Amazing Arabian Horses
- Thread starter Doberluv
- Start date
Lol, I saw the post about Peek being small, and I was like ?? 16.1 is not a short horse!
I've been around mostly QH's, and they're all in the 15hh range. I like a horse taller than 15.2, and 16.2 is a much larger horse. I've been on a 17.2 horse, schooled on him for a day while he was at the barn I was at, but he went on to another trainer for dressage. Very very nice horse. He was the tallest I've ever met or been on. I wish I had more experience around TB's because I want to own one when I have the money for keeping a horse
I've been around mostly QH's, and they're all in the 15hh range. I like a horse taller than 15.2, and 16.2 is a much larger horse. I've been on a 17.2 horse, schooled on him for a day while he was at the barn I was at, but he went on to another trainer for dressage. Very very nice horse. He was the tallest I've ever met or been on. I wish I had more experience around TB's because I want to own one when I have the money for keeping a horse
I Loooooovvve tb's I have a very serious soft spot for them. Riven, the mare in my previous post was an Irish Tb cross, her dad was a successful steeplechaser. Right now I have two tbs and a part tb (Riven's son) I worked at a barn once where there was a boarder with an 18.1hh tb gelding. He never raced cause he didn't fit in the starting gate!
I love how yesterday RMH's were mentioned---and I GET TO GO RIDE SOME NOW. A friend of mine talked to a friend of hers who owns a ranch a bit south of me and has a handful of RMH's that are in need of an exercise rider. *squeeeeeeeeeeeee* They're just my size too! I'm 5'1" so a 13-14hh horse is about the perfect size.
Dooley, that Little Red Bitch Mare I rode for a bit this summer, she couldn't have been much over 14hh and she was great.
I'm 5'1" so a 13-14hh horse is about the perfect size. Dooley, that Little Red Bitch Mare I rode for a bit this summer, she couldn't have been much over 14hh and she was great.
QH people....I always thought most QHses were on the 15 HH range, but I sure am seeing a bunch of them in the 14.1-14.3 range. What's up with these mini-me's? I just have a hard time trying to figure out how the partnership between a 6 ft 200 lb (or taller/heavier) cowboy and a 14.1 AQHQ would work out. FAIL? Lol
Oh, and I love TBs and draft horses. POAs also have a soft spot in my heart.
Oh, and I love TBs and draft horses. POAs also have a soft spot in my heart.
Seems all the reiners I have met are all about that size.. I worked with a reining trained stallion for a while (he was for sale and they wanted him to 'go english' and jump. OMG was he fun!!) The person who bought him took him to all sorts of clinics (seminars) and he was always referred to as a 'big' stallion. He was 15.1hh lol. Seems that reining horses are small, and do better when on the smaller end. They are however pretty powerfully build horses so I dunno. I just know I prefer to ride a horse where I don't feel I could kick my feet out of the stirrups and 'help'
The original AQHA was in that size Mia, but its really a problem when they train them so young. They are TINY when these cowboys start riding them. I am against early serious training, but with a 13.3 long yearling I really don't think a 200 pound cowboy should be getting on them....
Though size isn't everything. This is a 13.2ish HH pony I had, the rider in these pics is 5'5
I would rather a small horse with large articular surfaces than a taller one with spindly joints.
The original AQHA was in that size Mia, but its really a problem when they train them so young. They are TINY when these cowboys start riding them. I am against early serious training, but with a 13.3 long yearling I really don't think a 200 pound cowboy should be getting on them....
Though size isn't everything. This is a 13.2ish HH pony I had, the rider in these pics is 5'5
I would rather a small horse with large articular surfaces than a taller one with spindly joints.
My friends two QH's are 15 and 15.2 or .3 respectively. The 15hh one has MUCH more bone, but the other is an appy, so I'm not sure if that has something to do with it. Whiskey was a barrel horse/cow horse, and she can pack two of us around no problem. We don't do that unless we have to of course, but either of them can carry both of us. (we're both about 100lbs soaking wet )
)Deck, I have noticed it's the reindeers. But even they seem to getting smaller.
And while I understand the "need" for a slightly downhill build, some of the ski slopes these QHses are sporting are downright jaw-dropping!
But then again I seem to love "old school" horses. Give me an o.s. TB over one of these newer models made of porcelain and twigs any day.
And while I understand the "need" for a slightly downhill build, some of the ski slopes these QHses are sporting are downright jaw-dropping!
But then again I seem to love "old school" horses. Give me an o.s. TB over one of these newer models made of porcelain and twigs any day.
Here’s a brief history of the Spanish Arabian. (of course they’re all the same breed, just with some traits that may be emphasized)
The Spanish Arabian
The Arabian horse is the oldest and purest breed of horse in the world today. Some may even argue that it is the most well-traveled; today, the Arabian is bred in every habitable continent, and unique identifiable strains exist in such diverse places as England, Poland, Egypt, France, Russia, and Spain.
Throughout history, different breeders in different locales had various reasons for choosing the Arabian horse, and because of this each of these strains possesses a specific set of selectively bred qualities. A Spanish Arabian, for example, is essentially the same breed as any other Arabian, yet to a practiced eye the Spanish Arab is a distinctly different type of Arabian, with its own specific collection of natural talents.
The Spanish Arab can probably trace its bloodlines back to the eighth century, when the Moors began their occupation of Spain. The Moors imported desert bred horses, which were undoubtedly bred locally and crossed with native stock throughout the 800 year occupation. The Moors were expelled from Spain in 1492, and it is probable that they left some or all of their horses behind.
Official records of Arabian horses in Spain don't begin until 1847, when the Spanish Stud Book (SSB) was first established. Though the SSB is a relatively recent chapter in the long history of Arabians in Spain, it is also the oldest modern stud book. Thank Queen Isabel II of Spain for this; it was her deep interest in the lineage of her horses that led to the creation of the SSB. Early entries indicate that the queen imported many desert bred horses, and the oldest pedigrees in the book are written in Arabic.
As was often the case during the time, the imported horses were mainly designated for breed improvement programs. For this reason, none of the early names in the book can be found in the pedigrees of today's Spanish Arabian.
As the 19th Century waned, the Arabian began to play a greater role in the military. The widespread use of gunpowder in war had contributed to a profound change in the stature and ability of the warhorse. No longer did Europeans want heavy, cumbersome battle mounts; now they needed tough, quick moving horses with endurance qualities. The Arabian was a natural choice.
When the Spanish established the Yeguada Militar (a breeding facility dedicated to providing the military with horses), the acquisition and breeding of Arabian horses was a function of the Department of War. That tradition has not changed today, though horses no longer play a role on the battlefield.
Perhaps the most important Spanish acquisition of Arabian horses occurred in 1905, when a group of veterinarians and military officers was sent to the Orient with the express purpose of finding quality Arabian horses. The expedition brought nine stallions and 11 mares back to Spain. The stallions were slated for breed improvement programs, but the mares were designated for purebred breeding. Five of these mares can still be found in the pedigrees of today's Spanish Arabian: Bint, Ymm, Zarifa, Yamila, and Zulima.
The tradition of importing desert bred Arabians continued until 1927. Expeditions were frequently sent to Egypt, Poland, Russia, and Turkey, and from 1927 to 1930 horses were also imported from England. By 1934, though, the practice of importing new stock had ended. The Spanish Arabian was now being bred within a closed gene pool, and it was rapidly developing into a distinct strain with its own presence.
In "The Spanish Significance," S. Gordon Shreffler wrote: "[Spanish Arabians] have superb top lines and powerful hindquarters, and remarkable trainable and cooperative dispositions. They tend to produce size, and many, though not all, of the most prominent imported Spanish stallion are actually 15 hands or a little more. All Arabian horses have one region of origin. The significance of the Spanish Arabians ancestry is the selection process that gave strong importance to good dispositions. Mares that rejected or savaged foals or even were disruptive in the mare band, as well as untrainable, obstreperous stallions, were rigorously culled from the gene stream. After all, these horses would be military mounts or working horses - they had to be reliable under difficult conditions."
These qualities can still be found in the modern Spanish Arabian. Today, there are 40 to 50 private breeders in Spain, and Spanish Arabs are rapidly gaining popularity on the American show scene. Proportionally, Spanish Arabs win in American show rings at a higher rate than other strains. American breeders are developing their own American-bred strains of Spanish Arabians, and the willing nature, quality confirmation, and undeniable presence of the Spanish Arab continues to win over a new generation of Arabian enthusiasts.
Arabian Horse History: The Spanish Arabian
The Spanish Arabian
The Arabian horse is the oldest and purest breed of horse in the world today. Some may even argue that it is the most well-traveled; today, the Arabian is bred in every habitable continent, and unique identifiable strains exist in such diverse places as England, Poland, Egypt, France, Russia, and Spain.
Throughout history, different breeders in different locales had various reasons for choosing the Arabian horse, and because of this each of these strains possesses a specific set of selectively bred qualities. A Spanish Arabian, for example, is essentially the same breed as any other Arabian, yet to a practiced eye the Spanish Arab is a distinctly different type of Arabian, with its own specific collection of natural talents.
The Spanish Arab can probably trace its bloodlines back to the eighth century, when the Moors began their occupation of Spain. The Moors imported desert bred horses, which were undoubtedly bred locally and crossed with native stock throughout the 800 year occupation. The Moors were expelled from Spain in 1492, and it is probable that they left some or all of their horses behind.
Official records of Arabian horses in Spain don't begin until 1847, when the Spanish Stud Book (SSB) was first established. Though the SSB is a relatively recent chapter in the long history of Arabians in Spain, it is also the oldest modern stud book. Thank Queen Isabel II of Spain for this; it was her deep interest in the lineage of her horses that led to the creation of the SSB. Early entries indicate that the queen imported many desert bred horses, and the oldest pedigrees in the book are written in Arabic.
As was often the case during the time, the imported horses were mainly designated for breed improvement programs. For this reason, none of the early names in the book can be found in the pedigrees of today's Spanish Arabian.
As the 19th Century waned, the Arabian began to play a greater role in the military. The widespread use of gunpowder in war had contributed to a profound change in the stature and ability of the warhorse. No longer did Europeans want heavy, cumbersome battle mounts; now they needed tough, quick moving horses with endurance qualities. The Arabian was a natural choice.
When the Spanish established the Yeguada Militar (a breeding facility dedicated to providing the military with horses), the acquisition and breeding of Arabian horses was a function of the Department of War. That tradition has not changed today, though horses no longer play a role on the battlefield.
Perhaps the most important Spanish acquisition of Arabian horses occurred in 1905, when a group of veterinarians and military officers was sent to the Orient with the express purpose of finding quality Arabian horses. The expedition brought nine stallions and 11 mares back to Spain. The stallions were slated for breed improvement programs, but the mares were designated for purebred breeding. Five of these mares can still be found in the pedigrees of today's Spanish Arabian: Bint, Ymm, Zarifa, Yamila, and Zulima.
The tradition of importing desert bred Arabians continued until 1927. Expeditions were frequently sent to Egypt, Poland, Russia, and Turkey, and from 1927 to 1930 horses were also imported from England. By 1934, though, the practice of importing new stock had ended. The Spanish Arabian was now being bred within a closed gene pool, and it was rapidly developing into a distinct strain with its own presence.
In "The Spanish Significance," S. Gordon Shreffler wrote: "[Spanish Arabians] have superb top lines and powerful hindquarters, and remarkable trainable and cooperative dispositions. They tend to produce size, and many, though not all, of the most prominent imported Spanish stallion are actually 15 hands or a little more. All Arabian horses have one region of origin. The significance of the Spanish Arabians ancestry is the selection process that gave strong importance to good dispositions. Mares that rejected or savaged foals or even were disruptive in the mare band, as well as untrainable, obstreperous stallions, were rigorously culled from the gene stream. After all, these horses would be military mounts or working horses - they had to be reliable under difficult conditions."
These qualities can still be found in the modern Spanish Arabian. Today, there are 40 to 50 private breeders in Spain, and Spanish Arabs are rapidly gaining popularity on the American show scene. Proportionally, Spanish Arabs win in American show rings at a higher rate than other strains. American breeders are developing their own American-bred strains of Spanish Arabians, and the willing nature, quality confirmation, and undeniable presence of the Spanish Arab continues to win over a new generation of Arabian enthusiasts.
Arabian Horse History: The Spanish Arabian
Dekka, she's gorgeous! She's not an Arabian, but she is gorgeous anyhow. lol. J/K. Actually, I like qh very, very much. They're really nice to ride. My childhood horse was part QH and part Standardbred of all things. He was a palamino too. That guy, Sky Rocket was his name had a lot of stamina and was a great trail horse. When I had Sky Rocket, I also got to ride a neighbor's 17 h. TB named Mike whenever I wanted. He was a wonderful, nice, gentlemanly horse and so much fun to ride. Not one bit flighty or nervous like sometimes TB can be.
My Arabians were smaller and a very nice fit for me as I got older. I much prefer a smaller horse, as an adult. Plus, I'm not very tall, so it works out. And those Arabians are absolutely strong as an ox. You can't let their size fool you. Brisa was just 15 h. and Filly was 14.3. Filly was particularly robust and powerful...lightening fast...very fun to ride at a full gallop. She was incredibly athletic, agile and could go hard all freakin' day long. Brisa was a nicer horse to ride as far as being easier...not quite so highly spirited or annoying. lol. But she wasn't as fast and didn't have quite the endurance Filinha had.
Anyhow, what I like most of all, I think about Arabians is their over-the-top, sweet, personable, puppy-dog-affectionate, intelligent, quick to learn temperaments. This is something that is quite marked in them. And it's all in their genes which is due to their fascinating history. Next, their beauty. I love most all horse breeds and they all have attributes for different people or different uses.
I got ride a Rocky Mountain Pleasure horse stallion at a breeding place in North Bend Washington, one of a very few in this country. They were owned by Pepper Schwartz, a well known American sociologist and sexologist teaching at the University of Washington in Seattle. I think she had a radio show at one time. Anyhow, this stallion you'd think was a gelding. He was so laid back and very, very sweet and gentle. Riding him was a dream. We zipped around the arena FAST at the rack. It was the first time I had ever ridden a 5 gaited horse. My Dad had American Saddlebreds when he was growing up and described how wonderful that was. You can literally carry a full glass of wine while at the rack and not spill a drop. So, I swore if I ever get another horse (which I probably won't)...that would be the one for me since I have a bad back. I need a no nonsense, laid back, smooooooooth ride. And that is what they're known for....calm, sweet, smooth.
My Arabians were smaller and a very nice fit for me as I got older. I much prefer a smaller horse, as an adult. Plus, I'm not very tall, so it works out. And those Arabians are absolutely strong as an ox. You can't let their size fool you. Brisa was just 15 h. and Filly was 14.3. Filly was particularly robust and powerful...lightening fast...very fun to ride at a full gallop. She was incredibly athletic, agile and could go hard all freakin' day long. Brisa was a nicer horse to ride as far as being easier...not quite so highly spirited or annoying. lol. But she wasn't as fast and didn't have quite the endurance Filinha had.
Anyhow, what I like most of all, I think about Arabians is their over-the-top, sweet, personable, puppy-dog-affectionate, intelligent, quick to learn temperaments. This is something that is quite marked in them. And it's all in their genes which is due to their fascinating history. Next, their beauty. I love most all horse breeds and they all have attributes for different people or different uses.
I got ride a Rocky Mountain Pleasure horse stallion at a breeding place in North Bend Washington, one of a very few in this country. They were owned by Pepper Schwartz, a well known American sociologist and sexologist teaching at the University of Washington in Seattle. I think she had a radio show at one time. Anyhow, this stallion you'd think was a gelding. He was so laid back and very, very sweet and gentle. Riding him was a dream. We zipped around the arena FAST at the rack. It was the first time I had ever ridden a 5 gaited horse. My Dad had American Saddlebreds when he was growing up and described how wonderful that was. You can literally carry a full glass of wine while at the rack and not spill a drop. So, I swore if I ever get another horse (which I probably won't)...that would be the one for me since I have a bad back. I need a no nonsense, laid back, smooooooooth ride. And that is what they're known for....calm, sweet, smooth.
Count me among the Arabian groupies -- I worked as a stable hand then stable manager for 7 years at an Arabian breeding stable -- Polish type, mostly. My job was farm duties, caring for the broodmares, and raising the foals from birth to 3 yrs when they went out for saddle training...so worked on ground manners, grooming manners, trusting humans, etc.
They had Saddlebreds too which were great horses in another way, but never really thought the way the Arabs did...could absolutely see the wheels turning all the time. Loved those horses with all my heart, so seeing threads like this just (I realize I'm at risk of sounding sappy here) just makes my heart ache a bit reminiscing...
They had Saddlebreds too which were great horses in another way, but never really thought the way the Arabs did...could absolutely see the wheels turning all the time. Loved those horses with all my heart, so seeing threads like this just (I realize I'm at risk of sounding sappy here) just makes my heart ache a bit reminiscing...
(Sorry to bump this topic up)
Like I said before, there is SO much variety and specialization in the QH breed. Huntseaters have a lot of TB in them (and these TB mares are usually selected largely on their size) and are easily 16.2-17.2. Western pleasure horses are usually in the 15 hand range. Ranch horses and roping horses are bigger than your show reiners and cutters, usually around 15.1-15.3, sometimes bigger or smaller if they have the build and strength to take that jerk from a cow. The reiners and cutters are quite small - usually in the 14 hand range. Cutters can run even smaller - Smart Little Lena was 13.3 I believe and it's hard to find a successful cutter who doesn't have SLL in their lines. One of the most famous cutting mares (and one of my personal favorites), Lynx Melody was in the 13 hand range (I've read 13.3 but have also read smaller heights as well) and nicknamed "Little Bitty". She was so dynamic but little that her rider's feet would hit the sand when she was cutting! My own 2 year old is around 13.3 and I expect her to mature 14.1-14.2 ish. Just my size - even as a hunter rider I preferred riding larges to big warmbloods. I'm not intimidated by a big horse, just for whatever reason like the wee ones better!
Like I said before, there is SO much variety and specialization in the QH breed. Huntseaters have a lot of TB in them (and these TB mares are usually selected largely on their size) and are easily 16.2-17.2. Western pleasure horses are usually in the 15 hand range. Ranch horses and roping horses are bigger than your show reiners and cutters, usually around 15.1-15.3, sometimes bigger or smaller if they have the build and strength to take that jerk from a cow. The reiners and cutters are quite small - usually in the 14 hand range. Cutters can run even smaller - Smart Little Lena was 13.3 I believe and it's hard to find a successful cutter who doesn't have SLL in their lines. One of the most famous cutting mares (and one of my personal favorites), Lynx Melody was in the 13 hand range (I've read 13.3 but have also read smaller heights as well) and nicknamed "Little Bitty". She was so dynamic but little that her rider's feet would hit the sand when she was cutting! My own 2 year old is around 13.3 and I expect her to mature 14.1-14.2 ish. Just my size - even as a hunter rider I preferred riding larges to big warmbloods. I'm not intimidated by a big horse, just for whatever reason like the wee ones better!