[SueC]

They are NOT wide backed horses, and usually on the shorter side...

Hmm - my 14.2hh Polish-line Arabian mare was the widest-backed horse I personally ever rode, 16-17hh Warmbloods included. She needed a wide gullet and then some. Admittedly I didn't ride draught horses. Polish lines are performance lines and usually do exceedingly well in endurance, as mine did.

This was her at age 27 and you can see that it's like riding a (very athletic, beautiful and sweet) beer barrel. I am 180cm tall (5'11") but was not undermounted with this mare.

I have noted that some of the horses bred for the ring where we live these days are very slightly built, as you have described. I live in Western Australia like Blue-Eyed Pony, and maybe the gene pool for the halter ring over here is even more restricted than usual because over here there is a distinction like noon and midnight between working and halter Arabians, both in terms of conformation and in terms of IQ. ;-)

 

[blue eyed pony]

My boy was a CHUNK. I used to call him my chainsaw carving horse, he had all the beautiful lines but he was so not refined lol.

He was in a wide gullet plate in both his saddles. He was also very long-backed, but that might have been the Thoroughbred in him. His sire was staying bred. His dam was a 100% Crabbet Arabian mare, which explains how chunky he was. Crabbets do tend to be on the solid side.

 

[squirrelfood]

He could easily have taken advantage of me in every way know to horsedom, but the thing that I LOVE about a good Arabian is that while most of them are wicked smart, many of them are also extremely kind and willing to 'meet in the middle' for humans. It seems like once they decide you're fair and trustworthy as a leader, they will follow you to the ends of the earth.

Could not have said it better.

 

[Remali]

Same here SueC, here is my Polish/Crabbet gelding (the grey), he was a pretty wide boy. Most of the Arabians that I know are quite wide and take a wide, or extra wide, gullet. My mare was a bit of a tank too (the chestnut).

 

[Saharra]

My first horse was an Arab yearling. Yes, I helped train her (though I had no clue what I was doing and she put up with a LOT). She's 16 now and is like my second skin when I ride her with no tack on. She is also a kids camp horse and can read her riders and she knows exactly when a rider is too young and inexperienced to handle certain things. She is a domestic Arab. I think some are bred for looks and not brains, but some are bred for brains. If you can find one of those, you should be good to go The Saharr lines are all usually pretty calm. I worked with some of his foals and he always passed on cool and collected foals.
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[dbarabians]

Every arabian I have owned or ridden has been intelligent. Even the "hot" ones. You need to adjust your training with the hot individuals but treated right even they are loyal . Shalom

 

[FrostedLilly]

I started riding at the age of 4 at an Arabian stable and rode them growing up. The very first horse of my own that I rode was an Arab and she was the most willing, versatile horse I knew. Out on the trails, she was fearless, going over any terrain and through water of any depths. I used to put my novice friends on her because she was extremely tolerant - but not too tolerant. If I or they started day dreaming or were sending a confusing message, she made her thoughts on that very clear.

My sister's arab was a different story. She is your stereotypical "flighty Arab" who spooks at clumps of grass and spooks at everything outside the ring. On trail rides, if I was with one of my inexperienced friends, I got to ride her while they took my more reliable mare. She was a fabulous show horse though.

These two mares had very similar lineages were a month apart in age but were like night and day. Just remember that every horse is an individual and there will be crazies in every breed.
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[dznyntnh]

Love reading everyone's tales of Arabians. I'm new to them, having just changed barns from a rescue to a farm that raises only Arabians. I don't know that I'd lump them together with traits, I think that leads people to make mistakes and assumptions.

I've found most of them to be friendly, very smart and very personable. The one I use for lessons is really smart, and extremely lazy. He's not spooky at all, but he was a performer in one of the dinner shows before it closed, so he is used to crowds and noise.

The three year old my trainer is working with is scared of his own shadow. The funniest thing about him is where most horses, when scared, will run away from the people with them...he runs to (and over) my trainer. But he is the sweetest thing as well.

I think you have to look at the individual horse and not just the breed. Working with rescues the past few years, the biggest mistake I saw a lot of the 'experts' make was base training or handling on the breed instead of the individual horse.

 

[Gossip]

It really depends on the horse. It is possible you will find an Arabian who has the temperament you seek, but for the most part, Arabians are a tad bit spooky and hot. They are also veeeery smart.

 

[FrostedLilly]

I would have to disagree. I would say the spooky and hot Arabians are the exception, not the rule. They are generally my go-to horse for riding and I have ridden very few in the last 23 years that fit that description.

 

[Rainbows]

I have a Arabian as my first horse! I thought the same thing, hot headed, crazy, ect. But not all are like that. My arab is very smart and I'm slowly beginning to catch up to him but he leaves me new surprises. They are great horses and do care about their riders. Mine doesn't try to dump off everyone.

 

[PalominoPrincessx]

Thank you all so much! I love reading about all your arabians! I'm being sure to not just buy because of breed but I have found an Anglo Arab for sale who looks promising!

Again, thank you! I've researched the breed and learned LOADS thanks to the people on this thread!
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[blue eyed pony]

Anglos in my experience tend to be either extremely quiet [mine was] or extremely loopy. I wish you the best of luck - though some individuals can be a bit nutty Anglos are absolutely wonderful horses, and tend to be very athletic. My boy turned his hoof to many different things in his years from trail riding to dressage to eventing to stock work and even a little bit of western pleasure!

 

[PalominoPrincessx]

Anglos in my experience tend to be either extremely quiet [mine was] or extremely loopy. I wish you the best of luck - though some individuals can be a bit nutty Anglos are absolutely wonderful horses, and tend to be very athletic. My boy turned his hoof to many different things in his years from trail riding to dressage to eventing to stock work and even a little bit of western pleasure!

Thank you so much! I have arranged to go and view him next week. Fingers crossed!