What do you like/dislike about Arabs?

I've never been into Arabs and I doubt I ever will be. Nothing about them endears me to them- especially the ones with the hugely exaggerated gouged out faces. I guess if I saw one at a show strutting its stuff then I may briefly think 'oh that's nice' but I would never want one. The two Arabs I've known were total nutcases, nothing lovable about them, no redeeming features. I'm not into endurance riding so have no need for the breed- give me a native or a native cross any day. I'd much rather have a sturdy breed who's always easy than a prancing loony who acts like a diva who's got a bee in their bonnet.
 
Dont like them.
They have boggle eyes that stick out on stalks, noses that touch their forelocks and tails that seem to be touching their ears most of the time!!!

What is that all about? No wonder some people think the breed acts like an ar s e hole, if you stand behind one, thats all you see........
 
nope, not an arab fan either.

I think they're stunning beautiful in their own way and can see the appeal to some but I don't like them. Too spindly, don't like their faces or their high tail carraige. Too short backed and often too straight through the hocks.

Not a fan of their tempeament either - generally too highly strung and far too much of a drama queen. Too sharp and ovely senstive. And stupid in a selective way whilst being too intelligant for their own good at the same time. And stoic is not a word in an arab's vocabularly :rolleyes:

they're just not.......solid enough for my likeing, in looks or temperament.
 
They're beautiful, graceful, sensitive and they're perfectly evolved for endurance. My type is the more Colonial stocky type Arab, which don't resemble seahorses and have retained a reasonable working structure.
 
Ah, arab wars..... ;)

Forgot to say, over the 21 years that H has been in my life, he's been hunting, jumping, dressaging, hunter trialling, driving, swimming, hacking, le trec, advanced endurance... He's taken me all over the country, up hill and down dale. He's jumped 4 foot hedges and got himself quite a fan club on the hunting field. He got me and my friend through our NPS exams. I owe that horse so much.

Stoic? He invented the word. It's his only fault - he will keep going and going and going even when he has something wrong with him. Bombproof? I can take him anywhere. We even rode along a runway with planes taking off and landing next to him. And he is such an easy ride. He knows all my faults and covers them up for me, and is great at guessing what the stupid numpty human wants.

I have known the odd arab who is a complete neurotic wreck, but I've also known the odd appy who is the same, or the odd welsh cob who is prone to hystrionics, or the odd shetland who tends to feralness regardless of how much handling they get. It doesn't mean that's 'typical' of the breed. The one thing both my arabs have in common is that they were bred by very sensible breeders who regarded temperament as very very important. Even though both of them ended up with me after falling on hard times and had every reason to hate people, that temperament has shone through.

Arabs are desert war horses. They should be calm enough to live in your tent, but firey, brave and loyal enough to take you to war. A neurotic frightened spooky warhorse is no good to anyone.
 
LizzyandToddy said:
Don't like them simply because I can't find one big enough for me to ride ;)
Damn my 5ft 11ness...
Although they are a little 'too fine' for my liking, I'm not saying I don't like them, they are rather special, but I like something with a little more substance ;)
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Have a look at the Bahraini arabs. Now they are big substantial solid boogers.
 
In my sig is the gorgeous AA I used to own. 46.85% Crabbet IIRC, the rest was some rather smart TB breeding and she has done well at whatever she has turned her hoof to. This season she will be hunting, but she's represented the RC at SJ, ODE, and D, coming 2nd individual in her arena at Lincoln. She's evented to PN, has a string of DC's and in her first few months of ridden work she did PC camp including a musical ride.

She's a very versatile girl who is happy to live out all winter - tough as old boots - and talking of tough is perfectly happy barefoot or shod.
 
Jesus! Why does everyone feel the need to judge horses by their breed?!

But then again i have a squishy faced, arab look a like, floaty trotting welsh sec a .. what do i know :rolleyes:

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I wouldn't want to own one.. Purely because I feel like I'd flatten the poor creature! I rode one at a PC gymkhana when I was about 13 years old and even then I felt like the horse would collapse, he felt incredibly dainty to ride. I do think they look stunning but I much prefer a nice stocky ID! :)
 
I`m quite suprised to hear supposed horse lovers saying they HATE a particular breed...a horse is a horse....I`m not a huge fan of gypsy cobs they`re hairy and not particulary nice to look at..but I`d never say i hate them...far too strong a word
 
I love their movement, intelligence, toughness, loyal nature.

The things I dont like relate to the modern style of arab - the overly accentuated dished faces, stick thin legs, vertical tails, barminess etc.

My mum had an 'old fashioned' arab who was a joy. She had a nicely dished face, quite a bit of bone and was a beautiful and delightful horse. You could canter her behind on a loose rein and yet I raced her in a few amateur races and she could fly! She looked after riders who were nervous but stepped up a gear if they werent. I'd have one like her like a shot.
 
I love arabs, but not all of them.

I prefer the chunkier more substantial ones. Mine is purebred, with a high percentage of Crabbett with Polish and Russian blood. His head does not resemble a sea-horse in any way:D

He is new to me, having lost my PBA back in summer.....but he has wormed his way in. Very loving, stunning to look at. I can't take my eyes off him moving around the field.....

He is soooo light in the hand, I barely need the reins. I can halt him with a slight stiffening of my lower back....he is just 5 and very very green....his potential is enormous.

When I lost my PBA, I was planning to leave it until spring to look around and occupy myself with OH's cob and daughters Highland. Both lovely animals.....but they just don't set my heart on fire like an Arab does.

PS...why all the arab bashing anyway? If you don't like them -fair enough, don't have one.

Anyway.....not everyone is right for an arab, thats how I got mine;)
 
Noticed some folks have said they dislike Arabs as they are sensitive. I would put warmbloods, thoroughbreds and welsh cobs in the same category. if you mean "hot", then you can add many connies and a lot of cobs.

I think arabs are excellent schoolmasters to train humans how to "ask" rather than "tell". This is rather essential if you want to compete at a high level and find yourself with a warmblood or a native stallion.

Should add the key thing about Arabs is exercise. If they have appropriate management - loads of turnout/live out and work every day - they are no different to any other horse. Given their trainability and love of people, bombproofing is a doddle.

They are a (usually) lousy choice for someone who wants to hack quietly a couple of times a week.
 
I love Arabs. I don't know why - they just have that special something. I seem to click with them far more than other horses (don't get me wrong, I don't dislike other breeds). As a ponyless child, I dreamed of one day having a white Arabian. The first horse I ever bought was a 75% Arab (white of course) and nowadays I have three white/grey Arabs. I simply can't put into words what it is about them I adore, but suffice to say that one of my greatest pleasures is to watch the gang in the field when they decide that it's playtime. I could stand and watch them for hours...

(PS: In a futile attempt to prove that I'm not completely biased towards Arabs, I do have an almost black TBX as well).
 
I love intelligent, tough, beautiful, strong arabs (preferably endurance bred). I hate and pity over-bred, straight hocked, swan necked, table backed, freaky faced show bred things that some people seem to think arabs should be. I also hate that some arab owners seem to use the breed as an excuse to not train their horses. 'Oh he's an arab of course he dances in hand and stands on me, it shows spirit.'

Proper arabs :P are fantastic horses.
 
I love quality, strong arabs - don't have one, but do have a selle francais and arabs have been very influential in that breed. Also have a TB that could pass for an anglo arab.
 
LizzyandToddy, my Arab mare is 16hh and I think is as substantial as the horse in your sig, so I think an Arab like her would be big enough for you.
Personally, I can't say I hate any horse, and particularly I don't hate any horse just because of it's breed. I really can't understand a "horse lover" who says things like that.
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My Arab gelding is probably the least spooky horse I've ridden for years. If something frightens him he give a sort of startled jump, just through his body, it doesn't affect what his feet are doing. Wierd to feel, but very reassuring. He doesn't need to be worked regularly, I can drag him out of the field, scrape off a bit of mud and set off into the sunset on him whether he's been ridden the day before, the week before or only the month before.
I'm amazed at the stereotyping in this thread I've got to say. Horses are all individuals. The spookiest and most dangerous horse I've ridden was a cob.
Oh, of course one drawback with Arabs is the fact that they are so fragile and high-maintenance. They need to be stabled overnight and in bad weather and well rugged.
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0ldmare said:
I love their movement, intelligence, toughness, loyal nature.

The things I dont like relate to the modern style of arab - the overly accentuated dished faces, stick thin legs, vertical tails, barminess etc.

My mum had an 'old fashioned' arab who was a joy. She had a nicely dished face, quite a bit of bone and was a beautiful and delightful horse. You could canter her behind on a loose rein and yet I raced her in a few amateur races and she could fly! She looked after riders who were nervous but stepped up a gear if they werent. I'd have one like her like a shot.
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Oldmare, I could find you an Arab like that tomorrow.
 
Adore my Crabbets. Don't like the 'extreme' or 'exotic' types seen today. Goggle eyes & banana faces with stick legs. Think it is detrimental to their health (eye issues, breathing issues, not up to a days work), which has to be bad for the breed. Also the 'hyper' temperament favoured in the show ring. They were war horses, bred to be ridden. What good is a nutter? Also need owners suitable for the breed, These are very bright creatures & needs to be kept amused (that is worked) or they find mischief or start to misbeahave. They are the collie days of the horse world, beautiful but very much a working breed.
 
I never used to like Arab's very much; mainly becasue my mum used to ride one when I was younger and it - for whatever reason - came down on the road twice with her (being 5 it put me off them) ...Saying that he was very beautiful. There were another couple of arabs in the village and at the time I never really saw the "point" in them becasue I "thought" you could do very little with them.

THEN; a month ago I got a PBA, Bertie. He is 39.63% Arab, Grand-Sire: Shah Shadow, and doesn't look a lot like an arab - he certainly doesn't have a road traffic accident of a nose lol.

He's only 4 and feels so mature to ride for his age. He's VERY intelligent and although he has a grumpy streak - inherited from his grumpy mother - he is so lovely. It's weird, I feel I have just clicked with him. Yes he is sometimes frightened by his own shadow, but when out hacking he will walk straight past flapping bags etc, unlike my girls before (Morgan X TB and WB X ID) who would have run a mile. I have no one to hack out with but he proudly steps out and even when he is worried he still feels like a horse not willing to give up. I don't know what it is about him, but there's something I haven't felt before with my other horses!

This is a picture of him schooling at home.

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And him at home in the stable.
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I'm not very good at putting in to words what it is about him, but there's something a bit different there and I like it :) I'm a fan!! :D
 
I'll tell you what it is, they connect to your soul in a way nothing else ever will (I also own 3 horses who are in varying amounts tb, wb & id). they see through to it with those eyes, & know what you need & what your intentions are. They read body language in an incredible way. You can't ever lie to an arab in words or actions. Once connected they will go that extra mile for you willingly & generously, without ever asking why.

PS, my Crabbet arabian mare is a formidable jumper. They will jump, but only ever for fun, never because someone 'tells' them to. I also rode a superb arab stallion who had dressage points & had hunted after his ridden show career (not to mention doing endurance with me). An amazing breed & superb all-rounders, they aren't 'just' for endurance.
 
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They are stunning to look at, most have breath taking movement and are high spirited which I love. I love the ones with dished faces and the way they hold their tails so high. I love the lightweight spindley ones, they are so amazing to look at, they look so precious.
They are great to ride, a fun, exciting, non-predictable ride and most float along.
They are loyal and generally work best on a one to one basis.

I believe the problem people have is that not everyone understands Arabs.
 
Arabelle said:
I love them for their toughness, stamina, loyalty, intelligence, willingness and beauty :D
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As above ^^^^^^
As for flighty - the first Arab I had was an absolute darling and the calmest, kindest horse you will ever meet.
Ever since I was 6 (which is a VERY, VERY long time ago) I wanted a chestnut Arab; when I got the first one he was grey so I thought that was a compromise and abandoned the hope of a chestnut but, back in July, I was offered one on permanent loan . . . so, after waiting 55 years I got my chesnut Arab (and a mare to boot - but then I LOVE chestnut mares too!). She can be a bit of a drama queen but is totally kind and stunningly beautiful!

Edited to say that I also have a home-bred filly - half AA and half WB (she's 25% Arab) and the nicest horse, never spooky, she can get a bit excited when out but she is only 3!
 
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