Show barn Arabians are definitely NOT good
ambassadors for the breed. Most of them never get out of their stall
except to work in an arena, so yes,
they will be a bit loopy and overly spastic. All that boredom messes with
their brain. Not to mention, there are some trainers out there with
questionable training methods. Arabians that are raised more naturally,
with plenty of turnout, herd socialization and human contact are excellent
horses. I’ve known several with an attitude like your Callie.
Arabians in general, are more aware of their surroundings than a lot of other
breeds, but don’t mistake awareness for being jumpy or hot. I’m
deaf and my mare Scarlet is extra aware and I’ve learned to pay attention
to her because she does her best to let me know what’s around us out
there in the woods. She’ll notice things in the distance long
before the rest of the horses in our group will.
Also, I would suggest keeping
an open mind – there are quite a few other breeds or crosses that will
also do well in endurance. :o)
Rae
Tall C Arabians - Central
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Burnett, Elly Sent: Sunday, February 11, 2007
10:55 PM To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC] Horse question...
(really long)
I've been
inspired by all the question-asking today to finally ask the question I've been
DYING to ask for a couple months now.
Some of you may remember a year or so ago I had a question about doing LD's on
my Belgian mare, Callie. We had a wonderful time training last summer,
and were ready to do a 25 in July when I had the devil farrier come out and he
trimmed her way too aggressively and the ride didn't happen. (I summer in
Idaho and
didn't know him very well, but he was recommended). I started school again in
August, and figured we'd try again this summer.
When I bought Callie last March, they'd done a pre-purchase exam the previous
May and had told me everything was perfect and looked really good. They
offered me a copy and said they'd have it when I paid for her. It
mysteriously dissappeared, but my transport was there so I shrugged it off and
paid. Well, after bothering them for a few months, I finally got a copy
of the prepurchase exam in December. She's got peri-articular ringbone in
BOTH fronts and a bone spavin in a hock. I was...shocked, to say the
least. She's never taken a lame step, but I decided she's being retired
to husband duty with a daily regimen of Cosequin and light riding. I'd always
known I'd eventually get another horse that I could do "real"
endurance on, but now that'll be happening sooner.
I've ridden for 15 years or so and have had quite a few nasty spills in my
days, although I've only been hospitalized once (knock on wood). When
Callie and I head out on the trail alone, I know that come hell or high water,
she'll take care of me.
So finally, the question:
Can I expect this same attitude from an arab? I've decided that since
we're getting a second horse this summer, I want a horse that will do well with
endurance. But I'm terrified this will be the end of me. I'm afraid
I'll be trotting/cantering down the trail and a log will jump out and try to
eat my future horse and that'll be it! My Callie is a "think
first:react later" kind of horse, but I guess you've got to be when
reacting involves moving your 1600 lb body one way or the other.
I've not had much experience with arabs, except once when I was 12 and
volunteered at an arab show barn. Their horses were crazy and scared the
living bejeezus out of me. One of them killed the owner's husband while
he was cleaning a stall some months after I left. Luckily, I can
attribute my extreme caution around horses to these early days, so it wasn't
all bad.
