Twitchy Arab & other Q's

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Beatrice5

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Just trying to work out my lovely girl and if she's " normal".....?

I have had my beautiful girl and year and through that time we have made great progress. I am quiet and gentle when I handle her and she is begining to trust and know me but she still has her wobbly moments where she reverts to her wild, scared side ( her previous life)

Do all Arabs twitch and flinch when touched and if so do they ever stop?
Also are they all vocal and clingy with their owners?
Do they only put weight on their barrel and not their crest, rump, shoulder?

And other other tips and hints you'd like to share with me concerning management and handling?

Many thanks x
 
Hi Beatrice,

No, all Arabs don't twitch and flinch when you touch them. I don't know your girl's past history, but I'm guessing she was subjected to some kind of abuse, and that the twitchiness is linked to that.

It may stop, but it will take time - as long as it takes - with calm and gentle handling. Try and be firm when touching her - I don't mean strong or rough, but don't just lightly "tickle" her, if you see what I mean.

Arabs can be vocal, but it's all down to the individual horse. Mine will call to me, for example, when I appear at the field gate. Pharaoh used to be very vocal at events and when hacking out, but now he's got used to it I rarely hear a thing from him.

Arabs can be clingy with their owners, although again it's very much down to the individual horse. Pharaoh, for example, isn't clingy at all. Miri on the other hand is extremely clingy, always seeking reassurance and looking for some one (whether human or horse) to give him confidence. Arabs do tend to be known though, to be very much "one person" horses.

As for putting on weight, mine do tend to put weight on the belly and shoulders first. Not on the crest or rump. But then again that's just mine - and I can't say if it's true for all.

Sounds to me as if she's perfectly "normal" and just needs to take as long as it takes to accept that with you she's never going to be abused any more.

Good luck for the future.
 
Thank you for your reply, it's always interesting to compare. I do try to touch her positively as opposed to tickling her and again she hates being groomed so that has to be done with a vocal warning I am here and I am going to groom you but I will be gentle type approach. Again with rugs I have to say hello, I am here to put your rug on. Sounds crazy I know but it works for us.

Love to hear more Arab experiences.

ps She's is only half Arab but has taken on the Arab fine skin and coat and delicate, sensitive outlook and is very much my horse and won't tolerate other people very well. ( other half is Cob and has a cob body and head on Arab legs :D poor girl)
 
Arabs are special. Ive had a few and they all have different personalities.

The best thing is to join the arabian lines forum on the arabian lines website. Lots of knowledgable arab people on there.

She sounds normal, just has had a bad past maybe.

Good luck!
 
My girl is an arab cross, not sure what she is crossed with or how much arab is 'in there'.

But I do think it is the arab in her that I find most appealing about her character. Mostly she is quite laid back, but does have her 'sparky' moments - nothing bad though. Has her head up high and her eyes on stalks when out hacking - but only because she is so nosey!!! Does mini spooks much of the time, but more of a little 'boo!' than anything major.

I always get a very loud greeting when I arrive at the first field gate, no matter how far away she is. I've only had her for 8 months but I think we have bonded really well (especially as she is the first horse I have owned.)

I don't know if she is a 'one person horse', but she does get cross with other horses if I approach them - it's as if she is letting them know that I belong to her.

She does get grass belly if on too much grass, but she is exercised quite a bit so doesn't seem to be carrying excess fat anywhere. We do have an arab on our yard who also has a large belly, but she has had foals in the past - don't know about my girl, she may have had foals too.

When I groom her I do make sure I give her a good strong brush as she seems to like that - so no sensitive skin in that sense.

I think arab legs are an asset, good and sturdy - I've heard they have good dense bone. We hack out between 20-30 miles a week no problems. We'd do more if I didn't work full time. Oh, and she's 18 years young, hopefully got at least another 18 years in there :)

I like hearing about other arabs too, I think they are an interesting breed.
 
Your girl sounds lovely. Got any pics :)

Mine has just had a suprise baby , she's 4 months now and the bravest, boldest little lady. But I don't think it's helped her mums figure ;)

Yes I do know she's had a rough life prior to me, I am her 7th home in her short life ( she was 5 when I got her last year) and she changed hands four times in the year prior to me getting her :(

But to hack out last year before we discovered her secret she was wonderful, not spooky or silly just a lovely free flowing forward going wonderful girl. All on halt at the moment while she looks after baby.
 
I have a pure egyptian arab - and he does the flinchy thing when you touch him sometimes - it does depend on what level of drama queen-ness he is having at the time though!! :)

I also find that he is a lot better if I talk to him and tell what I am going to do - obviously he understands me, as he is almost human.... :) :)

It is not necessarily that your horse has had a bad experience in the past - some animals are more sensitive and nervous than others - and this can often be from birth. My other horse is 3yo, and is so laid back its untrue - and has been like this since day 1.

Arabs are highly entertaining if nothing else... :)

My boy also puts weight on his belly, and still has a pokey bum, but he does seem to building some topline at his front end at the moment (he is just 4 and is beginning work), so I am hopeful that he may one day not have such a pokey bum :)
 
I shall have to take some up to date photos of her. I posted some on here when I first got her as I wasn't sure about her condition. I think she looks pretty good now.

She also changes colour with the seasons, she is a strawberry roan - when we got her in November she was mostly chestnut, she then went very white Jan-Mar, then started to go back to chestnut, but has gone more white again for the summer. It's quite funny for members of the family when they only visit once in a while - they probably think I'm constantly changing my horse :)

I think bravery is possibly one of their traits too. We have a very flimsy, rattley metal bridge which we need to cross from the yard to get over the river to the woods. I know she doesn't like it, but trusts me to get her across - always worth a good snort! Her last owner said she will always 'try for you', and she certainly does.

I'm hoping I will be her 'forever home', sounds like your little girl could do with that too.

Do you have any pics of your two, they sound sweet.
 
Oh that did make me laugh - the drama queen bit :D I recognise those moments so well with my young lady hehe

And interesting the talking to him bit as I talk to her ALL the time and she is totally human like your chap - I just love it!

She is also very good at making her point and telling me what she wants. It's quite spooky for others to witness and when we were at livery for a short while people did comment how on earth did you know what she wanted. Great fun and very entertaining I totally agree.
 
I have posted pics previously but as I look out of my window now she looks like a ghost as she is in her fly rug :D

I will brush her and tiddler off later and get some shots for you.
 
My sig is of an Anglo Arab. I loved her to pieces but she never grew big enough for me. She took quite a while to get her confidence up as a 3yo and it was sweet having her at home this winter and seeing how she had blossomed and developed into quite the socialite, calling to the others and obviously developing relationships with them - even daring to boss some of them around.
 
I have a Crabbet (chunkier) Arab on part loan and help out with the other Arabs his owner has. He is probably the least affectionate out of them all, and i find them to be attention loving in general, apart from Osc. It's been about 9 months now and i have had glimers of a bond forming with him, but i think it would be easy with the others, they just love contact and fuss so much. They do seem to put weight on their tummy the most, but Osc had mega topline last year, and even the old girl has put on lots so far through the summer, so pointy bums are not a permanent fixture!

I have always been in love with Arabians, but the more time you spend with them, the more you fall in love. They do seem to all have very strong personalities. I have never met an Arab who could be described as 'boring'. Most i have met would be described as 'a bit bonkers' although they are incredibly clever. Again, apart from Osc :p
 
I will post pictures of her HUGE belly tomorrow and you can all fall about laughing and tell me she looks like she's carrying triplets :D

Then you can tell me how the heck I help her reclaim her figure with tiddler in tow?
 
Somethingorother, interesting you say that about your loan Crabbet's huge belly, I've got a Crabbet and his belly is, quite frankly, enormous. Even at the height of our endurance career (career being the operative word here, we used to career all over the place in a not quite in control manner, it's a miracle we got as far as we did)....he was all toned and fit but he still had a great big tummy.

I console myself that I thnk it's a unique Crabbet trait, they have to have a big belly to accomodate their big endurance ribcage, in which nestles their big heart and lungs!! (got to try and justify in somehow!!).
 
I have to admit, i have only met 2 crabbets gala. The other is his 26yr old half sister who has had lots of foals, so i think that's why she always seems to have a dropped/big belly. Osc's big tummy at the moment is due to too much grass and not enough work. But he has a short back which at 15.3hh, i think tends to make his belly look bigger anyway. You might be right though about the big heart and lungs though :)

Osc likes that sort of career too :D
 
"Osc likes that sort of career too " LOL!! My arab is 15.3 too and short backed, that's a very good point that it makes their bellies seem bigger. And to be fair he did have major colic surgery a few years ago which probably hasn't helped.

Back to Beatrice5's question...I have to be quite careful grooming my arab, he's got a sort of body map of tickly bits and sensitive bits and bits where loves to be brushed hard. It took a while to work out. Yes, he's VERY vocal, he ranges from a deep intimate whicker to a big throaty stallion type roar (he's a gelding, sshhh don't tell him) and everything in between.

Clingy, yes. Hates change of any sort. Routine, field companion etc.,, all changes have to be done gradually or he goes into shock and needs therapy!!
 
Osc is touchy about being brushed, he tends not to enjoy it and i get flicked in the face with his tail a lot. They do have very thin skin so it would make sense for them to be sensitive and tickly.

I think we need an Arab photo thread :) Lots of new people with Arabs seem to be joining at the moment :D
 
I do love Arabs but they certainly are a distinctive breed in many ways. In my experience, they are ultra-sensitive and when they've had bad experiences remember them longer and take more time to trust.

When they do trust, they are one of the most loyal and personable breeds out there. I took on a very neglected 8 year old gelding who ended up being a pocket pony who would do anything I asked of him.

I have a TB mare who hated grooming when I got her. She had very sensitive skin and I suspect no one had ever taken their time with her. I routinely use the softest brush I can that will get the job done and I'm very careful with her. She in turn has learned that I am sensitive to her needs and so if I have to take a curry to her now, she takes it very well. In fact, she has come to enjoy grooming.

Sounds like just a matter of time and patience as far as the twitchiness. She may always be a bit clingy since she's had difficulties - my gelding never lost that. Once he found someone he could count on (me), he wasn't going to let me out of his sight! He did get less nervy about it though.
 
Thank you all so much for your lovely replies. I apologise for the lack of photos she has been a mud monster these past few days and as soon as I groom her she back down for a roll :D

It's good to know she is "normal" for her breed and I will continue with the softly softly calm and confident work. As for the belly I am reassured she isn't the only big barrel out there :)
 
Another Arab here. Had this girly a year she also had about 5 homes before me and she isnow 10. She is quite clingy not just me but her field friend, a bit spooky on her own but n ot with others out hacking, but we are getting better, no twitching will let you groom anywhere, had previously been shown so have no probs with the tarting up bit, was a bit daft with water (puddles) and mud but as last winter was so foul she got used to it in double quick time lane floods regularly. Likes to talk to you different inflections in her voice as well.

Used to have a crabbett mare who was very similar to our cats, you know, cats rule ok, knew she was the bees knees and we were her slaves, she taught me an awful lot about Arabs.
 
My Arab mare likes her own space and has a rather disdainful expression and is grumpy in the stable and when being tacked up but she is the most wonderful horse and I love the "attitude" because its all for show, she is a really nice horse but again I think she has had a bad time in the past. She has a low tolerance of stables and weaves and piaffes at the door. Needless to say she lives out and thats how she likes it.
 
I echo what somethingorother and gala say. My grandaughter has a Crabbet arab and he also has a big belly. He isn't twitchy at all now although the farrier didn't appreciate him snatching his legs up and cow kicking when he first arrived. He is a little star now and follows Mum around the field whenever she's there. A very affectionate little man who loves cross country and will do a pretty good dressage at novice level. Have any of you crabbet owners got a pony with an unusual splash of white on them? Sundar also has the knee length white stockings and lovely metallic chestnut coat.
 
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Pictures taken this morning, excuse inquisitive foal :D

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trixiex.jpg


lookatme.jpg


lookatmemum.jpg
 
Aw, she's lovely. You can really see the Arab in her, considering what she's crossed with. She has a very pretty face too :)

Dunthing. Both the crabbets are bright chestnut with lots of white. Big white stripes, Osc has 4 white socks and a little splash or two further up his leg too. Like they slipped with the paintbrush :D They have matching black patches on their faces too so it must have come from their mum. Osc's is much clearer though.
 
Beatrice5 said:
Anymore Arab people out there.....?
Click to expand...

Yep... me!

I have a pure bred gelding ...

DenWW1.jpg


and a partbred stallion.

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I haven't found them twitchier than other breeds but they are more finely skinned - you can tell if your rugs don't fit.

I've found they are more vocal than other breeds, my late mare was particularly vocal and talked to everyone.

I don't think its so much clingy I thinks its because they bond with their person, love them and they love you right back!
 
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I have an arab and despite the lack of grass around at the mo, she is back in slimmer's field as she is doing the barrel belly thing. She is such a good doer as many of them are. I think most people think they are delicate beasts because they are pretty, but they are typically sturdy and don't need too much food.

She is very social and has to say hello to everyone and everything if she can - don't know if it is as a result, but everyone on the yard loves her, even the gelding that can't stand mares. She isn't clingy as such, but can't cope with being on her own in the field, even if there are horses either side, which can be a bit of a pain.

I am just in the process of backing her and she is also very quick, and cottons on to things in just a couple of tries. I think I am going to have to be creative when schooling as she is going to be a horse that pre-empts.

With regard to the tickly thing, I don't know if that is just an arab trait. She isn't tickly, but I also do equine shiatsu, and know of a particular arab that was very tickly. The thing was that I think most people thought she was very sensitive and therefore would be very delicate and gentle when touching her. I think she found this light pressure very annoying or tickly, but loved a good rub with solid firm pressure.

Great photos by the way.
B
 
BeckyBoodle said:
I am just in the process of backing her and she is also very quick, and cottons on to things in just a couple of tries. I think I am going to have to be creative when schooling as she is going to be a horse that pre-empts.
Click to expand...

I have this 'problem' with my mare and my instructor has told me off saying I am just 'along for the ride' and I am not 'riding' my horse. It's not my fault if she sees a the poles laid out in a certain way and knows what will be asked of her :)

Has made me a lazy rider though, but she knows her job better than I know mine :)
 
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