THE VERSATILE ARABIAN THE OLDEST OF ALL EQUINE BREEDS, THE ARABIAN IS WIDELY KNOWN AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AS WELL. BUT PERHAPS HIS GREATEST GLORY IS HIS VERSATILITY. WHATEVER YOU WISH TO ACCOMPLISH WITH A HORSE, THE ARABIAN STANDS READY TO CARRY YOU.
W R I TTE N BY CINDY REICH AND GARY DEART H
T H E A R A B I A N H O R S E is no one-trick pony. While some breeds have endless classes of just one or two styles of riding, at the Scottsdale show there will be six arenas going for ten days with many different things happening in each arena. You can watch Arabians jumping in a gambler’s choice, where each fence is worth a certain number of points (the more difficult the higher the points) and the rider chooses the route based on the
skill of the horse to win the most points. In another arena, an Arabian cutting horse is nose to nose with a cow — keeping it from joining the herd — although the cow has other ideas and will do its best to duck and dive and squirt past the horse back to the herd. If it can. In the indoor arena, a class of twenty ten-year-old children are riding Arabian horses in a walk-trot class. Watch how carefully the horse takes care of the rider, gently responding to the command to jog or trot. In the Wendell Arena, English pleasure horses are trotting down the rail, ears forward, tails high, and
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knees touching the sky. The cheers and shouts of the crowd will show you the way to the class — it is loud, fast, and electrifying. In yet another arena, judges are carefully considering a class of stallions, evaluating their structure and elegance. The stallions are standing on tiptoe — radiating power and beauty at the same time. The Arabian is truly the most versatile of breeds, inviting you to watch and gaze in wonder at their beauty and athletic prowess.
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// ENDURANCE AND COMPETITIVE TRAIL No other breed of horse comes close to the Arabian’s prowess in endurance and competitive trail. Built lighter and leaner than other breeds of horses, the Arabian also possesses large nostrils and greater lung capacity. This coupled with their short back, dense bone and large hooves help make Arabian horses more durable for long distance riding.
The motto of distance riders is, “To finish is to win.” The two distance riding disciplines are endurance and competitive trail. Endurance is a lot like Nascar on horses. You race a loop through the woods with mandatory pit stops. At those pit stops veterinarians evaluate the horse’s fitness to continue. It is a race, and placing is determined solely on when you cross the finish line with a fit and sound horse. Competitive trail is a judged trail ride where everyone A H W > 98 < 0 6 . 1 8
starts with 100 points with deductions based on veterinary checks and several other elements. There is a set time frame to finish, in fact, horses may not come in over or under the optimum time frame. Typically, the pace is about half as fast as an endurance ride. P H OTO G R A P H : LY N N E G L A Z E R
// RACING Arabians are actually the “original” racehorse! All Thoroughbred racehorses trace back to three “oriental” horses. They are the Byerley Turk, the Godolphin Arabian, and the Darley Arabian. Arabian racing has gained popularity around the world and can be seen here in the U.S. at tracks from California to New York.
Everyone has experienced the thrill of watching horses running neckand-neck down the backstretch to the finish line. There is nothing like it — and it is probably the most natural event for Arabian horses because they simply love to run. Arabian horses excel at longer races due to their supreme endurance. The same traits that make Arabian horses the best in the world at endurance make them exceptional distance horses on the track. P H OTO G R A P H : A P R I L V I S E L
// HALTER The halter class is where the actual structure or conformation of the horse is being judged. Characteristics that clearly identify an Arabian, such as a large, dark eye, a dished face, a short, strong back, long, level croup, and high-set tail, are given preference. The horse must also show a desirable way of moving and should be proud and expressive. Handlers strive to get the horse to stand in a picture-perfect pose in the center of the arena for the judge’s attention. Stallions should be masculine and powerful, but well-mannered. Mares should be feminine and beautiful as well as showing the structure capable of producing foals. P H OTO G R A P H : A P R I L V I S E L
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// DRESSAGE Dressage is a French word meaning training. Dressage competitions exist at all levels from training up through the Olympic and World Equestrian Games. Arabian horses excel in all levels of dressage because of their athletic ability and their intelligent trainable attitudes. The more highly trained a dressage horse becomes, the more difficult it is to see the rider’s cues. As a horse competes through a series of tests, the rapport between horse and rider is clearly displayed while the horse performs equine gymnastics.
// HUNTER PLEASURE A hunter horse is, above all things, obedient. When one is having to ride cross-country over fences in a group — often at a full-out gallop — having a horse that you can trust is vital. A hunter horse should be able to cover a lot of ground, so watch for a long, even trot and canter, and a hand-gallop that is balanced, controlled, but covers ground. While this is a “show” class and no hounds and foxes will be seen, the horse and rider should have a workmanlike appearance and appear capable of going cross-country if necessary.
P H OTO G R A P H : S T U R G I L L / S E R L E T I C
P H OTO G R A P H : A P R I L V I S E L
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// WESTERN PLEASURE Imagine saddling up your beautiful Arabian partner and heading out on the trail for a fine day of riding Western style. That is the image the judge is looking for in the western pleasure horse. The saddle, bridle, and all the appointments are western — from the rider’s cowboy hat to their chaps and boots. However, this is a “show” western class. There may be a little bling, and the horses won’t be chasing any cows in this class. The horse should present a picture of a calm, willing, and beautiful mount that you could ride at a slow, easy pace down the trail. Watch for a deliberate walk, a smooth, balanced and easygoing jog-trot, an easy lope where the horse is moving forward, and in the open classes, a fast hand-gallop. For although these horses are “show” western performers, they should be capable of chasing down a steer — if they had to!
// ENGLISH PLEASURE In the days when horses were the main type of “vehicle” to get from place to place, style was very important. A highstepping horse with head carried proudly and the Arabian’s natural high, flowing tail would have been a crowd-stopper. The Arabian English pleasure horse is ridden in a style known as Saddleseat, which differs greatly from the type of English riding done over fences or chasing foxes. This class is all about finesse, style, a high-stepping trot, and a horse who appears happy at its job, going with balance and cadence at all gaits.
P H OTO G R A P H : A P R I L V I S E L
P H OTO G R A P H : O S T E E N / S C H AT Z B E R G
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// COSTUME The costume class was originally to show off the horse in regalia similar to what one would see on a Bedouin galloping over the sand dunes. Over the years there have been trends and styles ranging from very authentic to over-the-top Hollywood glitter and glamour. For the most part, the costumes have an authentic look to them but have just a bit more “bling” and “eye appeal” than you would generally find in the desert. This is the only class where you will see the horses enter at a gallop, and you will not see them trot. Get ready to see these horses not only gallop, but also hand-gallop, which is a slower, more controlled gallop.
// PLEASURE DRIVING Arabian pleasure driving horses are shown in either two- or four-wheeled vehicles. They exhibit brilliance at the same time that they are safe and reliable. Many people enjoy showing Arabian horses in pleasure
P H OTO G R A P H : E M M A M A X W E L L
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driving who may not ride. Now that we no longer rely on horses as the “engine” to transport or work for us, driving gives us the opportunity to enjoy the thrill of being behind a horse and experience their power. P H OTO G R A P H : M O R GA N M O O R E
// SPORT HORSE Sport horse is a category or discipline, not a breed. Although you may see individual horses referred to as a “sporthorse,” a sporthorse can be any breed that competes in events such as dressage, jumping, hunter, and cross-country much like a “cow horse” can be a Quarter Horse, an Arabian, or some other breed, but is not a breed in and of itself. Arabians do very well at sport horse disciplines due to their inherent agility and desire to please. In addition to having specific performance classes for the under-saddle horses, Arabian sport horses have their own halter division as well. While they are judged on type and quality just like the regular Arabian halter horse, there is more emphasis placed on structural correctness, soundness, and movement desirable in a hunter/jumper-type horse and the ability to perform in the rigorous under-saddle classes. If you are looking for a horse that is capable of going cross-country over jumps or is capable of performing the precision maneuvers of dressage, you will want to spend time at the sport horse arena watching these incredibly athletic Arabians. P H OTO G R A P H : S T U R G I L L / S E R L E T I C
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//WORKING COW There is nothing more exciting and intense than watching a working cow horse running at full speed, racing past a cow and turning it against a fence to make it move back in the opposite direction, (to the herd, theoretically).
Working cow horses do with a cow what you might see a reining horse do without a cow in their pattern work. They must stop, turn on a dime, and control the cow in a circle. The first maneuver is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;box,â&#x20AC;? where one cow is let into the arena, and the horse and rider must show that they can control the movements of the cow at the end of the arena and not allow it to get past the horse. In cutting classes, there is a herd in the arena, and the horse must separate one cow from the herd. In working cow horse, it is just A H W > 104 < 0 6 . 1 8
one horse and one cow. It is very exciting, as horse and rider work to show the judges how efficiently they can control every movement of the cow, showing off the skills needed on a working ranch. P H OTO G R A P H : G . WA I D I T S C H K A
// REINING While western pleasure horses are “show” cowboys, the reining horses are the working-class performers. These athletes must do a series of maneuvers that mimic running after a cow, turning, and stopping it — all without a cow in the arena! One of the most important aspects of the class is the horse’s obedience
to the rider. The best horses are the ones that you cannot tell when the rider gives the horse a signal. It should be a partnership between horse and rider that is smooth and harmonious, but also exciting and dynamic. Watching the horse go from a full-out run to a slow lope without any visible cue is astonishing to see. P H OTO G R A P H : L AU R I E TAY LO R
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// TRAIL A good trail horse should be able to negotiate a series of obstacles with precision, dexterity, and a calm demeanor. Obstacles are set up to test the horse’s obedience, ability, and agility. Walking over poles is akin to stepping over downed logs on a trail. You might see a bridge, a mailbox, or other common objects that a horse may need to negotiate with a rider out on the trail. Horses that appear nervous, knock over, or displace obstacles will be penalized, but not necessarily eliminated. The horses are scored based on their precision and temperament while negotiating the obstacles. Scores are announced after each horse, so you will be able to keep track of the leaders as the class progresses.