Iberian horses similar to Arab/tb's?

S

summerguest

Active Member
Joined
18 October 2011
Messages
33
Visit site
Just been looking at a thread about Iberian horses. I have always loved these but have never had the pleasure of owning one. I have always had Arab/ Tb crosses. How different / similar are these breeds. I think of them all as being hot headed and sensitive but very gentle. What are your thoughts?
 
Thats funny my Tb's were really laid back but with strange quirks, the arabs swing from laid back to nutters in different situations, but very sensitive and have definite opinions on which people they like!
 
As far as I can recall, and I am sure there are more knowledgeable people out there to help, the Iberian roots are arab barb and moorish horses (as are the TB roots arabian). As with all breeds there is a huge variance in temperament. I've known some TB's to be the most sensible novice hack. However, once performance or fashon takes over then breeding for character seems to fly out the window.
 
I've actually got a TB and a PRE, and over the years I've had quite a lot to do with Arabs.

Other than the fact that they do share blood, in the main I'd say that they are all highly intelligent which is often mistaken for being loony or difficult. That intelligence has to be chanelled as otherwise, that's when you'll see behaviour issues.

Likewise - and this might sound a bit contradictory - but if you allow them to just slob down the lanes then (ony IME) they'll usually do that fairly safely. It's when you challenge them, push them a little out of their comfort zone, THAT'S when you have to know what you're doing as that's when you'll see fireworks, but once they realise that you're serious and committed, and they respect you, then you can realise some fabulous acheivements with all three of these breeds. Again, just my personal experience!
 
I know people say that iberians are sharp, but I have also read that they have a slower heart rate than other breeds, which I think might account for their good steady temperaments - not necessarily when being worked, but on the ground. I know mine (half luso) is a donkey 95% of the time on the ground, but when he does do things, he does them quickly :)

I think whilst there may be a certain type, it doesn't means its true for every one of the breed - some TBs are the laziest animals around!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7732742
 
Yes Stencilface, I have to say that from the ground I'd be happy for anyone to be around my PRE. He is a real attention seeker, but certainly a gentleman. I would be careful about who sat on him though because as you said, if he wants to do something that isn't on the agenda it's swift!!!!
 
My Luso x TB is only a part bred obviously but he's highly sensitive yet very gentle and willing. The luso yard where I bought him from said most of their luso's are like this - have amazing willing temperaments but are so eager to please that I guess it could spill out wrong. Mine is like that, he over-analyzes everything. Even just a simple halt, if you leave him standing too long he'll start thinking "hold on, she must want something else, lets try rein back, no wait thats wrong, maybe she wants a turn on the forehand etc."! He's never misbehaved in his life, just very keen to please. I've had an anglo arab in the past who was also highly intelligent but not quiet as sensitive / quick off the aids.

As with any horse, they all differ. I'd always consider an Iberian or TB when looking for my next horse.
 
showqa said:
I'd say that they are all highly intelligent which is often mistaken for being loony or difficult. That intelligence has to be chanelled as otherwise, that's when you'll see behaviour issues.

Likewise - and this might sound a bit contradictory - but if you allow them to just slob down the lanes then (ony IME) they'll usually do that fairly safely. It's when you challenge them, push them a little out of their comfort zone, THAT'S when you have to know what you're doing as that's when you'll see fireworks, but once they realise that you're serious and committed, and they respect you, then you can realise some fabulous acheivements with all three of these breeds. Again, just my personal experience!
Click to expand...

^^^ one of the trueist things I have read in a long time, very well put showqa
 
Iberians are a lot better doers, need much less feed than a tb and don't lose condition through our winters.
However mine is a LOT slower at a gallop than a tb or an arab and can be a lazy swine, but that's probably just him.
 
I have lots of arab experience but limited Iberian but it seems to me they are both very intelligent and sensitive but the Iberian seems less inclined to be challenged whereas the arab tends to thrive and enjoys the challenge as long as asked in the right way.
 
I don't find TBs and Iberians all that similar although both are sensitive. there are more similiarities between arabs and Iberians in that they are both sensitive, can be hot, both intelligent, both very people oriented and mainly very gentle natured and mostly very good doers. Both also require leadership or they take over (collies of the horse world). Love both breeds!

I have a luso and acceleration is quick but over distance they aren't be-too much knee action. but they aren't bred for speed, they are bred to be athletic and comfortable for fighting (close combat or bullfighting). my luso is the least lazy horse I've ever met, great work ethic.
 
I have a very sharp tb and a spanish horse who would leave my tb standing in speed sharpness and my tb is a exracer (not a good one ) Still won races though I will say my spanish boy is excellent to ride with me Not with anyone else tried today.
 
I don't think they are very similar at all.

Iberians are highly intelligent, people can enounter problems if their handling skills aren't good enough.

Mine is very genuine and loyal but I wouldn't trust her with a novice. She's far too oppinionated. My trainer says you can trust her to be her, if you know what i mean.

That said she is the bravest horse i have ever known and as a 4yr old hacked on her own in heavy traffic.
 
classicalfan said:
As far as I can recall, and I am sure there are more knowledgeable people out there to help, the Iberian roots are arab barb and moorish horses (as are the TB roots arabian). As with all breeds there is a huge variance in temperament. I've known some TB's to be the most sensible novice hack. However, once performance or fashon takes over then breeding for character seems to fly out the window.
Click to expand...

There is no Arab blood in Lusitanos or Andalusians.
 
Cluck, I've been told my those with greater knowledge than mine and in the thick of the Iberian industry, that there is Arab blood in them. It's not always something that is readily acknowledged, but in all honesty it stands to reason really (if you think about the history of the region), and watch many an Iberian at liberty and their Arab blood is there to observe!
 
According to Peter Maddison Greenwell's book 'Living and Working with the horse of spain', 1300 years ago the Moors brought Barb horses across to Spain and bred them with the spanish stock already there.

If anyone is serious about learning about Iberians that is the book to read. I wish I had read it before I got mine and it has really helped me understand him.

Personally I don't think they are anything like arabs or tbs. They are a totally different build, having stood comparing mine next to my friends ISH. They have more in common with a section D.
 
noblesteed said:
According to Peter Maddison Greenwell's book 'Living and Working with the horse of spain', 1300 years ago the Moors brought Barb horses across to Spain and bred them with the spanish stock already there.

If anyone is serious about learning about Iberians that is the book to read. I wish I had read it before I got mine and it has really helped me understand him.

Personally I don't think they are anything like arabs or tbs. They are a totally different build, having stood comparing mine next to my friends ISH. They have more in common with a section D.
Click to expand...

Agreed but the Barb horse is not Arab.
 
I have Iberian and Arab, both mares.

Both very clever and quick to learn. However, in my own experience, the Iberian will learn very quickly, is very stoic, takes anything you ask of them in their stride, once they trust you they will do anything but are quick also to pick up on any of your own failings, so be consistent and fair! I have found our little Arab mare to be similiar but more willing to be a continual boundary pusher, more sensitive and a bit more flighty than my Iberian. Basically, our Iberian is secure and very reliable having a leader, our Arab is often looking at what is out there but still reliable as a breed.

My experience only.
 
actually there is alot of fossil and archeological evidence to support the hypothesis that the Iberian horse is the ancestor of the barb and possibly the arab. see Dr Deb Bennett and Paulo Gaviao Gonzaga.
 
i have an andalusian cross anglo-arab stallion, its a tres sangres, three bloods, he is a real eye opener in his ways and attitudes, two weeks after he was broken i rode him out alone on the scariest ride i could find, he passed everything, this was just one of his tests he needed to pass before being bred from cause i can't abide nervous horses.

i find he has most of the best qualities of the three breeds and some extra things of his own , and he is very clever.

he has one 4 year old son who is utterly stunning, the best horse i have bred, it was an experiment that has turned into a passion and lead me down a road of discovery to something i was searching for a long time.

i know wb's dominate comps but i believe spanish cross horses are the sport horses and riding horses of the future because in dressage for instance they have natural collection which the wb's do not.
 
noblesteed said:
They have more in common with a section D.
Click to expand...

Bearing in mind that I have never owned an Iberian - yet :D, but have lots of Sec D experience, they do seem very similar.
My sec D is a sensitive soul, who would try hard when he wanted to, and loved his 'good boys'.
He did find it hard to trust, and in this regard I'm hoping that an Iberian is easier, and happy to go first, which Jay never was.
 
Ooh this is interesting. I have an Anglo-Arab and an Andalusian colt.
My AA is very bright and works hard in the school but is not very brave in respect to some things. He is good to hack with traffic but shocking with leaves and lurkers (makes the shooting season fun with all the beaters in the bushes!).

As for my Andalusian, he is only 10 mo so will have to wait and see, but he is already bold and independant and pushing boundaries. I'm really excited about him and his future- though I am aware that most of this boils down to me...!
 
I have experience with all three breeds, and crosses between (Trés Sangres, Hispano-Arabe, Anglo-Arab). As all my current Spanish horses are rescues for one reason or another I am presently in the thick of dealing with all the hot, sharp, hyper-sensitive traits that have led to these boys being rescues in the first place - please, people, do some research before launching out ant getting your "dreamhorse", can be disaterous for both horse and human if you are a novice or insecure rider and handler. They are VERY different from the TB, quite like the Arab in some aspects, and the most intelligent horse I've ever come across.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top