Do you love or hate Arabs - and why?

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htobago

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People seem to have strong feelings about Arabs - they seem to be 'Marmite' horses that one either loves or hates.

OK, so - when you see a horse like this young Arab stallion....

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....do you think 'ah, beautiful; dream-horse; would love to ride him; wish he were mine!'? Or do you think 'yuk - bl**dy Arab; can't stand them; wouldn't touch it with a bargepole!'? Or maybe something in between?

And why?

(Just genuinely curious about people's feelings about Arabs - good and bad! - and the reasons for their like/dislike of this breed.
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I'd think, 'wow, he is gorgeous' but I would never go out to buy an Arab specifically, though if I was looking for a horse and it sounded like what I wanted I wouldnt be put off if it was Arab... I think they have an unjustified bad reputation, all the ones I have known have been lovely, they are just a little too fine for me.
 
I don't really have much of an opinion on them. I had a nice Arab X who really jumped. It's what they do that is important for me not what breed they are or how they look.
 
I was talking about arabs today with a friend, funny you should post this! I think they are stunning, and don't know enough individuals to pass judgement on the breed. So, what I'm trying to say is I wouldn't have one but I also wouldn't slate anyone for having them. Funnily enough I "don't mind" marmite!!!

I prefer my chunkies - I am an ID lover and had a huge tank of a Fell pony for 10 years. I guess I just find those types of horses suit me more.
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I'm a lover although I have big fat hairy cobs and native ponies now..lol
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I had a purebred many years ago and then an Anglo Arab. Both were fantastic allrounders and such fun.
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I'd think wow he's fab, i have an anglo-arab and hes fab i love them, though i do think they are best suited as a one person horse, they are like humans in my mind and if they trust you they will risk their lives for you - if not sorry but u r on a lot of trouble! hehe
 
I have always thought Arabs are beautiful horses but i have never wanted one. I have never ridden one so perhaps i'm being unfair but they really don't appeal riding wise to me.
 
He is stunning!

The best thing about Arabs is that you can use them to make partbreds! They add a touch of class to anything. My 14.2 was out of a horrible bog Irish mare (should have never been bred from) but by a very classy Arab stallion called Comas, He went on to be successful in every discipline including showing.

And not to mention my Binky baby!
 
I think they are beautiful to look at but wouldn't own one as I've ridden and handled several and have found them spooky, silly and flightly. My rescue pony is an Arab cross and when she's silly/naughty the people on my yard say she's having a ninny arab moment.
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Love them - used to be a TB lover but now have two Arabs, both tremendous characters. They're loyal, brave, intelligent, hardy (live out 24/7), beautiful and I can't see myself changing to another breed now.

Your boy is gorgeous!
 
I would never own a pure-bred arab but I appreciate their performance and ability and toughness

However I highly rate PBA and Anglos for ability - e.g. Tamarillo

the Arab - like pony blood - tends to put in toughness and good horn for the hooves and stamina whilst the TB blood adds in a bit of size

I've used a few AA stallions and rate them highly although they tend to be a bit 'out of fashion' at themoment and hard to find

as with all part-bred breeding - e.g. Irish draught and CBay - if everyone only X-bred then there would be a risk to the pure-bred lines. With arabs though there isn't that risk so a good X-bred is my thing in appreciation of the arab

no-one however can fail to admire them when racing and in their metier of endurance
 
Would love an arab, I have only known one though, he was really nice to ride and was a bit of a local dressage star.

I think they are absolutely stunning.

I wouldn't have one if it was to be my only horse as a) I need a confidence giver with jumping and b) I like chunky things!

But if I were in the position to have a few horses a decent arab (for a bit of local endurance and showing) would be lovely!

PS HTobago, your horse is absolutely stunning.

PPS I eat marmite out of the jar with a spoon
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i think some are pretty to look at wouldnt touch one with a barge pole though my friends was a nutter my aunties broke every bone i9n her body but in constrast i used to ride out with one that was soo chilled it was practically sleeping and i would have bought her if she was up for sale because i knew her if she was advertised i would skip merrily past the ad i am a big fan of anything big and hairy i like to be able to feel the horse same with tb's

plus i hate marmite
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I think they are fantastic horses but they are sometimes bought by the wrong people because they are so beautiful. Arabs are tough and the more work they have the happier they are. They are very much people horses - after all they were bred to live alongside their Arabian owners in tents in the desert.
There are not many horses who can complete a 160km race in average speeds of over 20km/hour carrying a minimum weight of 75kg.
I owned one for 19 years, he was Arab raced by a friend of mine for 4 seasons and then he and I did many endurance rides together, which he absolutely loved and he stuck with me through thick and thin. When he died, I vowed not to have another - I am now a lot older and love my heavy hairies, but in some respects he was a horse of a life time.
 
I just love them, to look at and to ride.

When I started riding regularly it was at a small western yard that had arabs and part breds, along with other breeds. Yes the arabs had a bit more about them, but once you understood them and learned to work with them they were the best horses there - but to be fair they were mares so needed more sensitive handling anyway.

My first show pony had a fair bit of arab in her background, it showed in her looks and her temperament - she was a firecracker but had huge presence in the ring.

I choose to have hairy ponies these days but appreciate that arabs can inject something special into even these breeds to make a small sport horse.
 
I have an Anglo and although I went out to buy an ID when I saw his little ears pricked towards me I couldnt resist. He was also skin and bone, left with shoes on for 4 months and was in a field behind a school in Kent. I couldnt leave him there and of course I just happened to have the lorry with me that day.

He has amazing paces and floats along when doing extended trot. It is quite an experience. I lose track of time when I am riding him as it is just so enjoyable, that sometimes I can be in the school for 1.5 hours and he never complains (luckily he has stamina!)

I know someone who has 7 and they are all lovely stocky egyptian/polish types - would love to have a pure bred arab pony for endurance - my anglo doesnt have the right conformation.
 
My new boy is a purebred Arab whose sire was Shogun he is absolutely gorgeous. I used to love thoroughbreds but loaned a lovely Arab mare and fell in love with the breed as someone else has already said they are so loyal and very bright! They are also extremly sensitive and can be very intuitive so not the best of rides for a nervous rider. But they also remember if they have been badly treated so maybe thats how their bad reputation was gained. It is also possible that most people keep their horses for life so that there are very few on the market!!
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I think he's absolutely stunning and am trying to come up with the best way to steal him from you
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Thay are my favourite favourite breed ever lol.
When I get my first horse I am absolutely determined it is going to be an arab, and I've had that in my head for as long as I can remember. I've always preferred finer breeds over but theres something about arabs that just makes me go wow
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When I started riding Ellsy (lighter grey in my sig) about 5ish years ago was when I got properly hooked on them though (bloody nutcase that he is
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ETS: I also love marmite
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I love them!

They are intelligent (which is why some people have problems - they dont entertaint their quick thinking minds enough) They are loyal and their stamina is second to none.

Contrary to popular belief, they can jump!! In fact they can turn their hands to anything and look fantastic at the same time!

Spooks is part bred and i am fairly certain i will be treating myself to a purebred next time!!

(although having said all that - I do love a good hunter type and also a nice welshey!!)
 
I think they are lovely! I use to ride Arabs alot but after one squashing me I just like to look at them now. I stick to Irish Draughts now.
 
I do think they are lovely & definitely add class to a chunkier breed etc.

I know somebody who owned Arabs & Anglos & she loved them, just seemed to be the horse for her & they slotted together. I also know somebody who has a chestnut Arab gelding who she saved from being sold for meat
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The previous owner had a lifelong ambition to own an Arab, got him as a 3yr old, had him for 2 yrs, couldn't handle him & sent him for meat
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My friend literally trailed the box he was in, unloaded him & bought him at the roadside for £200!!
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He is a gorgeous boy & has paces to die for but he is flighty & a bit of a drama queen so I definitely think they are a horse that chooses you, not the other way around
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If a horse was perfect for me but an Arab, it wouldn't put me off although knowing the majority are livewires they are not a breed I would seek out & I think you have to know what you are doing with them, they do seem to be a very 'reactive' breed although once you have one & you have it's trust they will protect you to the end. My friends' is very protective of her & definitely 'hers' only
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Generally, yes I am a fan but you need to know how to handle them if you choose to have one
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I love them they are so beautiful, but I wouldn't want to buy one. I hate it though when they are bred with too much of a profiled face.
 
sorry not for me
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don't get me wrong, i love all horses, but i much prefer something a bit chunkier and something that doesn't look like it might break
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i rode an arab a few times at my local riding school back in Cornwall - a little bay called Romulus, or Rom. When i would get on he was just tooooooo narrow and dainty and whenever i would gallop him i just felt like there wasn't enough there!!
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I like crosses though - so an anglo arab would be ok.
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i actually prefer crosses to a breed - so would rather have a tbx, then a full tb. but then i can't generalise - you can't help who you fall in love with!!
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I love Marmite! Oh sorry, Arabs!

I have always adored them, pure parts and anglos. I have had 2 arab stallions and 2 part bred mares and I now have a lovely part bred Arab gelding. He is x connemara. He has the dish arab face and long mane and tail accompanied with the floaty arab pace. He also has the connie brain and can jump very well and is very versatile, but showy enough for showing.

I have always been drawn to them, I don't know why. I wouldn't be happy with any other breed.
 
I work with Arabs, and have to say before I started I have to admit I wasnt much of a fan, but now after about a year I love them. Have to say though, Im not keen on the Egyptian Arabs, and much prefer the chunkier type (the type we breed incidently!!)

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Kudu - I think you have the perfect mix! I would love an arabxconn.

However, by far the most beautiful arab I have ever had the privilege to ride was an arabxID who was one of the Blenheim arabs. She was beautiful to look at (arab face, ID body), had a lovely temperament and was the loveliest horse to ride. she was quite big at 16.2hh but she was not strong or silly.
 
They are stunning to look at but I wouldn't buy one - why? I'm 5'8" and they feel too small, they have (IMO) a short, choppy stride and most of them can't do what I enjoy with my horse, competing in dressage, XC, SJ and hunting. I have ridden quite a few and I do like their temperament though. ArabxNatives were considered good children's ponies when I was young!
 
Yes, I much prefer the slightly chunkier type. The Shagya Arabian is more my type than the traditional, overly fine Arabian. I don't like the overly concave profiles or fine builds.

(Apologies if this doesn't make sense, I'm not that up on Arabs. Just trying to put into words the type I prefer!
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