Headlines from July 20th regarded the euthanasia of Mustangs controlled by the Bureau of Land Management. I have to admit, being one who sees overpopulation of all species as a problem (including humans), the euthanasia of wild horses and burros didn’t come as a surprise nor did I scoff at the idea.
When a rebuttal was printed in the New York Times claiming that cattle grazing was the problem resulting in the destruction of the western landscape, my first thought was, “Here is another save all the animals campaign.” I don’t want to see animals suffer, nor do I want to see animals euthanized, killed, or slaughtered for human convenience, but we can’t save them all and quiet honestly, it’s our fault that so many animals end up in this predicament.
Here’s part of the wild horse story you don’t see.
Livestock grazes US federal lands in 16 Western states. The BLM doesn’t have an actual “count” of the livestock that grazes these lands. However, they can estimate the numbers by the grazing fees assessed which is computed through an Animal Unit Month (AUM); the AUM is the amount of forage needed to sustain one cow and her calf, one horse, or five sheep or goats for a month.
“I have mixed feelings about the Wild Horse’s existence.”
In the Fiscal Year of 2007, the number of AUMs actually used on BLM managed land was 6.8 million, with 12.6 million AUMs available. So, they sound good by having a little over half of what was available actually used. Now, if my math is correct, that would mean 6.8 million AUMs equal APPROXAMATELY 650,000 livestock grazing BLM lands in 2007.
The BLM does know they have approximately 33,000 wild horses and burros running on these lands. This would equal 396,000 AUMs which is much less than the 12.6 million AUMs allowed on the land.
I’m wondering how these horses are causing such devastation to the landscape.
The underlying concern is financial; of course. Horses are not cheap to care for, and prices of horse care is only going to rise. Is this the fault of the Wild Horse and Burro? No, of course not. Fiscal shortages for BLM horse care sounds like a problem of mismanaged funds within the BLM program. They are currently “boarding” 30,000 once-wild horses in Kansas, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. These 30,000 mustangs were captured and never adopted.
The BLM is stating that the boarding costs for these 30,000 excess Wild Horses will reach $26 million. The BLM has a $37 million budget for the Wild Horse and Burro Program, leaving only $11 million for other expenses.
I think financially, the argument for euthanizing the “unwanted” wild horses is sound. But, when they throw land conservation aspects into the mix, I question their motivation. IF conservational issues are a concern AND these horses were posing a threat to the balance of the western range land, their pro-horse-euthanasia argument is weak AND the livestock grazing should be evaluated FIRST.
Why?
Because a decision was made to conserve the Wild Horse and Burro in the United States and unless we are going to deviate from that decision, raising beef on public lands SHOULD come second. Additionally, these “ranchers” whose cattle, sheep, and goats roam on public land should be footing some of the bill for the Wild Horses and Burros.
The Mustangs and Burros are competing with cattle, goats, and sheep, three animals known to devastate grasslands, ranges, and forests. The numbers of livestock allowed to graze should be cut, substantially (below the numbers that are currently grazing, not the number allowed) and there should be a fee assessed to each AUM that goes directly to the Wild Horse and Burro program.
“The ranchers can’t afford that” or “The ranchers won’t do that.”
What? Tough, they are using public land and paying a VERY minimal fee to do so. These ranchers ARE making a profit with their livestock, and the government is footing some of their bill. This is ludicrous!
There is no doubt paying to “board” 30,000 horses is an astronomical debt, and assuming horse adoption rates will continue to be stagnant, the number of “boarded” horses will grow. How then does the BLM control the population without euthanizing a large number of horses?
It has to cross someone’s mind that the Wild Horse is now just sitting in a pen waiting for it to be over
In 2006, the BLM White River Field Office gathered 500 Wild Horses and selected more than 300 of those and applied a state of the art birth control pellet to many of those released back into the wild. This is a temporary birth control method, only lasting 22 months, but something to consider for the majority of the population. This, at least, would put a hold on the growth of the population for some time, effectively saving money over a 22+ month period, even if the upfront cost to administer the birth control might be large.
Something else I found interesting was that the BLM catches Wild Horses that are in areas that might be hit with draught, wild fires, and other “disastrous” conditions that could be detrimental to the wild horses in that area. My question is they claim these Wild Horses have no natural predators to naturally balance their population. However, wildfires, draughts, and other natural catastrophes are generally a very effective way to “control” populations of wild animals. Of course, starving to death isn’t something you want to see happen, however, these animals ARE wild and if you are going to “cull” some of the population, why not have that done naturally. Without even allowing the animals to “suffer”, knowing an area where these wild horses WOULD in fact end up dying do to “natural” causes, why not euthanize those horses on the spot at that time INSTEAD of catching them and putting them in a holding facility?
For the 30,000 horses that are currently at long term holding facilities or being “boarded”, I wonder if there is another way to provide long term care for these horses at a smaller cost? It’s hard to say since it is costing them approximately $887 per horse per year, which works out to a little over $72 a month. Cheap in my opinion; I would love to be paying that much for board!
Of course, these horses are most likely easy keepers, I’m sure they are just out in large pens, and receiving minimal care outside of hay and water. But, in all honesty, are these horses happy in the holding facilities? Quality of life tends to weigh in my mind. Sure, an adopted Wild Horse can be happy with no human interaction out in a big field with some other horses. But, put them in a dry lot with a large herd for years and it has to cross someone’s mind that the Wild Horse is now just sitting in a pen waiting for it to be over.
I have mixed feelings on the Wild Horse’s existence. On one hand, it isn’t their fault they are running free in the West, and they are still intriguing animals whose concept help many Americans embrace the true feeling of “freedom”. However, they are in fact a feral animal that isn’t “supposed” to be there. So, how do we allow these feral creatures their freedom without hurting the natural inhabitants of the ecosystem? Cut down on the livestock!
Wow, didn’t I already say that?
There are too many of everything is this world today (including, and especially, humans).
I hate to repeat myself, especially when I walked into this topic thinking the crazy, “save the all the animals” people were over-simplifying the situation. Bu, as far as the ecological balance of range land goes, the Wild Horses are outnumbered by livestock. The American people have to decide what is more important: beef or the Wild Horse
I pick the Wild Horse.
Financially, the BLM needs to evaluate their income from the ranchers through fees on their land use that directly funds the Wild Horse and Burro program, birth controls for population of Wild Horses and Burro’s on the range, culling of animals that would otherwise die of nature induced deaths (fire, draught, weather), and create a more lucrative funding source by collaborating with a non-profit to raise funds to care for the long term care of horses being “boarded”.
There are too many of everything in this world today. It’s just not fair to put down animals IF the problem is our cause. This problem Wild Horse population is OUR problem. We created it, we miss-managed it, and we should not euthanize 6,000 animals to fix it. The American Wild Horse population will only continue to grow without a more thorough plan to cover the issue long term.
I would advocate for more horse adoptions, but in all honesty, there are so many horses out there in need of a home, the Mustangs are probably on the bottom of the list.
The crazy animal fanatics are not out of line. It is the misinformed public that needs to be aware of the needs, the wants, and the reality of the Wild Horse situation.
Overpopulation needs to be addressed, but not just with Wild Horses.
Today, the Thoroughbred industry reaches new heights of ridiculousness after patting itself on the back for performing an “investigative report” examining “possible” declines in the breed’s soundness over the last 30 - 40 years. Releasing a report titled “Losing the Iron Horse”, TB industry trade magazine Blood Horse claims to be on the forefront of detecting racehorse breeding practice problems by referencing historical Jockey Club records.
This same exact report, detailing the same conclusions for the entire industry, and more, was performed by The Thoroughbred Times in 2001.
There may be a correlation to TB soundness and poor TB breeding practices.
Each study looked at the exact same Jockey Club data.
Even by their own account, The Thoroughbred Times has been reporting on Thoroughbred undsoundedess since 1995.
Long before Barbaro, long before Eight Belles, long before Congress became involved, and long before the industry became scared people were questioning the ethics of the Thoroughbred racing, the entire racehorse industry has known anecdotally AND cumulatively their breeding and training practices have been hurting equine wellfare.
New research? Just now onto something?
Give us a break.
Legions of Citizen Horsemanship men and women call bullsh!t on the Thoroughbred racing industry.
In the words of one of our favorite equine writers, nice try, asshats.
When thinking of re-training an ex-racehorse, you think of a Thoroughbred. Thoroughbreds have been taken off the track and turned into Hunters, Jumpers, Eventers, Dressage horses, pleasure horses, gaming horses, and just about every discipline you can think of. Thoroughbreds have excelled at all these disciplines at one point or another, but, as we know, the Thoroughbred breed isn’t what it used to be.
So, why not consider a Standardbred?
“They don’t know how to canter, just trot or pace.”
Yeah. That may be true, but in all fairness, what does an off the track Thoroughbred really know (other than gallop)? A Standardbred IS still a horse, and all horses know how to walk trot AND canter. They have just been trained to trot and pace. Therefore, they need re-training to learn how to carry themselves and a rider through all the gaits. Not all that much different than a Thoroughbred, just a different approach.
The Standardbred has many qualities that people are looking for in a sport horse; strength, soundness, substance, all with an easy going temperament. So, why then are people not seeking out this breed to re-train?
The misconceptions I have often heard are that the Standardbred just doesn’t have a good canter no matter how much training you put into them. I beg to differ. While I’m sure not EVERY Standardbred has a great canter, neither does any other breed. Remember….one must look at the individual horse. Every horse in the world, no matter what the breed, is going to have individual strengths and weaknesses. I ask the people who claim that Standardbreds don’t have a good canter: How many Standardbreds have you seen re-trained?
Exactly.
Now, I have only worked with a handful of off the track Standardbreds, and I can say they were completely different than off the track Thoroughbreds, but not in a bad way. The four Standardbreds I worked with were all rescued by a woman who didn’t know much about horses and didn’t even know what a Standardbred really was. All four horses were off the track and had raced in harness. Only one of the four Standardbreds was a pacer. Interestingly, each of the four horses looked completely different. I mean all four were bay with just a little bit of white, but the only real similarity was that they were all long, though proportionally long (back, neck), and they all had a similar head type (a little blocky, but attractive).
All four of these Standardbreds were unflappable. They had extremely easy going temperaments and were happy to get to work. I was expecting the sensitive off the track “high” Thoroughbred type attitude, demeanor, and personality. But, these four were practically bomb proof. Two were very pretty movers and those two had the easiest time learning the canter. I don’t know if that was a coincidence or if their bigger, fluid, and balanced movement made the canter more balanced and easier to learn. The pacer wasn’t a very good mover, and he often went into a pace, especially when confused. It appeared to be his safety zone. He did eventually learn to canter, and although he wasn’t a very good mover, he turned out to be a pretty good jumper. The other one that wasn’t a great mover did have some soundness issues related to a tendon injury on the track; she turned out to be a great walk, trot, and canter school horse. Though the canter took some time, she learned all three gaits after four months off for injury.
The two good movers turned into fabulous show horses. One did really well on the A circuit in the Hunter ring (the green Hunters and eventually the junior Hunters), and the other turned into a adult amateur Jumper and was shown pretty extensively for a few years and then went on to do some Dressage. I unfortunately didn’t follow up on how he ended up doing in the Dressage ring, but I imagine with his movement, he probably did pretty well.
What I learned in re-training Standardbred ex-racehorses/ex-trotters:
The canter can be taught to a Standardbred, but it must approached very differently than if teaching an off the track Thoroughbred. With a Thoroughbred, the canter is their faster gate, so moving them forward brings about the canter. With a Standardbred, through trial and error, I found their trot and/or pace is their fastest and most balanced gate, so pushing them forward only creates a very fast trot or pace. Instead, balance had to be created at the walk, trot, slow trot, and collected trot; primarily with long lines, but also through their back. Eventually, the canter was the natural place to go, once after balanced and collected, with the right timing. I was able to cue either with either voice and leg, or voice and lunge whip while the horse stepped (not ran) into the canter.
Standardbred Sport Horse Use Weakness:
Probably not an upper level competition horse
Possible harness racing injuries (make sure they are vetted thoroughly)
Not real flashy (lots of white or chrome for the show ring)
Standardbred, Sport Horse Use Strengths:
Size and type vary considerably (14.1 hands to 17+ hands)
Generally easier keepers than Thoroughbreds
Great temperament
Sounder than a Thoroughbred as long as they don’t have racing injuries
Very affordable option for Dressage, Eventing, Hunters, and Jumpers
All things said, the Standardbred is a very viable and economical performance Sport Horse option. If looking into a Thoroughbred off the track, one might have better luck finding sound and sane equine companion in a Standardbred.
If you decide to go the Standardbred route, remember to find a good trainer willing to re-train them a little differently than an ex-race Thoroughbred. Or, if you are taking on the challenge yourself, make sure to do your research and talk with others who have re-trained the Standardbred. It’s not fair for the horse to have to re-learn in a less than productive environment.
There are plenty of Standardbred rescues, and you can always contact Standardbred breeders to get information on available horses that aren’t racing or possibly aren’t cut out for the harness. It’s a good idea to have any horse you buy or adopt vetted out. If you are looking for a horse to do more than trail ride, it is important that you find out if that horse is up for the job. Standardbreds, though probably falling in awareness on the side of “boring” Sport Horse breed options, fit the bill. When searching for a new equine partner, do not overlook this breed.
When you think of a sport horse, the Morgan isn’t the breed that first pops into your head. Morgan horses don’t receive any ridicule like the Arabian, and the Morgan is often dismissed as an unworthy mount for any sport horse discipline. Morgan haters are few, Morgan lovers are fewer, and most equestrians scratch their head in even reference to the Morgan.
Here’s the best Morgan horse description I can give:
short
stout
uphill
powerhouse build
mostly unflappable
great character
I am not an expert in this breed, but after meeting only a few Morgans, I can pick a Morgan out of a herd of horses, so long as I’m told there’s a Morgan to be found. Morgan horses are similar to Arabians in that they really have a type. Just how Arabians look like Arabians, Morgans look like Morgans.
When considering a large pony or small horse for a child who is moving out of ponies or starting at a point when a pony would be too small, the Morgan would be a very good choice. Though many Hunter, Jumper, Dressage, and Eventing trainers may not agree, simply because Just because they aren’t Warmbloods doesn’t mean they don’t have the abilities and guess what, they don’t have warmblood price tags either!
The Morgan’s smaller stature can be great for an adult rider as well. Morgan’s are built strong, with well sprung ribs, short back, a nice sloping shoulder, and a nice head and neck, often looking and feeling bigger than they are. Standing 14.1-15.2 hands, the Morgan seems to small to be in competitive with big 17+ hand Warmbloods, but really, well bred Morgans look like small versions of nice Warmbloods (and luckily without the health problems associated with a large horse).
In Combined Driving, the Morgan horse breed dominates and has aptly proven itself through National and International competitions. Because of their power, speed, intelligence, and demeanor, it’s no wonder Morgans are a great fit for Combined Driving.
Eventing is another discipline in which the Morgan is just starting to show it’s worth. Competition Morgans can make great mounts for junior riders, and a few Morgans into their early twenties have qualified for the American Eventing Championships.
If looking for a new dressage horse, the Morgan should not be discounted. Even in a snobby Dressage barn, the Morgan could sidestep sneer simply based on it’s mystery. Given a chance, Morgans can excel in this discipline as well. The Morgan’s hit to miss competitive Dressage ratio is high, with over 60 Morgans competing at Level 3 or higher, based on what is undoubtedly a miniscule slice of the Dressage mount market.
The Morgan may not be the best choice for the Hunter ring; but we already know this to be true based on the biased Hunter judging system. However, with Hunters, the Morgan may not stand out as much as an Arabian, so breed discrimination in Hunter competition my not be AS big of a problem.
Jumping equestrians could utilize the Morgan horse, especially the pony size Morgan’s who would do great in the Pony Jumpers! Upper level Jumpers might be a little too much for the Morgan horse, though they have power and speed, their scope generally isn’t going to be enough to jump around a large Jumper course.
Morgan Horse, Sport Horse Use Weaknesses:
size, potentially too small for a long legged rider
not stylish or fashionable in the hunter ring
not enough scope for bigger jumper courses
Morgan Horse, Sport Horse Use Strengths:
affordable option for Dressage, Eventing, or lower level/pony Jumpers
longevity
easy keepers
size, potentially better fitting for smaller riders
great temperament
good feet
sound
Surely, the Morgan may not appeal to you, and one’s attraction to the breed is important in choosing a horse. But, don’t discount the Morgan breed if you given the option. Go see a Morgan, try one out. I can’t stress this enough, but Morgans often surprise equestrians with their athleticism and ability.
One thing is for sure, you will get more for your money in a Morgan. Of course, if you are looking for a Grand Prix Dressage horse, most likely you have $100k+ to spend, and the Morgan isn’t even going to be a thought (and you’re not reading an alt-horse rag like Citizen Horse).
But given more like $2k+ to spend on a new sport horse mount, take a close look at the Morgan!
Fashionable horses come and go, and it’s certainly possible the Morgan horse breed thinning out due to it’s obscurity. But all I’m saying, if you’re looking to go against a trend, start your own trend, or need more bang for your buck, look no further than a Morgan.
Though the Thoroughbred horse has been a strong force in the sport horse industry for decades, their presence in the Hunter/Jumper ring has given way to the stylish Warmbloods over the past 10 years or so. Outside of Hunter/Jumpers, Thoroughbred horses are also seen less and less in Eventing and lower level Dressage as well (Thoroughbreds never had much of a stronghold on upper level Dressage).
The Thoroughbred horse has changed dramatically in the past 30 years. At one time, most off-the-track Thoroughbreds were guaranteed to make excellent performance horses, as long as their racing career wasn’t ended due to a major injury. Today, Thoroughbreds aren’t bred to withstand the long term effects of racing, let alone Jumping, Eventing, or Dressage. Modern Thoroughbreds are merely built to (hopefully) win a few races and then are considered disposable.
A Thoroughbred has more heart than any other horse breed.
The average, off-the-track Thoroughbred 20-30 years ago was around 16hh-17+hh average height, came with a refined head, long neck, high withers, short back, good hindquarters, lean body, deep chest, long legs, and ample bone for their size in addition to a very uphill build, a nice long stride at all gaits, and were generally, very athletic.
The average off-the-track Thoroughbred of today is smaller in height, 15hh-16.2hh, has a decent head, is often built downhill with a lean body, narrow chest, average to long back, and very small bone for the build. All in all, the average ex-race horse today is not built for performance of any kind, thus explaining their frequent breakdowns on the track.
Simply put, the Thoroughbred horse has been severely overbred. Thoroughbred breeding is a science, but not the kind of science seen in German Warmbloods. Thoroughbred breeders do not reference generations of successful crosses, nor do they breed with the overall picture and conformation of each individual horse in mind. Thoroughbred horse breeders use theories, from statistical analyses to superstitions and, well voodoo, to determine sire and mare combinations. The average Thoroughbred horse breeder is dreaming of breeding the next Kentucky Derby Winner, and it’s not just the possible financial reward of such a win, they seek the prestige of having their name attached to such a winning horse.
Because of the recent media revolving around Eight Belles tragic injury and subsequent euthanasia, there has been a sudden “interest” in the injury statistics in the Thoroughbred Racing Industry. A new report covering catastrophic horse racing injury research has been made public, but only loopholes and excuses are found in the many articles, research, and surveys available. Without EVERY horse race track reporting injuries and having those injuries tracked and recorded by unbiased participants, the macro statistics on horse racing injuries are questionable at best. The racehorse industry cannot be responsible for accurately reporting their own problems (*more on horse racing injury statistics).
More importantly than faulty injury statistics, the Thoroughbred breed itself needs a serious evaluation. With all the conformational faults contained on the average Thoroughbred racehorse, it’s no wonder they break down so easily. Even non-catastrophic injuries need to be examined.
If a horse breaks down due to soundness issues related to conformation, is it really a good idea to retire that horse to breed? No matter how many races a horse has won, or how lightning fast the horse is, if the horse has soundness issues by and large, and absolutely is not conformationally sound, why are these horses being bred? Bloodlines and heart don’t cut it, and they certainly are not improving the Thoroughbred breed.
Thoroughbreds often get a bad rap because of their temperament. Although Thoroughbreds are definitely sensitive and “hot”, they need a job, they need consistency, and generally, they need confidence. Once a Thoroughbred has an owner or trainer that can provide a clear path to expectations, a Thoroughbred is not only willing, but genuinely wants to please. A Thoroughbred has more heart than any other breed of horse. Tapping the Thoroughbred heart is the key to unlocking their sport horse potential.
The Thoroughbred’s heart can also be it’s downfall in that self preservation often takes a backseat to unquestionable effort (e.g. Eight Belles). Eight Belle’s jockey never asked the horse to run on broken legs, and whether the jockey knew it or not, Eight Belles’ heart wanted to win, and nothing was going to stop her.
Moreover, here is a list of today’s Thoroughbred strengths and weaknesses
Thoroughbred Horse Strong Points:
Incredible Stamina
Powerful Speed
Great Agility
Often “Pretty”
Heart for their Job
Temperament can be perfect for rider and the job at hand
Often has vices if off the track (weaving, cribbing)
Often more susceptible to ulcers (especially if off the track)
Hard Keepers
There are still, even today, nice looking Thoroughbreds that don’t have all the above problems, but they are getting harder and harder to find. On top of Thoroughbred breeding weaknesses, their look is now even inconsistent. Thoroughbreds have, by and large, lost their once tall, long legged, uphill, and noble stature. There used to be a time one could look at a horse and know if it was a Thoroughbred or not, but now, Quarter Horses look like Thoroughbreds sometimes, and often, Thoroughbreds just look like your average, generic horse.
Additionally, Thoroughbred horse breeders DO NOT take into account conformation, soundness, temperament, or anything else important to breeding sound, solid performance sport horses. The dosage index used in mathematical Thoroughbred horse breeding produces unsound, conformationally poor horses to say the least. Considering horse racing is one of the more physically demanding equestrian sports (for the horse), one would think producing sound, solid performance sport horses would be fundamentally prudent.
As with many aspects of the horse racing industry, their breeding practices alone incite much rage and head-scratching from sport horse equestrians, enthusiasts, and horse activists alike.
Simply put, the Thoroughbred horse has been severely overbred.
After acquiring a sound (or semi-sound) off-the-track Thoroughbred, re-starting an ex-race horse is a science unto itself. A proper “let down” period is necessary before an off-the-track TB can begin moving past his/her life on the track. There are many drugs and high protein feeds that all need to flush from their system so they can begin acting like horses. Turnout is something that many racehorses have never experienced. Since the majority of Thoroughbred owners acquired their TB’s off the track (or at least the TB was once on the track), a good un-training and re-training are, and were, essential to a Thoroughbred’s success in another career.
It’s unfortunate many people are not suited to handle and re-train ex-racehorses for sport horse disciplines. Seeing as the Thoroughbred temperament gets a semi-deserved bad rap, much of their demeanor and temperament is influenced by the environment in which they were raised. Many equestrians do not posses the personality needed to ride off-the-track Thoroughbreds and end up competing with the their “hot” temperament. Too many people have had bad experiences on Thoroughbreds that don’t have anything to do with the horse’s soundness. The Thoroughbred’s flightiness, spookiness, and nervous demeanor has made many a beginner and intermediate rider scared of the breed.
Despite modern Thoroughbred breeding practice failures, the Thoroughbred horse will always be an important icon to the performance and sport horse industry. Without the Thoroughbred, many equestrians could not have afforded to buy their own horse. Ex-race horses tend to be economical, though their possible health problems might outweigh discounts received in the purchase price.
All in all, I used to be a hardcore Thoroughbred lover. Hooked by their “do anything” for you heart, my loyalty has faded by the mis-handling from their human creators. Sure, there may be a few solid, sound, and great performing Thoroughbred sport horses still remaining, but heart just isn’t enough anymore to overlook the breed’s faults, some of which (bad feet) have always been issues.
Looking back at the Thoroughbred from 20-30 years ago, and then again today, I can say I will probably never own another Thoroughbred.
It pains me to admit that.
And unfortunately for the Thoroughbred horse, the future of the breed is quite dim, to say the least.
Plain and simple, the sport horse world holds an unacceptable intolerance of Arabian horses. Hunter, Jumper, Dressage, and Event riders are so…dare I say…racist when it comes to this breed. Although Arab horses may not be the “model” for any of these disciplines, it doesn’t mean that Arabians can’t hack it, can’t be competitive, or only signify rider inadequateness.
Horse people seem to have a love or hate for the Arabian horse. A few people that fall in the middle, but for the most part, you either own an Arabian, or you hate Arabians. Personally, I have heard and seen valid arguments both ways. On the love side, Arabian Breed Shows certainly do bring out the crazies [cough: Swayze], but haters: Arabs can make great sport horse mounts.
For the most part, you either own an Arabian, or you hate Arabians.
That said, the Arabian horse definitely isn’t a first choice for any of the sport horse disciplines. The Arabian is small. With an average height between 14.2 and 15.1 hands, their size is considered undesirable in the Hunter, Jumper, Dressage, and Event horse world. Especially in the Hunter ring, Arabians do not have the competition “look”. At a big Hunter show, it would be an AMAZING feat for an Arabian to win any class, even if that Arabian had a PERFECT round. Hunter judges, most particularly, hate Arabian horses (but remember, Hunters Are Not a Sport).
Talking about the Arabian horse and their size does bring up an important point about today’s sport horses: bigger is better almost everywhere. So is thought…
However, when considering a rider’s ability, a 17+ hand Warmblood isn’t easy for a 5’3”, beginner or intermediate rider to pilot. Concerning collection alone, many riders within this experience bracket do not have the ability, experience, and muscle to handle the task of guiding a big, fast moving horse around a ring. Jumping a course of any size takes a lot more work, adjustment, maneuvering, and steading of a big Warmblood than a smaller horse (like an Arab). At any barn, anywhere in America, too many junior and amateur riders mount horses that are just too big and too powerful for their abilities. In this instance, an Arab would be a good choice for a rider to get the hang of collection, adjusting, and lateral movements.
Additionally, there are many misconceptions of the Arabian horse. Many people think because Arabs are light boned and small they cannot “hold up” to the rigors of jumping. Do not be fooled: Arabians are very tough and generally very sound. Just like every other horse breed, conformation signifies soundness problems way in advance. Moreover, conformation “defects” of a particular horse are simply a product of poor breeding, not, in the Arabian’s case, a poor breed.
Arabs, too, even the small ones, CAN jump big. No matter what you point them at, there is no doubt Arab horses would try. But without an average or long stride length, most Arab horses are going to lack enough scope to jump around a big course.
Fashion has a lot to do with the Arabian and it’s unpopularity within the sport horse world.
Another Arab misconception is their temperament is said to always lean towards spastic or hot. Certainly, Arab horses can be “spastic”, “spooky”, and “hot-blooded”, but I’ve met an equal amount of Arabians that were also quiet, calm, and very “dead broke”. As far as a comparison, the Arabian temperament is very similar to the Thoroughbred temperament. Arabians do seem to be more sensitive to their surroundings, and that also means their experiences. Unlike most “dumb-bloods”, Arabs generally can hold grudges against (bad) people and experiences (like cats).
If we generalize the good and bad points of Arabians, I would break it down like this.
Arabian Horse Strong Points:
Great Feet
Incredible Endurance
Incredible Stamina
Longevity
Above Average Soundness
Easy Keepers
Arabian Horse Weak Points:
The Look of the Arabian has to be Appreciated
Now, if I specify good and bad Arabian traits concerning the sport horse world, my list would look more like this.
Sport Horse Arabian Horse Strong Points:
They can be very good movers
Great Feet
Incredible Endurance
Incredible Stamina
Longevity
Above Average Soundness
Easy Keepers
Size Can Be Beneficial for a Smaller Rider
Temperament can be Great for a Beginner
Price
Sport Horse Arabian Horse Weak Points:
Size which can be Bad for a Long Legged Rider
Temperament can be too much for a Beginner Rider
Often Not Enough Scope to Handle the Bigger Courses
The Arabian Look doesn’t Work in the Show Ring
People Will Treat you Differently
So, to sum it up, fashion has a lot to do with the Arabian horse and it’s unpopularity within the sport horse world. There are some legitimate reasons to NOT ride an Arab, but there are also legitimate reasons TO ride an Arab.
Personally, I wouldn’t buy an Arabian horse. I like a big horse, I’ve got long legs, I am looking to hit big jumps, and I, honestly, don’t appreciate the Arabian look. But, there are some very, very, very great Anglo-Arabians (Arabian, Thoroughbred crosses) used in Warmblood bloodlines and winning high level Jumping, Dressage, and Eventing shows.
I used to own one.
And though I wouldn’t buy an Arab now, if someone does like Arabs, I would never look down on them. Unless someone wanted to jump 4′+, win in the Hunter ring, or their riding personality didn’t fit an Arab, I would never talk them out of buying an Arabian Horse.
Different strokes, really. None better, just better fitting.
And knowing that Arabs can be a great fit for sport horse riders, why not fully accept the Arab into the sport horse world? If a rider is enjoying the horse, and the horse is enjoying it’s job, we needn’t hold prejudice against the Arabian horse breed in sport horse riding or competition.
Sadly though, I’d surmise part of the “stigma” surrounding Arabians in a traditional Hunter/Jumper/Dressage/Eventing sense has to do with their overzealous legions I mentioned earlier. It’s a sad truth, but hard core Arab fanatics give the breed a really bad name outside of their fanatical world.
Although the Arabian will never be my choice for a horse, I thoroughly understand that some people are drawn to this breed, and for others, the Arab is a practical choice. Arab horses do have there good and bad qualities, and though they may not be the IDEAL sport horse, there are Arabians out there that can do the job, and do it well.
No matter what, if you see someone with an Arab, don’t scoff, and you don’t have to like the breed, just respect that someone else does. Though on average, sport horse competition Arab horses may not stack up on paper, there are, frankly, quite a few Arabs out there who can jump, pass, gallop, and leap their way past the fancy Warmbloods.
