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suneagle
Gold Member
 England
727 Posts |
 Posted - 02 May 2007 : 11:02:24 AM
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typical arab what is this?
i was at a show on sunday and i was outside the ring doing final prep on freddie, and mum was off getting me some drink. so i loosely tied the slip round freddies neck and was there brushing him without holding him, and he stood there like a little angel people watching...
then someone came over and said "uh?, hes not your typical arab i see...", well i replyed "he is a typical arab just that normally you notice horses that missbehave more then the ones that behave, and arabs seemed to have this bad rep like stallions."
i just wanna know who actually has a "naughty arab", as all the ones ive met and see are well behaved...
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clare xxxx |
Edited by - suneagle on 02 May 2007 11:03:21 AM
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Karon
Gold Member
England
1411 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2007 : 11:14:54 AM
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I always think mine are generally, typical Arabs. As in they are calm, quiet, well mannered, easy to handle and a pleasure to have around. Of course they have their moments but no more so than friends' Welsh cobs, for example.
I did have one mare who was probably more how people expect an Arab to be as she was quite spooky and lively, but when she started living out 24/7 she settled much more.
All mine will stand to be groomed, tacked up and hooves trimmed without needing to be tied up - in fact I can trim the hooves of a couple of mine without even needing a halter on (yes, I know, not the safest of things to do!) they are that well behaved.
Oh, and my first horse (pure Arab) could jump as long as I was committed to the idea as well (!), do dressage (if I rode her properly!) and was an angel around children and novices. To me that's the typical Arab, not this image of a wild, flighty lunatic so many people have.
And I too get comments about "not a typical Arab" - so I invite the person saying that to meet the rest of my herd to dispel their ideas!! |
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Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2007 : 11:15:01 AM
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When I was returning to riding after many years, when my youngest started nursery school, I told my next door neighbour - a farrier mainly of hunters and racehorses - that I was getting an Arab and he said: "Oh you don't want an Arab, they're too fizzy".
I ignored him and had several years of wonderful riding on that mare, then brought on a gelding who has been my push-button 'horse of a lifetime' since then. He has given so many people riding lessons and is responsible for my older sister buying herself a horse again aged 55, for the first time in decades, because he gave her such confidence.
She's got herself an Irish Draft/TB cross and has although it's not a problem horse, she's had problems with it I don't think my gelding is capable of.
They're horses with very clever brains, but that's something to be channeled. If that turns to naughtiness, I reckon it's the person who initially trained it who's likely to be to blame. |
Roseanne |
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suneanarab
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1818 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2007 : 11:20:21 AM
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| my lot are typical arabs as well, and my stallions are typical stallions. all are calm, excellent to handle (even by my boys who ahve been doing so since they were tiny)and usually better amnnered than most non arabians we see at shows!! |
suzanne walsh
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louisejo
Gold Member
United Kingdom
1313 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2007 : 11:25:21 AM
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Astral is very relaxed and lazy most of the time to ride! He is virtually bomb proof when we hack out and people always say "Oh he is not your typical arab"!
I think people have this idea that all arabs are skitty, nutters that buck and rear and generally jump at their own shadow! I know some of them are, but dont you get that in all breeds?? |
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leezee26
Gold Member
England
1123 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2007 : 12:12:53 PM
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This is what annoys me, and once when I went to Towerlands for an Arab show (cant remember which??) someone behind me was ranting, as an exhibitor was trotting their Arab up and someone in the wings was swishing a whip around with a plastic bag on to get this horse showing off, saying 'Huh, wouldnt want one of those crazy horses if you paid me!!' With that I turned around and asked what the hell they were doing at an Arab show anyway, and said if someone generally swished a whip around at any horse with a plastic bag attached they would react!!
I rescued my old girl, and some swine had beaten her so badly they had dislocated her jaw, thus meaning I couldnt tie her at all...BUT as long as the rope was put through a ring she stood like an angel. Yes she was spirited to ride but I damn well knew I was safe on her, as she wasnt going to put herself in any dangerous situation let alone me!!!
When are people going to realise just how superior an Arab is!!!???
Leighx |
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Jamana
Gold Member
England
682 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2007 : 12:52:23 PM
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My farrier said to me last week, "people with arabs, too proud to ride a camel, too poor to afford a proper horse"
when i gave him 'the look' (you know the one...!) he said, 2well they are pretty, i'll give you that" so i told him, that an arab can do everything and 'proper' horse can do (and more) and STILL look pretty!!!
I did explain that a good Arab is the best of horses, but unfortunatly there aren't that many good ones..........
and of course the showing brigade that wave plastic bags and whips with feathers on and clip foals heads don't help the 'mad arab' percpetion either....................... |
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Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2007 : 12:59:06 PM
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| Doesn't the fact that you have to get a carrier bag on the end of a whip and flail it around to make it excited rather prove that they aren't naturally completely skitty? |
Roseanne |
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nikki
Platinum Member
Wales
4384 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2007 : 1:15:22 PM
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i think, quite simply, that the arab is too intelligent, for some horse people. And they scare them. They are so intune, and some people just simply over-horse themselves-but would never blame themselves and say it was coz they had a nutty arab-alot easier than losing face!
Take my sister, she just can not click with mine-she couldn't catch my boy for years-coz he'd sussed her out.
She just hasn't got the right temprement for an arab. Hard to explain. |
pagey |
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madmare
Platinum Member
England
2129 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2007 : 1:41:41 PM
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Crink is like that..within 30 seconds of someone coming along to see her..she has them well and truly sussed! I can put a total novice on her back, and she;ll be an angel..I get on her, and it's like I have an electric backside...she suddenly starts bouncing, happy, and eager to get on and do something exciting!
my hubby can get her to trot up better in hand..thats cos he can run faster than me! But..in a ridden ring..or out hacking..it's me and my girl....and even when she starts playing arond...it's soo comfy to sit to!! I just sit there and look good!!! |
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nicolanapper
Platinum Member
England
4247 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2007 : 2:02:46 PM
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I have seen more nutty thoroughbreds than arabs. I also once owned a warmblood, that wasn't just nutty, she was plain evil, she would rear up at you and flay (sp) her legs out in order to get you.
Arabs only give the impression of being "nutty" because of their beautiful movement and tail carriage. Ignorant comments from non-arab people make my blood boil. Only the other day we were out riding (my friend and I each on our arab geldings) when we were overtaken by a huge (don't ask me what it was, big roman nose though!, at least 17.2 hh) horse, all was fine, our boys didn't fizz up, although my boy quickened his pace to keep up. Then we came to a road junction and this monster of a horse reared right up 3 times then spun round and galloped full speed at us, my friend and I only just got out of the way in time. Her horse still caught my boy on the shoulder though. I ricked my neck.
The Arab horse is no more nutty than any other breed.
The only thing my farrier says though it that an Arab in the wrong hands makes for trouble, you have to understand these beautiful and most intelligent creatures.
Nicky |
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wheelie
Bronze Member
England
200 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2007 : 2:11:54 PM
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people say that all the time to me !! my arab is soo lazy i school her in spurs sometimes. people are like spurs arab???!!!yes she can be abit sharp out but at are first ridden show she didnt put a foot wrong . did i mention shes an ex racehorse? how many tbs that are exracers(ones that have actualy raced)would be calm at there first show?
i think you either bond with them or you dont a year before i brought my arab i rode a friends .we were at a showjumping show and it played up so they got me on it to sort it out.(funny really im a very quiet rider) anyway i jumped on thinking never ridden an arab.
do you think i could ride it .....nope i couldnt even get a good rising trot i swore that id never buy and arab uncomfortable things!!
iv also ridden my mares half sister and didnt click with her at all yet when my friend rode her she instantly droped on the bit and went very nicely!!
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donna72_uk
Gold Member
England
1123 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2007 : 2:46:47 PM
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My boy is great Ok he might spook alot but no more than my old tb did,He is also the most gentlest horse on the yard you dont have to ask him to move out the way he does it straight away |
Donna
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2007 : 2:48:01 PM
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Its sooo annoying because they deserve so much better!! Not only has my lad taught me to ride when I was 44 and he 7, but he takes care of me on a regular basis. Only yesterday we were hacking round the lanes when he suddenly sidestepped into the hedge. As quickly as I thought "little minx" and was going to accuse him of letching after cow parsley a van came hurtling round the corner - I hadnt heard it!!
He has also taught me a wonderful aire of calm, de-stresses me on a regular basis and has taught me that "less is more" All these things without my "typical arab" I would have missed.
Too proud to ride a camel indeed!! Helen - good to hear you put your farrier in his place.
So where are all these nutty arabs that everyone else seems to know of and I dont????
I can remember when we first got Freddie, a lady at our first yard loaned an arab and she could tell from the moment she arrived if she was going to ride that day. He decided - and she went along with it - Nutty??? naaa - too darned clever I'd say lol!!
Sandie |
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leezee26
Gold Member
England
1123 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2007 : 3:46:07 PM
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Well all I can say is Marmite......You either love an Arab or you hate them!!! And as I think Paula said, People forget that ALL horses are descended from our truly noble friend the Arab, so the fools should eat their words really cos everyones got a horse with it in...No matter how far back.
Yes I agree with the farrier, in the wrong hands it could be disasterous, but surely again that counts for any horse, any animal??? It really is each to their own, but why oh why the Arab still receives such bad press I dont know?
Lx |
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katherineepea
Gold Member
England
883 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2007 : 3:49:40 PM
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nutty people make nutty horses. i wish mine was more nutty! im feeding him oats at the moment because he is almost too laid back to ride.
whereas my friends warmblood mare will rear vertically and strike at her when shes just leading her around or taking her to the school and when she is not too afraid to get on her, she bronks her off!
theres a malice present in other breeds you would never get in an arab |
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tamila
Platinum Member
England
2532 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2007 : 4:30:22 PM
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| I have had arabs for many years now and hve found them laid back, gentle and so easy to handle. I was manning a feed stand many years ago at at Appalosa stud and a lady asked me if I had appalosas and when I said I had arabs she said that I must be a special person as they are too intelligent for the average horse owner. I think this probably sums them up. |
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Nikkisian89
Silver Member
England
292 Posts |
Posted - 03 May 2007 : 09:51:43 AM
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My boy is probably what people like to refer to as a 'typical arab' he's spooky, lively and temperamental but when he is living out through summer 24/7 he is so much better. But other than his spookiness and spirit, i find him fine to handle, he is a sweet little softy who loves his mum. Although it is a pain when i'm the only person who can catch him! And he needs sedating for the farrier  but i love him too much to let his faults get in the way. |
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Zan
Platinum Member
Scotland
3213 Posts |
Posted - 03 May 2007 : 09:59:52 AM
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I think mine is "typical Arab" as well He literally is scared of his own shadow----on occassion. But he is also incredibly intelligent, gentle, loving, handsome, kind..............can you tell I love him to bits?
My previous Arab, Zan, was a real ambassador for the breed and could show a lot of "sensible cobs" how to behave---nothing fazed him. I thought all Arabs would be like that if they were handled correctly---I was wrong.There is no badness at all in my boy, but I have fallen off him more than I have in the entire rest of my riding life---a long one---simply because of his incredible unexpected spooks. Having said that, he is an absolute saint with vets, farriers and has wonderful manners. So not what the anti-Arab brigade really mean when they say "typical Arab". |
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Goldenmane
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4964 Posts |
Posted - 03 May 2007 : 10:08:25 AM
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Tamila
What a wonderful thing for that lady to say, I shall always remember it. I have typical Arabs, beautiful, clever, inquisitive and kind. |
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lol
Bronze Member
95 Posts |
Posted - 03 May 2007 : 10:56:01 AM
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Both of my arabs have been absolutely wonderful-present and future! what more could we ask for- intelligence, beauty, fabulous temperaments and good looks!
On this note I also agree with others that arabs are different to other breeds- really believe you cannot force an arab to do anything - ive worked out that im better off just sitting there and with gentle persuasion and encouragment my lad would do anything!And considering this a youngster not yet 4 for another 6 wks who hacks out alone id say thats pretty damn good! He even went over a motorway bridge last sunday all on his own-he just had to have a good think and nosy at it first!!!And don't know about everyone else but ive known loads of people whose more 'sensible and less excitable' adult horses wont even leave the yard without company!!
Saying that, the fact they are so intelligent means I am constantly shattered from trying to out-think mine all the time!!
Wouldnt have any other breed for anything!
Laura xx |
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Edited by - lol on 03 May 2007 10:57:06 AM |
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Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 03 May 2007 : 11:27:04 AM
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Nicky's got a real point there. I know a number of people around here who have bought TBs and have had to sell them on because they are unpredictable. Yes they can jump and do dressage (so can Arabs of course) but they seem to be unpredictable and just 'go off on one' every now and again. The fact that this has happened to three close neighbours shows it's a bit of a breed problem.
I know inherited temperament is very important but I think the way a horse is handled, backed and trained is crucial to how it behaves in life. |
Roseanne |
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geegee
Platinum Member
England
3682 Posts |
Posted - 03 May 2007 : 11:46:46 AM
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I agree with you, Roseanne. Put any breed in the wrong hands and you could give that breed a wrong name.
About 15 years ago I had a TB on loan that had been passed around. I agreed to take her on and it took me a good 4 months to get her to settle in and trust me. Everyone on the yard thought that she was a head case and it was because they were scared of her. I created a bond with her and she changed completely but her reputation didn't. Sadly she sustained an injury in the field and after 3 months of getting her to come right her owner made the heart breaking decision to have her pts. I had no say! (never would I loan again)
I think that it is the presence of an Arab that people think is "typical". You can't help but notice them, they always stand out. 
My pure bred is an absolute angel to handle and ride. Sometimes strong but safe. My pb arab was exciting! to ride but safe again. My anglo is in training at the moment so we have yet to find out....But after a settling in period she is proving to be a very loving horse.
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 03 May 2007 : 1:34:08 PM
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If only a few of those guilty of branding arabs as "typical" with the wrong "types" could read this eh?? Perhaps we would have a chance of clearing their reputation.
Sandie |
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KittyB
Silver Member
United Kingdom
295 Posts |
Posted - 03 May 2007 : 1:43:30 PM
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Aren't we lucky to be owned by these "typical Arabs"? I too wouldn't want anything else now, I just love them.
I think every breed has its characters though - some years ago I used to own a Fell Pony and he was the most laid-back lad I've ever come across, spooked at nothing, yet his half brother who lived with us too was completely the opposite and used to prance about snorting with his tail up when he was ridden in company. He did look great though, with all that hair and feather flying! |
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Nikkisian89
Silver Member
England
292 Posts |
Posted - 03 May 2007 : 4:29:31 PM
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I agree KittyB, after owning an Arab i don't think i could have another breed either, i wouldn't know what to expect out of another breed! lol. I actually find other breeds kind of, dare i say it, boring  they just don't have what an Arab has. An Arab stands out anywhere, you can spot one a mile off, they just have that presence about them....aren't us Arab owners biased! lol |
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