[18thTomorrow]

As an arab owner, I think Arabians can be superb dressage horses. I've been having a lot of fun learning dressage on my arab.

I think they really should stay out of the mainstream hunter ring, though. As others have said, they just have a different way of going and the hunter ring is just so *picky* about that.

If you're bent on doing hunters with an arab you're better off looking at the Arab Sport Horse world. It's a new division of arabian showing meant to build up an avenue for these horses. As the arabian sport horse grows in popularity over the course of the coming years it will be interesting to see what different avenues this makes for the arabian as a breed and whether or not it will provide arabians with an inroad into the mainstream hunter ring.

[DizzyChick]

Good luck with it all.

[Friesiangirl]

Forget hunters, be an eventer! You have to do all the dressage work, and at the lower levels you should ride your courses more like a hunter anyways. It would be a lot of fun, and arabians are great because of their endurance.

Hayley

[Fox Glove]

Two words......

Lendon Gray

Paula

[whitetoes]

Arabians CAN be good show hunters! They need to be correctly schooled, ridden, and turned out! One must chose a horse that has the attributes to become a good hunter-long, low, sweepy stride, good attitude and the ability to jump in correct form. No, at the average size of around 15 hands they are not going to compare to the huge warmbloods so popular in the hunter world and they are not going to clock 'round a 4 foot course with the style needed to win, just as you wouldn't expect a Welsh pony to do!
The Arab can be very competitive in the 3' and lower divisions and the Arab cross is very popular and winning-owners just won't admit they are Arab bred! Most judges will pin a horse that does the job correctly and well and are not as prejudice as many believe. The problem comes from too many of the breed are shown without the correct training/riding/turnout that is required to win. If you want to do well with your Arab, first and foremost he must have the talent and that talent needs the correct training and a rider who is capable. Then you and your horse must be turned out correctly:clean, clean clean! White must be blindingly so-correct tack-jumping saddle with a fitted white pad, simple brown bridle with a conventional noseband and bit-no kimberwicks or flash nosebands. If you don't show in breed classes that call for long manes and tails, PULL THE MANE and have it braided in correct hunter braids. If you can't do it well, hire someone. You need to be dressed the part as well-tan or khaki breeches,black boots that fit, conservative colors of coat and shirts, black helmet, hair in a net-no show bows or braids.( Some riders on the open hunter circuit are going back to rust breeches and brown and gray helmets, but if you chose to dress different, you better be GOOD!) You need to look like you came to win and it really gets me as a lover of Arabian horses to see these ones that come in to the show ring, dirty, poorly braided, flapping tack then poorly trained and ridden. Gives the breed a reputation they don't deserve.
Another reason for some of the prejudice is the confusion in what the Arab world refers to as "hunters". There is a divison of hunter pleasure that is far different than a hunter under saddle class and many less knowledgeable people do get them confused. The hunter pleasure horses go very strong into the bridle and bend their knees far more than what working hunters do-big difference in the two types!

Off my soap box now and back to lurking!

[horseyfrk145]

Originally Posted by Friesiangirl

Forget hunters, be an eventer! You have to do all the dressage work, and at the lower levels you should ride your courses more like a hunter anyways. It would be a lot of fun, and arabians are great because of their endurance.

Hayley

LMAO that's like - my philosophy!!!!!
arabs can make great eventers, but don't (generally - not saying there aren't those who do, just generally) ussually make it past the lower levels - but they're great!

and as for your original question, yup - arabs can do anything! well...lol

[JumpingBean]

Originally Posted by whitetoes

Arabians CAN be good show hunters! They need to be correctly schooled, ridden, and turned out! One must chose a horse that has the attributes to become a good hunter-long, low, sweepy stride, good attitude and the ability to jump in correct form. No, at the average size of around 15 hands they are not going to compare to the huge warmbloods so popular in the hunter world and they are not going to clock 'round a 4 foot course with the style needed to win, just as you wouldn't expect a Welsh pony to do!
The Arab can be very competitive in the 3' and lower divisions and the Arab cross is very popular and winning-owners just won't admit they are Arab bred! Most judges will pin a horse that does the job correctly and well and are not as prejudice as many believe. The problem comes from too many of the breed are shown without the correct training/riding/turnout that is required to win. If you want to do well with your Arab, first and foremost he must have the talent and that talent needs the correct training and a rider who is capable. Then you and your horse must be turned out correctly:clean, clean clean! White must be blindingly so-correct tack-jumping saddle with a fitted white pad, simple brown bridle with a conventional noseband and bit-no kimberwicks or flash nosebands. If you don't show in breed classes that call for long manes and tails, PULL THE MANE and have it braided in correct hunter braids. If you can't do it well, hire someone. You need to be dressed the part as well-tan or khaki breeches,black boots that fit, conservative colors of coat and shirts, black helmet, hair in a net-no show bows or braids.( Some riders on the open hunter circuit are going back to rust breeches and brown and gray helmets, but if you chose to dress different, you better be GOOD!) You need to look like you came to win and it really gets me as a lover of Arabian horses to see these ones that come in to the show ring, dirty, poorly braided, flapping tack then poorly trained and ridden. Gives the breed a reputation they don't deserve.
Another reason for some of the prejudice is the confusion in what the Arab world refers to as "hunters". There is a divison of hunter pleasure that is far different than a hunter under saddle class and many less knowledgeable people do get them confused. The hunter pleasure horses go very strong into the bridle and bend their knees far more than what working hunters do-big difference in the two types!

Off my soap box now and back to lurking!

It's not the turnout which has given them the "bad name." Every Arab or Arab-type horse I have seen has been as well turned out as the next horse. It's just that physically, they do not move and jump like the show hunter ring demands. The 3' class is often very competitive at a rated show -- there are generally enough good movers and jumpers turning in good rounds that an Arab cannot win on the strength of a good round. For competitive showing you have to have the movement and the jump. An Arab with a flat-kneed style and a good hunter jump WILL win -- they just won't look like an Arab doing it, and they are few and far between.

Warmbloods are popular because those attributes come naturally to them, not because they are a fad. Arabs are unpopular because those attributes DON'T come naturally to them, not because of prejudice.

[Buckshot]

Arabs can do extremely well in dressage.

As for hunters, they probably *can* do it, but I haven't seen a whole lot that can do it that well. (Although there are a few)

[*Psylocke*]

good luck

[GO-X-COUNTRY]

I have to brag on my little Jubal. For hunters, forget it with this guy. We have taken him to several hunter shows for practice, he didn't pin well, but hearing from the spectators he's entertaining to watch. Eventing though, he's doing pretty well. We have started calling him pegasus because he can fly over the jumps. These are older picures but.......