Anyone managed to make a mountain horse out of this breed?

Don't know about back in the US, but in my part of Africa they are very popular with the Endurance sport riders in pretty rough country.
These are small and agile.

Arabians are good for endurance and can be pretty high strung. They are not big horses , so carrying alot of weight is not there forte. Check out Fjords. Good stocky horse and great in the mountains for riding or packing. Mules are also another otpion and my preference.

Frankly it depends what performance you are looking for. If you want far, fast, very alert and all day, the Arabian is going to be good at that. If you want slow, strong, steady, quiet they are not.
Most folks want the second description when they say "mountain horse."
I had a buddy with two Arabs in the mountains of Colorado many years ago so have some experience. They drove me crazy just watching them but at 28 years old and out of shape, his old Arab could keep up with my 4 year hard as nails Stock horse type in the rough stuff. I know because I tried to go fast enough to kill the darned thing so we would not have to take it back home. Did not work... Died of old age at about 35 I think.

What do you mean by a mountain horse?

I have a 1/2 arab 1/2 saddlebred that has been a great trail horse. He has packed deer and elk for me, competed in NATRC and Endurance rides across trails in Utah, Colorado and Idaho. He has been my daughters favorite horse to ride.

He knows nothing about herding cows, running barrels or parades. But he can deal with deadfalls, ledges, streams, mud bogs, and stuff flying or jumping up out of the bushes. He's not as powerful climbing a steep mountainside as a stout quarter horse, But he will still be going when the sun goes down.

I don't think the breed has anything to do with this, It's more of what you expose him to and train him to deal with.

I grew up around Arabs. My Father was a farrier and primarily worked on Arabs and a few saddlebreds. He was the best.

Many of the horses we worked on were typical in the Arab disposition. Walk in their stall, clap your hands and they would stick to the ceiling. One stallion I recall was so nervous all the time his hind foot and bottom lip constanly twitched.

A lot had to do with the "if it's pretty breed it" philosophy many breeders had in the 80's.

There were good ones though. They were tougher than they looked and would try as hard at the end of the day as they did at the start.

In my experience, stay with the Polish/Russian blood lines, and Crabbet bred horses to start with. Stay away from the Egyptian lines as they always seem to be either crazy or mean.

All that being said, I'm a quarter horse guy now.

I had the best one you could ask for. It was an abandoned horse, with papers & a larger size mare.
Wouldn't load, step in water, skittish, etc. After some serious trail time, she would do, go anywhere you pointed her. Tough as could be, not intimidated by anything, swim rivers, pack game, swim rivers freely, not being lead, ridden 18 hours straight.....on & on.
Miss that horse

quote:

I had the best one you could ask for.

The question is, was that the only Arab that ever lived that would do that?

The better trainers, almost to a man, said they liked the yearlings that would just about climb out of the stall when you walked in, "they seem to make the best horses" to quote one of the trainers I recall.

Making a partner out of a hot blooded horse isn't for everyone, but the reward when you do can be pretty special. There's a reason the Arab is a foundation for most of the breeds we have today

quote:

quote:
I had the best one you could ask for.


The question is, was that the only Arab that ever lived that would do that?

No, just a testament to the one I had.

My son got one in August for $80. I laughed when he sent me the picture because it was so fat it looked like a cartoon horse. Since then it has made two trips into the Thorofare and been on a couple other hunts. She's packed elk, deer, and guys like me who were way too big to be on such a small horse. She has been completely steady and never faltered. She also packs kids around whever they want to ride. My son now says it is the best $80 he ever spent.

As with all breeds there are good bad and ugly with all of them. You just hope you get lucky. Most problems are inflicted on horses by humans, either by ignorance or lack of skill. The Arabian is the foundation of almost all breeds. It has the heart and stamina to do it all. Contrary to an earlier post they can carry and handle more than you think. Due to short coupling in their conformation all weight is bore on all legs unless you get a swayed back horse but not common. Bone density has been tested by Colorado vet. school and they found out the bone is denser and stronger than bigger breeds. Don't let size fool you. Some of the best 100 mile race winners are 14.2. Prior to changes in the tax laws in 1986 many corporations and wealthy individuals invested in the Arabian that drove prices through the roof. Due to their value they lived in fancy stalls and turned out into a round pen or small paddock and that was their routine for life. Many became fruitcakes which is understandable and helped garner their reputation. Many wanted to get rich quick and bought junk and became breeders who produced worthless junk.I raise Egyptian Arabians and they are gentle kind and pleasing. I have used them extensively on trails and hunted with them in the Book Cliffs of Colorado with no problems. I highly recommend them just be extremely choosy. If you are ever in my area P.M. me I will have you check out my herd. Best of luck to you.
Charles

I never have but I have made a lot of good horses in my life, and I think it more depends on the individual Arabian than it does the breed and that applies to any breed or cold blooded horse..They got it or they don't, if the man on them does things right, and if he doesn't then makes little difference what breed you have...Personally I like Quarter horses, but thats just a personal like.

Relatives have bred Arabian horses for year & do competitive endurance rides with them...not my favorite bred.
But there is good & bad in every breed.
If you can find big, thicker,lower keyed Arabian & train it right you will have a great horse. fast, agile, thinking horse.

My 2 cents is 1/2 Arabian cross colts make good all around trail horses.
We have had some of quarter horse & farm chunk draft mares crossed back to Arabian stallion's & the colts are great all around trail / ranch horses.
Relatives have sold allot of those Heinz 57's to the mountain's out west.
they are used for trail / packing & buyers phone back looking for more.
so they gotta be working for them.

I have no use for the majority of purebred arabs, but the crosses are often very good horses. Granted a lot depends on the breeding. In western Canada and the Territories the draft crosses are preferred by outfitters as they need big stout horses for packing, hauling out moose, etc. Your average hunter these days with their hunting gear is a big load. Horses also need go be calm with inexperienced riders being the norm and not the exception.

quote:

Originally posted by Bailey Bradshaw:
I grew up around Arabs. My Father was a farrier and primarily worked on Arabs and a few saddlebreds. He was the best.

Many of the horses we worked on were typical in the Arab disposition. Walk in their stall, clap your hands and they would stick to the ceiling. One stallion I recall was so nervous all the time his hind foot and bottom lip constanly twitched.

A lot had to do with the "if it's pretty breed it" philosophy many breeders had in the 80's.

There were good ones though. They were tougher than they looked and would try as hard at the end of the day as they did at the start.

In my experience, stay with the Polish/Russian blood lines, and Crabbet bred horses to start with. Stay away from the Egyptian lines as they always seem to be either crazy or mean.

All that being said, I'm a quarter horse guy now.

Having watched Arabs at shows, people have come to prize that air head temperament and regard it as desirable. To show an Arab at halter requires 2 people. One to lead the horse and another to stand behind with a whip and keep him "animated". I've come to know a lot of Arab owners over the years, very few who actually ride them.

quote:

Originally posted by Bailey Bradshaw:

In my experience, stay with the Polish/Russian blood lines, and Crabbet bred horses to start with. Stay away from the Egyptian lines as they always seem to be either crazy or mean.

All that being said, I'm a quarter horse guy now.

Some of you probably know that Henry Kissinger's brother Walter raises Arabians on his ranch in the Colorado Rockies. He loves them. His are all Polish, as his family came from Poland as refugees from the Nazis in the 1930s.

I met him once after he had just returned from an elk hunt, I seem to remember in Idaho or Montana. Cool guy. I've read that Henry has never visited his ranch and thinks he's nuts for living there.

What a great thread, and this site is called "Accurate Reloading"!!
Peter.