Arabian Hate

Yes, Leilani. Many of them are bred and not trained. Their anatomy is meant to maximize their speed and endurance, but I can see how the extremity is not for everyone. Where I am, I have not heard of this whole permanent hair removal thing. In the big shows, the halter only bred horses do tend to act rather crazy because they are trained to act that way, since it brings out their movement. I have noticed that my arab looks best when he is excited, his tail and neck go up and his trot becomes incredibly floaty. I think this is where the stereotype comes from. Most performance bred, and some halter bred arabs have model temperaments. Breeding stallions, even. This craziness is not in their blood but in their training, however.

Love my halter horses ;) They're making their adjustments to riding horses without trouble. Both are 5 year olds and being aimed at the two US National hunter pleasure maturities this October. They're really sweet, loving horses, but, like all of my Arabs, know when to turn it on for a show and when to get down to business. Smart horses!

National Champion halter horse:


National Top Ten/Regional Champion halter horse:

Sadly, it sounds like the abusive American method of the way Arabians are trained and shown has made its way over to Australia, that makes me sad. I always admired Australia (and England) for their Arabians, and the more natural way they presented them, sounds like that is no longer the case now. I can't even go to an Arabian show any more, it is so sickening what they've done to the breed (well, most of the breeders anyway) and the manner in which they are now shown. I am hoping that the Arabian Sporthorse shows will save the breed.

No, its definitely not abusive. The horses are perfectly healthy, mentally and physically. It just adds to a stereotype in the arena, is all.

We have abusive trainers and owners just like any other breed or discipline. No more, and maybe less. The sport horse numbers have started dropping now, too, which I find interesting after it grew SO quickly. They've dropped more sharply than the main ring classes.

I get upset when people say they won't go to any Arab show because of perceived abuse. If that's the case, don't bother going to any horse show, lol.

Personally, I don't like Arabians because they are in general too flighty and reactive. As for them competing in different disciplines, Arabians are GREAT at a variety of things. They can do anything from dressage and reining to halter and jumping. They cross out well with most breeds too. They are basically the foundation of almost every breed anyway.

Well, I started going to the Arabian "A" shows back in the 1960's. Since then the abuse has gotten out of hand, especially with the halter horses. Until the judges start enforcing the rules better, I doubt I will be going again any time soon. Overuse of the whip (whacking the horses' knees) and shanking are the main things I still see, and horses nearly falling to their knees from fear. Rules need to be enforced better. It is not "perceived" abuse, it IS actual abuse. And we have a couple well-known BNTs not very far from here that are some of the worst at it.

Honestly I have never seen any of those things. In the arabian A shows I have gone to whips weren't even involved at all, and the horses have never looked necessarily scared, just excited. I have honestly never seen an arab at those shows that is not in perfect condition and happy in the arena. I don't know if maybe you went to some somehow different show, but I have been to nearly every A show and the horses and trainers are fine, save for about two that I know. And as for the shanking, as long as you are not constantly jerking the horse it just adds contact for easier communication, like a rope halter or a martingale.

Anyone ever seen the 13th Warrior with Antonio Banderas?? All the knights are making fun of his little Arab calling it dog and barking at it. He gets feed up with it and hops on his horse jumps a few jumps before jumping another horse and knocking the poor knight out if his saddle. All the knights are silent until one says 'jumps pretty good for a dog'. I can't remember anything else from that movie but that scene lol because I loved that little Arab shutting all the knights up.
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Removing eyelashes? I have not heard of that!