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Anyone here have experience with Arabians?

Northern Rancher

Well-known member
Seen some good Arab cow horses over the years-they are alot smoother to ride on a long day. Some friends in Newcastle, Wyoming have about 50 arab/tb crosses in their remuda. They don't have the natural ability a quarter horse does though.
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
After he asked about Arabian horses, he then mentioned Arabian STALLIONS.

Everyone knows they have a lot of stamina...but you don't see many using them for ranch horses.

I'm not gonna get in a debate with you AG,because you can't do it without calling me a name. You have your opinion, I have mine.

Have a good night.
 

Big Muddy rancher

Well-known member
Angusgord said:
Faster horses said:
:roll: :roll: Shes right ,DON"T listen to her. Arabs are a damned hardy horse ,one of the best breeds I've ever ridden for staying power. Your lands ruff and rugged an Arabian will give you every ounce of heart they have!!

So AG how many studs do you use on your ranch?
 

Big Muddy rancher

Well-known member
Angusgord said:
Big Muddy rancher said:
Angusgord said:
:roll: :roll: Shes right ,DON"T listen to her. Arabs are a damned hardy horse ,one of the best breeds I've ever ridden for staying power. Your lands ruff and rugged an Arabian will give you every ounce of heart they have!!

So AG how many studs do you use on your ranch?
I run 2 studs! You??

We just run one now. I remember when we had up to three for a while and 2 for quite awhile. They can be a pain if you don't have the room and the fences to handle them. We have run QH studs since the early 60's.
We never worked a stud on the ranch but some of them have been broke to ride and one calf roped off of before we bought him.

What breed do you run?
 

Justin

Well-known member
i guess riding an arab is alright....i think it is one of those things that you don't want your friends or neighbors to see you doing it. :wink:
i have never rode an arab and never will.
 

MsSage

Well-known member
If your looking to have an arab stub as a cow horse...not sure how well that will work.
As for a gelding or mare they would be good. If you want a floating ride you cant get any better.
Since I am not a cowgirl I will admit I have and would again ride an arab.
 

High Plains

Well-known member
I'd never have any interest in one. With that dished-out face and tail wanting to poke up all the time, I have little desire. They seem to be pretty frail for doing much roping of critters. But heck Whitewing, down there in Venezuela I don't know that the neighbors seeing you ride one would cause much of a stir. If you rode one around this country you'd better be thick enough skinned to take some verbal abuse :!:
 

Northern Rancher

Well-known member
My buddy went to an Arab outfit by NewTown, North Dakota tp pick up a stud one time-he had some stouter mares. I roped a two year old Hereford bull of one of my buddies geldings he handled it ok. I used to use his Arab stud like a longhorn bull for my draft mares first foals-raised some pretty fancy teams off that cross. A little dab in a horse wouldn't hurt much and I doubt the neighbors would know-I get enough grief cause I ride mares lol. Alot of saddle horses up here have a bit of draft in them-those muskegs eat up horses pretty quick.
 

High Plains

Well-known member
On the draft side of things, I believe the Percheron breed includes some Arab blood way back when it was being developed, right? If that's right, then a little Arab sure didn't hurt those horses. The better ones have a much nicer head and overall look than a Belgian. I've sure seen a ton of jug-headed Percherons too, though.

HP
 

Whitewing

Well-known member
Just to let you guys know, we use our horses on the ranch to move cattle, not for much else.

I'd like a decent horse to ride on the place (pleasure) and one that might produce some offspring worth a few extra bucks.

We're selling bermuda in volume right now and it's going to horse owners, of course. While I'm not selling bales at the ranch, I'm delivering, I'll surely have folks in the future arriving to buy bermuda. I think having some decent horse blood on the place might be a good match with the bermuda sales.

I'm looking at Appaloosa as well.
 

nmhighdesert

Well-known member
Whitewing, folks world wide have been breeding horses for specific uses as you know, for generations. You get what you would like, and works for you. I wouldn't suggest a warm blooded horse though, get a quiet one. That way you wont hate it later. As they need a job to be happy also.
 

leanin' H

Well-known member
I would stick with Quarter horses for thier all around versatility. Pleasure riding, ranch work, rodeo arena, hunting, on the track, ect. While other breeds may offer one or two, few if any can match a quarter horse's wide range of talents. And they are currently doing all those things from Canada to the deep South. I personally dislike Arabians as they are very light boned and do not possess an ounce of "cow". Plus my vainity won't allow me to lower my standards! :wink: :lol: :lol:
 

Kato

Well-known member
Lighten up guys! Before everyone gets on their "high horse" about the Arab / Quarter Horse debate, remember that the foundation of the Quarter Horse breed included more than one dose of Arab/Barb blood, through the Spanish horses, as well as the English ones. Thoroughbred horses without exception trace their pedigrees to one of five Arab lines. :wink:

The American Quarter Horse traces its roots back to the 1600’s. The horses in America at this time were mostly of Spanish origin, with the greatest amounts of blood from Arabian Barbs and Turk lines. In 1611 the first significant import of English horses was made to Virginia. These English horses were of native, eastern and Spanish blood.

When the new English horses were bred to the native stock, a compact horse with heavily muscled hindquarters began to develop. These horses were used for the various farm chores like plowing, pulling logs, pulling light carriages, and riding. The horses were bred to be able to do all of these things, which is where the breed’s great versatility started.

After doing chores all day the farmers would take their horses into town for friendly quarter mile races. The fastest over this distance would win, and consequently be bred more often, creating a versatile horse that could now sprint extremely fast over short distances.

As the people moved west they brought their horses with them. Many horses drove the cattle on this long trek. The people noticed how well the horses could work with the cows and the Quarter Horse made another name for itself as the perfect cow pony.

I can say that for endurance, Arabs are exellent. Light bones or not, they've won a pile of hundred mile races over the years. As for working cattle, that would have to be decided on a horse by horse basis. Some are probably good, and some are probably not.

Breed differences aside, it's the stud thing that has me wondering. Unless you're planning on breeding, why not go for a gelding that is more likely to keep his mind on the job? 8)
 

Frisco

Well-known member
My Arabian mare was the best cow horse I ever had yet to date. She was pretty great all around, smart, and good looking. In her declining years, she babysat my son while I piddled around. Guess it depends on the horse. I've been around some real brain dead quarter horses, too.
 
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