Lazy Arab?

Zirach

Zirach

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I was just wondering for those arab owners and riders - if any of you have a lazy arab? This chap has quite a short choppy stride in trot and was not at all whizzy as I would have expected. Not that it was a problem but I just wondered as I always had the mis-conception that Arabs were forward and a bit scatty.
 
Mines forward and scatty with me but is completley different with kids turns into a right slug! Never choppy in his stride though, have you had his feet checked? Could be a sign of pain, navicular?
 
I have a steady, sensible, calm arab. She's been that way from when i first met her as a weanling (although she was a bit naughty for a few weeks as a yearling). She can do a wonderful floaty trot though (if she feels that it's worth showing off).

My arab gelding is hotter than her and it takes less stimuli to get him to show off, but he's not scatty.

Arabs are notoriously hard to fit saddles to and a badly fitting saddle will stifle the trot.

I have had long conversations with an Arab breeder RE the myth of the typical arab.
 
Hi- my Arab can be a bit lazy when he wants to be, but never if hacking in the direction of home!
 
Hmmm thanks all. I think the slightly choppy trot may well be because he wasn't going very forward. He felt fine to me on top, just a bit lazy and needing leg but my mother who was watching thought he was a little short striding. Maybe that's because she was comparing him to our warmblood who has a lovely long trot and is obviously alot bigger.
He seemed alert and the rest of it just not very forward and I thought they usually had long floaty trots. I guess with more schooling this would improve (I don't think he has done much for several months).
 
It depends on the arab. My bay chap is forward going, but has quite a short rolling stride and will curl up and back off you - getting him to open up and use himself properly can be a challenge. Lots of lateral work and transitions help. And our grey chap is intrinsically idle. Give him the path of least possible resistance and he'll take it. I have to be careful not to nag him though, as although he feels like he's got the handbrake on and trundling along going 'lala, fairies, pretty lights', he is actually motoring and has a massive long stride.
 
My arab's only nice to school when he's had no turnout for at least three days and there's a bit of buzz to work with, otherwise he spends most of his time using excuses to stop. He's got skiving down to an amazing art and he definitely lacks enthusiasm for schooling. :D

He's forward thinking on a hack though so I know there's nothing up with him, just pure laziness! The short strides thing might be saddle related, my horse couldn't do a decent trot with a rider on until I shelled out for a Reactor Panel.
 
I used to know the most idle Arab on the planet. She was one of the youngsters we were backing about 10 years ago and the only one who ever simply lay down whenever she didn't feel like working! There wasn't anything wrong with her or her tack, she was just lazy. We did manage to start her successfully, but she never amounted to more than a happy hack and the last I heard her owner had given up and was using her as a companion/broodmare instead. She had lovely paces, though, so I'd be looking at saddle/feet issues as a first port of call for yours.
 
Mine is very hot/excitable when hacking but in the school he does as little as possible (unless it involves leaping around pretending to see monsters!)...
 
I worked with an arab stallion for a few years and he was well known for being laid back. He was almost horizontal! Lovely chap though.
 
Thanks everyone - interesting to hear. This little chap is super but I am new to Arabs so wanted to get someone else's experiences. I guess like humans, some are lazy, some are quick :-) will def look into the back just to make sure however
 
My arab mare is quite lazy, although she is responsive off the leg and will walk out nicely. She doesn't usually get uptight about things, and if she does, she forgets about it after 30 seconds. She will trot out nicely, but never rushes. I think the fact that she's French probably accounts for her laid back attitude to work!!

In contrast, my old mare who was 3/4 arab and part Welsh cob was like the Duracell Bunny on speed!! Think it was the Welsh part for sure!
 
The arabs i have are very laid back, one is very lazy and like yours has a short choppy trot on him, i watch him playing in the field and that is how he moves,
 
Of the five I have the big lad is lazy ,he does only what he needs to do even though he has done the 160k at the GHS and is fit to go down again this year. He does not have a choppy stride but does not move with a longer stride until he gets going. I have 2 that are very forward going,a mare that is forward going but easy to ride. We have a young lad that is forward going but easy to ride.

Arabs like other horses are what you make them and it is the show horses that can look all fizzed up.
 
My arab really walks out on a hack or loves to charges across fields, popping over little logs/ ditches, but in the school he's a bit "lala, fairies, pretty lights" (love that description!). Until he suddenly leaps in the air and I fall off, because a sparrow flies over the school!
So, I think he's lazy with stuff he thinks is BORING, but motors on when he's doing FUN STUFF. hehehe.
 
RLS said:
My arab really walks out on a hack or loves to charges across fields, popping over little logs/ ditches, but in the school he's a bit "lala, fairies, pretty lights" (love that description!). Until he suddenly leaps in the air and I fall off, because a sparrow flies over the school!
So, I think he's lazy with stuff he thinks is BORING, but motors on when he's doing FUN STUFF. hehehe.
Click to expand...

^^^ Yeah, that.

I don't bother showing mine anymore as he falls asleep in the line up.
Schooling is hard work either shut down or spooking at the pretend monsters, but out and about he motors along.
Although he never has a short choppy trot
 
I once heard an instructor say 'Arabs are either crazy or lazy' (that's it, just two categories!) and to some extent i think there's some truth there! for the most part I've known can't-possibly-stand-still-when-can-we-gallop types, but you do meet a few that are just like big fat laid back gypsy cobs in disguise!
 
I once heard an instructor say 'Arabs are either crazy or lazy' (that's it, just two categories!)

I love this analogy lol!
 
My arab, previously described as 'laid back' about everything, met her nemesis today...
...the horse eating purple flowers, all 2 inches of them!!!
 
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