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RE: [RC] Smooth Traveling Arabs - heidiOK, I've stayed away from this discussion, but
gotta chime in here. Yes, I've ridden some Arabs that were not
smooth--but they were not what I'd call good
Arabs. I've ridden a lot more that were darn smooth.
'Sfunny to me how people can whine about Arab people "bashing" other
breeds, and then turn right around and bash Arabs.
Folks, there are good horses and bad horses in
every breed. Modern breeding practices have gotten away from good
saddle horse qualities in every breed. The Arab was the original
"distance" horse--and the Arab influence on other breeds helped to give
them the same attributes in at least some measure. (And no, the
"mustang" doesn't figure here--they don't have to carry riders out
there in the desert.)
Yes, odds of finding an Arab well-suited to
the sport are somewhat higher than finding a horse of another
breed well-suited to the sport. It's a fact--live with it.
That said, there is not a thing wrong with
enjoying the attributes of good horses of other breeds. There are
"old-style" horses in every breed that are well-suited for riding, and
they will do just fine in endurance. Some of them will even be
competitive.
As for "compete" vs "participate"--good grief,
folks, get a grip. Pete, Jim was using words as if they have
precise meanings--what a concept, and one I frankly admire. Deal
with it. Purtnear any sound horse that is rideable can
participate in this sport. As you get increasingly
competitive, the field narrows--and at the top of the sport, it gets
darn rarified. That isn't just a breed thing--it's a quality
thing. And while quality at that level is still dominated by
Arabs, it certainly isn't limited to them. Additionally, there
are a whole pile of Arabs that won't be any more than participators,
just as there are a whole pile of non-Arabs that won't be any more than
participators. Again, it's a fact of life. Accept it.
And there isn't a thing wrong with that. Getting any ol' Arab
isn't any more a recipe for success than riding a non-Arab is a recipe
for failure.
Bottom line, ride what you've got.
You'll find out soon enough if your critter has what it takes for the
level at which you want to participate/compete. And then, if it
becomes clear that your horse isn't going to go be a Tevis
winner, you can decide if you want to ride to your horse's level
because he's your buddy, or if you want to get another horse with a
little more of "what it takes." And if it's the latter, you can
find one somewhere in the ranks of purtnear any breed--it's just a
little easier in the ranks of the Arab breed.
Meanwhile, when I vet your non-Arab horse and
joke with you that I'm going to write on the card "does not
trot like Arab," take it in the spirit in which it is intended--as fun,
and as a celebration that not all horses are alike.
Heidi
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