Hogging....Arabs?

[htobago]

Well actually it's not really hogging, but I just thought I'd jump on the bandwagon...

Joking aside, there are rows all the time on Arab forums about the practice of clipping a very long bridlepath on show-Arabs - effectively 'hogging' about 6 to 10 inches.

It's done to show off the neck better, as Arab manes are quite long and cannot be pulled or plaited for the show ring.

You can see here that my boy has the top part of his mane 'hogged':

Some people in the Arab world HATE this: they think it looks silly and Barbie-dolly, and that it reinforces people's prejudices about Arabs as pointless show-poodles. But for in-hand showing, at least at the higher levels, it is now universal.

Personnally I feel it is no more silly than any of the other traditional methods used to show off necks in show horses - pulling, plaiting, hogging, etc. But there are heated threads running to 10 pages about this on Arab forums!!!

I'd be interested to know what non-Araby people on here think of this practice... Do you think it is ridiculous and 'Barbie-doll'? Or no more ridiculous than the pulling, plaiting, hogging, etc of other show horses?

 

[archie1]

why is it any difference to the 101 other ways to show a horse??? people put extensions in their horses mane and tails so whats wrong with a mini-hog.
By the way your horse is stunning!!

 

[Rachel_M]

I think it looks beautiful on Arabs, and have always loved the look it gives.

 

[SirenaXVI]

It's another import from America isn't it, they also do this with Morgans and Saddlebreds I believe.

Looks neater I suppose and I can see how it would make the neck look longer, but I can also see why people say it enhances the 'poodle' image.

 

[yellowpony]

This might be a very silly question, but if you are not allowed to plait or pull Arab's manes, why are you allowed to hog them?

As a long term Arab owner, (but not for showing purposes - hunting, hacking and endurance) I prefer them au natural. But obviously that's just personal, your boy is gorgeous by the way!

Of course you wanted answers from non-araby people, so this post is probably irrelevent!

 

[Maesfen]

I personally think it looks hideous.
Are Arab judges so thick that they can't tell whether it has a correctly set on head and neck without a hairdo?

 

[Ahrena]

I personally don't think its "hideous" or "poodle-like" but personally think it spoils the image of Arabs for me.

Still think your horse is gorgeous btw.

 

[Tinker_Belle]

I'm not a great lover of Arabians. I much prefer the Shagya Arabian to the 'normal' Arabian horse. (You can tell I'm not that up on Arabians can't you?!

)

I personally don't like the bridlepath, I think it's too Americanised & I prefer to see Arabians in their natural state with their manes.

And although it is the correct way for showing, I don't like the head pose when they are stood square, the head raised right up?

As I said though, I have no real interest in Arabians as far as showing goes although I do think they are a beautiful breed & have heard they are very loyal.

You already know I love yours anyway, handsome chap

 

[merlinsquest]

I personally dont like it, mainly because it looks just like someone didnt know where to stop!!!

But horses for courses, and if thats what they have, then thats what they have

 

[Honeypots]

All or nothing for me. Either go the whole 'hog' or leave it natural. For Arabs I definitely prefer au naturel.
That goes for cobs too. If you're going to hog then I think it looks better with the legs off and a banged tail.

 

[Ashgrove]

Beautiful horse.

I prefer the natural look for arabs

 

[lilym]

i think it looks fantastic!!! really shows off that lovely crest, it's no more silly than bloody great welsh cobs having a plait behind their ear!!

 

[nuffield]

its called a bridle path.
it is frowned upon because the use of sweats [ a cloth wound around top of the arabs neck to make it sweat , rather like a bandage,] to make it more streamlined and elegant where the head meets the neck, can cause the mane to fall out, due to sweating/rubbing.
therefore, the judge , or person viewing the horse, doesnt know if the horse has been "sweated" or not if it has a bridlepath.
with a full mane it is more likely the arab is as nature intended it to be, conformation -wise, in that area.

 

[Enfys]

Hi Kate,

How are you?

Aesthetically I, personally, dislike the long 'bridlepath' clip that the American breeds use, I had thought that the AHS were phasing it out. Arabs don't need much enhancing full stop! JMO.

If the mane gets in the way of the Judges eye, then s/he can always go around to the other side to get a clear view of the neck and throat! If that is the case then they shouldn't be judging anyway!

Barbie doll? No, not really, it is just the way they are trimmed and prepared as far as I can see, like chopping every bit of spare hair off the QH's and then bunging a false tail on. Fools no-one but it is still done! At least with a long bridle path the horse doesn't step backwards and rip it off (I have seen a couple of QH's do that)

As long as they stop at a bit of shorn neck I don't have a problem. Beauty being in the eye of the beholder and all that.

How many Tobago babies to go now? I take it that you are quite pleased (slight understatement?) with results thus far?

Have a Good Day.

 

[brightmount]

I wondered if you were going to get honest opinions on here, as we like to stay friends and your boy is so very handsome. But since others have had the guts to say it, I will too, it's horrible, it looks like a chav haircut

But I don't like any kind of hogging on any kind of horse, and I don't even like pulled manes, I just love to see horses how nature made them.

It's all personal opinion, and just as well the horses couldn't care less!

 

[piebaldsparkle]

I personally don't like it and have always wondered why Arabs don't just have a single plait at the top (like some other breeds), to show off the head/neck.

 

[Chatty2]

I personally don't like it so much - I think it's out of sorts with their 'natural' manes. I agree with you that it's no more silly that the other 'enhancements' we make to show off our horses and besides it's probably a lot less painful than mane pulling! Your boy is a beauty btw...

 

[only_me]

he is stunning

wow!!

but i prefer the au natural look, but thats just my opinion.
But i could see that having the mini hog makes you look more proffessional in the show ring, and so the judge will instantly take a look.
but dont personally like arabs anyway

 

[MotherOfChickens]

love arabs, dislike the long bridle path-no need!

 

[Stinkbomb]

I like it as long as it isnt done OTT. Miniature horses have this done too and some people just take it too far. I think it shows the neck off lovely if done right. I too "hog" Inky as the arabs are done and he looks great ( IMO!!! )

 

[S_N]

Funny how I like it on Arabs and Morgans, but detest it on Saddlebreds, Tennessee Walkers and Missouri Foxtrotters - they are all razor narrow, with VERY long necks as it is, so they look like giraffes IMO.

 

[Guinness]

I work with Arabs and and have just done a bridle path on a yearling filly for the first time. Really dubious at first that it would look awful, started off about 4 inches long, but have to admit I was amazed at the difference it made to her! Bridle path is now a couple of inches longer too!! Still prefer them natural though

 

[burtie]

Sorry but personally I think it looks ridiculous, much prefer the full natural mane.

 

[trendybraincell]

I can see the reasoning behind the rather oversized bridle path for inhand showing, particularly when you consider how they are stood up etc. Is it not very common place in ridden classes?

Whoever said its a chav hair cut...hehehe

Personally I don't like it, I think Arabs in their natural state are stunning, they are overly done up for showing, then they look a bit barbie-doll like...but we do strange things in the showing world!

 

[the watcher]

Whilst understanding the reasoning behind it, I have to say I don't much like the look of it.

 

[toffeesmarty]

I have no real thoughts either way on trimming Arabs manes. However why does the Arab stud close to us clip the bottom part of their horses tails? Is this common practice and if so what is it for?

 

[Enfys]

Clip their tails? Like what? Description please, I am intrigued Sorry, I can't quite imagine it, that's a new one on me. We used to spend all our time trying to save their tails as much as possible.