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News: Articles: Training

Training, Exhibiting and Marketing the English type Arabian horse An series of commentaries by Bob Battaglia

"It's the summer of 2004 and the Arabian horse industry is continuing to see a real shortage of English division horses," says Bob Battaglia. "If you've been looking for one recently, you know exactly what I mean. The middle market for these horses was $10,000 to $20,000 just a few years ago. Now, middle market Arabian horses, purebred and part bred, are $20,000 to $50,000, with top horses selling for $50,000 and up. This is a big indication of a shortage. Our current breeders are making every effort to breed and bring high quality Arabian horses to the market but we need more breeders. We have fewer involved each year. It's also become much more expensive to breeder, raise and sell high quality horses. Selling horses now is very different from what it was twenty years ago."

"Take the veterinary checks. It's a common misconception among new buyers that a sale horse must vet 100% sound. This is a real Catch 22. First, the veterinary equipment is far superior to what it was even ten years ago. It's so sophisticated that it picks up even the insignificant problems. Believe me. There are very few horses without some minor issues after five or ten years on the show circuit. It doesn't make them pariahs. All that training and experience is invaluable, especially for the young and amateur exhibitor. Professionals know that many minor or older injuries are a perfectly acceptable risk on a seasoned show horse. Of course, you must do your homework when you decide to buy. Ask questions. What is the horse doing right now? Is he lame or is he simply sore occasionally? Some horses have OCD issues - spurs and chips - minor problems if they are outside of the capsules. These can be removed if a problem develops. There are minor cases of Ringbone and Navicular that might show up on examination but are really not worth more consideration than some preventative measures against reoccurrence. A great horse with minor issues might just need some extra TLC. The use of preventative methods doesn't have to cost a lot of money. It can involve some simple common sense. Don't overwork your horse, and when you note signs of fatigue and stress, give the horse a rest. Don't show the horse in forty-seven classes and expect brilliant performances every time."

"Problems with this type of show horse often relate to overuse. Overuse by junior and amateur riders is particularly common. For instance, a Saddle Seat Equitation horse has three to four 'cuts' at a Youth National Show - that's four classes in five days. Add in Country Pleasure JTR and JOTR - and that's another six classes. Then, the riders practice as well. Horses get tired. Kids get tired. Horses get sore and cranky. Please don't misunderstand. You most certainly can use an Arabian horse for everything - you just shouldn't expect to win."

"Another issue that haunts today's purebred English-type Arabians is the expectations of owners, riders and trainers. The Half-Arabian horse is bigger, more dynamic, and sometimes has more substance than the purebred. It's also a 'Sportier' horse overall with better speed at the trot. Purebred Arabian horses were never meant to be as 'sporty' as the Half-Arabian. Everyone compares the purebred's performance to the Half-Arabian's and no one is satisfied with the outcome. The result is unhappy purebred Arabian horses attempting the impossible and achieving imbalance and lameness. We are breeding Arabian horses very differently now than we did twenty years ago. We have sacrificed some of the Arabian's unique type in an attempt to compete with the Half-Arabian. And the 'bar' gets higher every year."

"The purebred Arabian horse is the source of all the great characteristics we prize in today's purebred breeds of light horses. It's the ultimate progenitor of equine beauty, temperament, heart, stamina and courage. Arabian blood provides everything we cheer for in the courage of the Thoroughbred race horse and in the spirit of the American Saddlebred. Can you imagine these horses without the desire to trot higher, to run faster, to win? Why should the Arabian horse require comparison to its own offspring? It's the Source. It has earned our respect and the right to its own showcase. It's payback time.

"As Arabian horsemen we know about our problems and with a little honest thought we can evaluate solutions. However, all of this is very confusing for newcomers who look for a breed standard and definition where none exists. This lack of a standard is an enormous problem because newcomers are the people who buy our entry level Arabian horses. They come to horse shows armed only with what they have been told and they leave unhappy because they cannot comprehend the judging. Add to this the fact that our judging is based primarily on opinion and often ignoring the rules and you have people arriving in our breed with no idea what we are judging or how to compete successfully. When our judges' decisions don't reflect our rules it ultimately discourages new people and they go elsewhere or lose interest quickly. Since this last comment addresses the accountability of judges, why not ask them to explain their choices for one class (chosen at random) each day during Class A and Regional shows? Have the judges each explain in detail how and why they pinned a certain class. I heard there were some shows held recently where exhibitors were invited to ask the judges questions regarding what they wanted in specific divisions prior to the beginning of the show. These are good ideas that will help the newcomer and the exhibitor to understand the judges and their selections. It may help the judges to clarify their decisions to themselves as well. It's not the answer to all of our difficulties in the show ring but it's a good beginning."