> Hi all,
> I am interested to hear about Steph's new Orlov/Arab mare. I
> have been wondering if anyone has tried to compete a
> Standardbred/Arab. Same idea -- breed a trotting horse to an
> endurance horse and get a trotting machine. (Just an
> expression, folks, I know it's still a horse.) Has anyone tried
> competing this cross? If so, were the pulse recoveries good?
> Exotic appeal of the Russian horses aside, the Standardbred is a
> great breed -- tough, sane, and intelligent. I would think
> crossed to an Arab, they would make great endurance horses.
> Don't the French riders ride some kind of Arab cross? Just
> curious.
> Virginia Goodman Georgetown, Kentucky (and Star -- Reserve
> Champion of the Sheltowee Run 30!)
Hi Virginia,
I've often thought a standardbred/arab would be an interesting
cross for endurance, though I've never seen one. I can tell
you a little about the Orlov, although Lari Shea is the one
with the experience. The Orlov sire of my horses, Nature's
Ballet did the 2000 mile Great N. American Horserace (across the
US) in the late 70's. He also shares the record for a stallion
for Tevis completions - 5 starts, 5 completions. He placed
15th as a 16 yr old with Lari riding him. Lari said his
recoveries were not as good as an Arab, and he was not as
fast, but a very strong 100 mile horse. He was 15.3, built
much like a warmblood (the breed was originally a cross
between Arabs and Danish Warmbloods).
The two Arab crosses that I have are fairly different.
Quicksilver is 14.3, very solid, you can see the Arab
in her, but her trot is 'flatter' than most Arabs - open
shoulders and very long stride. Kruschev (aka Kanda) is
15.3, looks more like a thoroughbred, also very good
bone, but fairly lean muscled. His gaits
are big and open and very smooth. Would make a GREAT
dressage horse. But you can really see the Arab in
their recoveries. At the 50 miler I took Quicksilver on
last weekend (her first) she dropped immediately at the
checks and her pulse was 40 after the one hour hold. Her
working heart rates were also comparable to the full Arabs
I've ridden.
I haven't done much with Kruschev yet, but his
training ride rates and recoveries are very good. They both
have excellent balance and really drive from their
hindquarters. Their movement feels effortless. They
are not as hot as most Arabs, though they do have some
spook in them. I don't know that they'll ever be capable
of the incredible speed that some full Arabs can achieve,
but I think they have excellent potential as solid
100 mile horses. And they're cute - they don't have the
'pretty' Arab head, but they are handsome, and have big,
kind eyes with an 'Oriental' tilt to them.
There's still nothing like a full Arab for sheer
exuberence and spirit, but these guys are going to
be fun - and with their solid build and long
stride, I suspect they will excell at the longer
distances.
Steph