To people who do not own an Arabian Horse, they often have a reputation as being high strung or even crazy. Their nervous temperament is unfounded.

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I have attended horse shows and there are tricks some trainers use to “hype” up their horses. Most of these tricks are quite illegal at horse shows but were common in the past by unscrupulous trainers who wanted only the top prize. One such tactic was putting ginger paste up the horses rear end, in an effort to get a higher tail carriage. Any one who owns an Arabian horse knows that in a happy horse this is never necessary, as these animals often carry their tails high, even to the point of flipping them over their backs.

Another tactic, was that at home, while training their horses, some trainers would do things to encourage the craziness that has been attributed to the breed. They would, and probably some still do, chase them around the arena with fire extinguishers to hype the horses up. Now again, anyone with a happy Arabian horse knows these horses are already “high” about life, and themselves, and should not need additional pumping up.

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This is an absolutely georgous Arabian Mare, her name is Kwestura.

Arabian Horses are noted for their intelligence, stamina, and good looks. Their heads are refined, with large eyes, their ears are small and tipped towards each other. They are average height and come in a range of colors, chestnut, bay, and grey, being the most common. It is interesting to note, that grey horses start out life as solid colored animals and turn grey over time, some faster than others.

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This is an Arabian stallion by the name of Vashara Chamal.

Arabian horses are talented in many disciplines, English, Western, and endurance being popular, but they are also raced, and used on trail rides. They are a common breed in endurance races that are days long. Arabians love to jump, but are not competitive against the much taller warmbloods. They are known and respected for their versatility and are often used in breeding programs to improve other breeds. In fact, Arabian blood is common in most modern breeds, including the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse.

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This is a grey Arabian Gelding, The Sorcerer, prior to an English Pleasure show.

As you can tell they are one of my favorite breeds, but sadly they are misunderstood by many non-owners. I hope to break the myth of these horses being crazy and wild. One of my horses was Niska, she was 98% Arabian, and was used by a Handicapped riding group where she was trusted to carry flailing, disabled people, often with two sidewalkers to help should the rider begin to slip. Being able to be calm in such a volatile situation is something that most people would not expect of an Arabian. So I encourage you to look at this wonderful breed with an open mind.