The Fine Friesian and the Awesome Arab- whats your opinion??

I have always loved the Arabian horse and the Friesian horse breed. I love to occasionally you tube videos of the Friesian in action and read and re-read 'My friend Flicka' by Mary O'hara, a book on Arab horses.

I love how majestic the Friesian looks. How they stand tall and proud, with their glossy black coat shining in the sun and their long flowing manes. I love how long their tails are and the feathers that adorn their hooves. The Friesian originally was from the Netherlands along with its cousin, the Gypsy Vanner. They were used for pulling plows in the fields and for the knights horses as well. The Friesian averages 18hh at the most and is very gentle. This is a horse that was meant for the high-end life that they had when owned by the royals. Couldn't you just picture the queen or princess sitting side-saddle in their beautiful evening gowns or a knight or young prince prancing around showing off for all the young ladies?

The Arab is a proud cocky horse. It has been labeled by most 'hot-blooded' due to its sensitive jumoy nature. But still I cannot help but love them. I have always loved how they carry their head proudly in the air and lift their tails up high ike a banner for all to see. I enjoy watching them as they lift each individual leg up high as they trot and how they side glance when they run by. They look as if theyare floating in the air. The Arabian horse obviously originated in Saudi Arabia and are still native thier today. They were used by the Bedouin boys to carry their supplies and to race across the hot desert sand. It was considered bad luck for a woman to be around a horse in Saudi and therefore women and girls never got to see or be around horses at all. How sad.

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Comment by Jackie Cochran on August 10, 2013 at 8:40am: To tell you the truth I have size issues too. I could be riding an 18.2 hand high horse, but I always seem to choose the 14 hand Arab/Welsh! I will get up on the big guy and ride him when his owner wants me to, but it is SO FAR DOWN when I have to get off.

Groundwork is the best way to re-start abused horses if one drifts your way again. It is best to start at the beginning (halter training), and gradually move the training along when the horse proves that he accepts it. One book I read said that reclaiming a ruined horse usually took at least 3x as long as training decent 3 year old.

Just hopping on can be risky, even for a professional.

Comment by Horsing Around is Fun on August 10, 2013 at 8:19am: My instructor said that they had sensitive mouths. My instructor could not ride anymore. The arab mix she put me on thrown her and she had a knee injury prohibiting her from riding. She warned me that the arab mix was abused and that since I was and inexperienced he might not do so well. Well, he did not and that made me fear horses for a while. Jut their sheer size and I am not to keen on the whole heights idea. None the less I took lessons and enjoed it immenesly.

Comment by Horsing Around is Fun on August 9, 2013 at 8:26pm: As a matter of fact, I did take lessons in English riding for three - four months and went down south and rode at my Uncle's on his horses, my first horse I was on since the Arab. I feel totally confident now

Comment by Jackie Cochran on August 9, 2013 at 4:40pm: Good for you for leaving your fear behind.

It is a good idea to get riding lessons so that when you get your first horse you will have some idea of what to do. If you get lessons it will not mean that you can just get up on your new horse and everything goes fine, no matter how much experience I had each and every new horse I got made me wonder why in the world I thought I knew anything about horses and riding! Luckily for me my first horse (a just gelded Anglo-Arab gelding with only 3 weeks of training) was an angel from heaven, I needed a horse like that because I had only limited trail riding experience.

Get lessons. If you can do so safely ride as many different horses as you can. As you ride more and more your seat will become more secure, your hands quieter, and your legs will do only what you want them to. Also learn as much as you can about groundwork, if you and your future horse get into a bad patch groundwork can help both of you find your way through the difficulties.

From my extremely limited experience around Fresians (one mare, I did not hadleor ride her) I would NOT recommend them for beginners, those horses can MOVE explosively and if you do not have a secure seat (or a firm hold on the lead rope) you could be in trouble. Of course once you become a good rider you should be able to handle and ride one fine. This Friesian mare looked like she would be an exciting ride, I prefer the more placid Arabs myself.

Arabs usually are not ideal for first horses either. They can have EXTREMELY sensitive mouths requiring a secure seat and independent hands. As you found out this sensitivity can lead to issues with their riders. They can out think lots of people who have an overly high opinion of their own horsemanship. As for part-Arabs some are quieter than others, and a lot depends on their initial breaking and training. Arabs LIKE people more than any other horses I've been around, IF they have been treated humanely. I can tell you that there is nothing like a smart Arab working with you, but you have to be a decent humane rider who knows when to ease up on the reins! Pulling hard on an Arabs or hot part-Arab's mouth can quickly lead to a runaway (I've been there.) Many Arabs prefer being ridden Western (in a properly fitting saddle, of course) because Western riders tend to ride more with loose reins.

Take lessons if you can. Read horse books too. It takes many, many hours in the saddle to become a good rider. Be prepared to work HARD. It is worth it.

Comment by Horsing Around is Fun on August 9, 2013 at 2:05pm: Wise words. I was on an arab mix just once and had a bad experience. It effected so much that for a while I did not want to go near horses at all. But that has changed in the last year, I am fifteen in one month and my love for horses and desire for a horse of my own has grown. I hope to own Arabs some day and other horses as well on a ranch of my own when I am an adult. Thank you Jackie for that insight those wise touching words.

Comment by Jackie Cochran on August 9, 2013 at 1:49pm: I got hooked on Arabs over 4 decades ago and never regretted it. My biggest joy is that even with my MS I am a good enough rider to ride 2 Arabs. The main problem with Arabs is that they are often effectively smarter than their riders. If the Arab likes you it will often make allowances, but if they don't like you (usually because you cause them pain) then they can be hard to control. If you do not abuse them, listen to their opinions about your riding, improve your riding to their standards, and train them humanely, an Arab will often work WITH you instead of just for you.

Most Arabs have BRAINS to go along with their grace, beauty and great endurance. They seem to get along with women just fine. If my life depended on my horse I would tend to choose an Arab, or a part Arab.