So tell me about Cow Bred Arabians
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I don't know of any, don't know of any Arabian show folks who are willing to go out and show open. I'm sure there are some, but since I left the Arab showing and breeding back in 2011, I haven't bothered to follow the "new kids on the block". I do know that they had to cancel a couple of the working cow type classes at US Nationals for lack of entries. It's just not that popular. I think they're missing out, not going open. Missing out of fun, good strong competition and missing out on money.
I sure agree with you @Dreamcatcher Arabians .
The few we saw years ago try to show in cutting, it was regional level, there was plenty of people there trying to help them get started. But they showed up one time, and that was that.
I think they are missing out on something they would find a lot of fun. But they have to step out of their comfort zone to do it.
All I can say is when you are winning your entre fees back, and a bit more, it sure helps you get to the next show. It's not all outgoing all the time.
The few we saw years ago try to show in cutting, it was regional level, there was plenty of people there trying to help them get started. But they showed up one time, and that was that.
I think they are missing out on something they would find a lot of fun. But they have to step out of their comfort zone to do it.
All I can say is when you are winning your entre fees back, and a bit more, it sure helps you get to the next show. It's not all outgoing all the time.
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I totally agree. And when I can take 1 Arab to US Nationals in Tulsa (so basically my backyard) vs taking 3 or 4 horses to an open show for the same money at either the same facility or another nice, fairly local one, well, I know where I'm going. And if they want to sweeten the pot with real money or even gift certificates or merchandise, Hay, I'm all for it! Not to mention, it's a lot of fun. AND, I can go in for my part of the show (when I'm talking a World Champ show vs a weekend show) and stay a couple of days and then back home vs US Nationals or Scottsdale or even the Iowa Gold Star for an extended period of time, all of which raises your costs astronomically, I'll stick with open and local.
We used to show all over WA, OR and ID. Even MT, and ventured up into Canada. You get to see some real nice country, meet good people, and see some darn good horses.
I guess I just don't understand those that don't want to step up, and see other parts of the country. We had a lot of fun in the "trailer race" as it's called.
Others are always welcomed to a cutting horse show. There are plenty of good folks that will help a newbie get started. Yet, the arabian people don't come. They should! How will they ever know if their arabian cutter can cut it if they never try! You win, you get paid!
We always heard that they are as good or better than QH cutters, but they never come on out and give it a try. I would just like to see one arab with ncha earnings! It means they had the guts to get out and try it!
I guess I just don't understand those that don't want to step up, and see other parts of the country. We had a lot of fun in the "trailer race" as it's called.
Others are always welcomed to a cutting horse show. There are plenty of good folks that will help a newbie get started. Yet, the arabian people don't come. They should! How will they ever know if their arabian cutter can cut it if they never try! You win, you get paid!
We always heard that they are as good or better than QH cutters, but they never come on out and give it a try. I would just like to see one arab with ncha earnings! It means they had the guts to get out and try it!
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From my experiences with the Arabian shows, the horses at the very top are rarely ridden by owners or ammies. I can't tell you how many times we heard, "Well, it was only an amateur class, it doesn't count." or "Well, you trained him yourself, it doesn't count." or "Well, it was only Pinto World Championships, it doesn't count." or "OH you showed in an open class and won? My, they must not have realized you were an amateur.". "You can't show him in those shows, what if he doesn't win?". There was absolutely no thought for the owner doing stuff with their horse and having fun showing as a pair. It was a total AFRONT to show in the open (trainer) classes rather than ammy. I had never heard the expression, "You know what Reserve Champion means? First loser.". I almost went to jail that day. Oh, and a class with less than 10 horses in it? Happened all the time. Win that class and you'd get, "Yeah but you didn't have any competition, there were only 2, 4, 6 horses in it. It doesn't coun't." It was without doubt the most negative experience I've ever had with horses.
I've told this story before but it's very illuminating. My husband had to go to Regional Championships to qualify for US Nationals. He called once he got there and told me there were only 2 horses in his class and the other horse was, in his words, "Fugly". I asked who it was and he told me. Said, "We've got this in the bag.". I knew the horse and who its trainer was, so asked who was showing him in the class (ammy class). He told me and I said, "Don't worry about it honey, Reserve is just fine.". The ammy was the trainer's paid amateur. It was well known whose barn the horse was in and that the handler was an ammy on paper only and that guaranteed the win. My husband couldn't believe it. Called me back later and told me, "We went Reserve. And they followed me back to the stall and tried to buy Cloney.". They took their horse home and gelded him and he wasn't shown again.
That was also the year at Nationals where a guy had bought a bunch of working cow horses and showed them to several championships. Guess what? They were ringers. Not an Arab in the bunch. AHA fought tooth and nail to keep from having to re-award those championships to actual Arabs and Half Arabs. That was the year we brought Cloney home, sold the mares and gelded him. Haven't shown Arab shows since, strictly open and he's done fine. That's why I can talk all day about some of the older Arabs but don't really know much about the 'current crops'. Don't care either.
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@Dreamcatcher Arabians I think the stereotype of Arabs being stuck up and flighty would be better applied to some of their owners from that description. Seems like the breeders and society surrounding them has only hurt the usefulness of the breed.
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That's pretty succinct and correct. The horses are great and certainly not the problem.
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