and in turn become more relaxed and stable under saddle.

Roro is correct.

Get a dressage trainer that has had success with horses of all types. Any dressage trainer that gives you a line about Arabs are useless or not right for dressage should be dismissed right away. If they can't train multiple breeds then they are no trainer in my eyes.

He is still absolutely hollow and tense. I've only had him for a month and before that he wasn't ridden more than a few times in about 8 months. He really is only green broke (4 years old). But I'd rather do the riding myself, that's why I bought him in the first place.

I do believe he could make a great dressage horse eventually, it'll take time and patience. I'm not expecting him to make it to Grand Prix, I just want him to be the best he can be. I've never shown higher than first level myself, if we make it to second I'll be totally happy.

Spider, I will keep looking if a potential trainer gives me the Arab line, that makes total sense.

I agree. My Arab goes a LOT like your boy, exact same head set and pogo stickish gaits when she's not moving right. My Dressage trainer had zero qualms about training her with me - heck, she was in LOVE with her dam and even bought a little Arab Dressage pony for her daughter.

I think a Dressage trainer would be best for giving you realistic expectations of your horse. I find sometimes breed trainers will expect him to perform to breed standard, whereas a Dressage trainer will look at him purely as a HORSE not a "breed" and work with you from there.

He there
Welcome to the forum.
I have to agree with the above posters! Look for the right trainer. There are two trainers at my barn for Dressage and both of them work with many breeds. In fact one of the horses I ride for lessons is an Arab and he mostly did western and is now doing well in Dressage. There are Warmbloods, paints, arabs, tb's draft crosses, a Friesian, and two halflingers and I see them all with their riders taking dressage lessons! :)...so...what was posted above should give you confidence in finding the right trainer to work with...
I think your boy is totally cute!
Good luck...
Hp

Thanks Halfpass!! I believe he is the cutest too!!
I took the flash off the bridle and that made him drop his head by about a foot, he really did not like that thing! I was amazed, didn't think it bothered him much, it was just very dirty and didn't have time to clean it.
Another Arab owner at the barn knows of a college student that has shown Arabs at a decent level, I'll be talking to her and my current trainer is also making calls. Most of the established trainers here (Tucson, AZ) do not travel and I do not own a trailer. We still have 2 months....

Oh...your welcome..
You will find the right person to work with.
I think you will do fine. And...like you said you do have a few months left. That is a good thing!
Keep us posted!!!
HP