[QUOTE=Painted Wings;…I’ll bet there are people at Orange County hunting coloured horses. Actually I’d be interested to know that.[/QUOTE]
Yes, there are. There is one strapping big paint gelding, an Irishbred or so I have been told, that has also regularly qualified for the Field Hunter Championships at least once. He goes exceptionally well across country, and is quite a popular horse to his many fans.
I have a haffie. Not your typical get out there and go breed. BUT, he’s got a motor, loves the sport and is respectful. He’s forward and brave; jumps the jumps with no problem. Heck, I have a hard time keeping him back rather than getting him forward!!
Typical we’re not, but I can’t tell you how many times people have come up to us admiring our bond and asking where they can get one (to hunt, mind you).
Have your friend enjoy her horse and don’t pay mind to the naysayers. 
Actually both
I think in that photo I posted the link to, one was an Arab and I think the grey was an Anglo Arab. It’s one of our social members and her daughter. They come out a couple of times a year and hilltop. They are very nice people and are always welcome.
Glad to know there are coloured horses at Orange County. I coudn’t imagine there wouldn’t be. I thought at the time it was probably a personal bias and the horse does have a lot of white and two blue eyes.
http://www.pbase.com/lesliegra/image/104830289
We actually have quite a few in our hunt. They are popular. Several staff horses too.
Put raw eggs in the snarky woman’s boots!
Well, I think it’s your friend who needs to remember her manners. In order to preserve the quality of the hunt, your friend with the Arab must accept that a given Arab most likely is not on the same level as most other horses.
Arabs are entirely on a level above, of course. Your friend should feel entirely entitled to say sweetly, “Oh, now, now; you mustn’t be upset. I’m sure your horse will hunt as well as an Arab once your horse is alittle more fit and his brain is alittle more mature.”
But only say this to the snarky woman. The other riders, and their lovely horses of all breeds, may be allowed to bask in the glory of your friend’s Arab without having to compare themselves. ;);)
our huntsman hunted an arab for years ,and he was a wonderful huntsman’s horse (RIP Omar). Personally I don’t really care for them as a whole, but I have seen some really nice ones. And I’m not riding them.
I ride a TB mare, and I know lots of folks don’t care for them either but they aren’t riding her now are they?
As long as they (horse and rider) are turned out correctly and can get the job done it shouldn’t matter.
I Only don’t like it, as someone else posted, when folks bring out “unconventional” breeds to hunt and insist on putting the big bits and colored brow bands on their TWH or the long flowing manes or whatever. But that’s just me, I would never say anything to anyone about their horse (unless it was doing something unsafe, like kicking or something) or make them feel badly about their horse.
I know an Arab named Omar who is huntsman’s horse for a harrier pack in California. Maybe I should say ‘the’ harrier pack, only one in the US these days to my knowledge. Prior to that he was a whipper-in’s horse at Red Rock.
[QUOTE=citydog;3605277]
I’ve hunted an Icelandic, and while he got some raised eyebrows and “Isn’t that interesting” :rolleyes: comments at first, he was such a champ in the field that folks rapidly became openly admiring of him.[/QUOTE]
And you need to bring him out again!
I hunt my Friesian 
I have a 7 year old Friesian mare that I just started hunting this year. I too got a few inquisitive looks and one comment of “isn’t that a high headed one”. 
But, she has proven herself so far (been out 5 times) by being manerly, honest, careful around the hounds, and truly seems to enjoy every aspect of the sport!
If the horse can do the job enjoyably and safely, what does it matter the breed, color, size, etc.? Your friend should go, have fun, and pay no heed to the snobbish comments about her Arabian.
Here is a pic or two of her:
http://www.freewebs.com/daatje2008/easycare%20daatje%20jump.jpg
http://www.freewebs.com/daatje2008/easycare%20daatje%20jump%203.jpg
http://www.freewebs.com/daatje2008/easycare%20daatje%20canter%204%20crop.jpg
don’t worry about it
a friend of mine, who sponsored me to join the hunt, has always hunted arabs. She loves them. she had a gelding for years (he died a couple years ago) that she hunted on. She does have a warmblood she hunts, but she prefers to use her 25 year old arab mare so she doesn’t have to work so hard. The breed really shouldn’t matter. i always think that if a horse does it’s job well, it shouldn’t matter what the papers say…(unless you’re at a breed show). and usually, arabs have such endurance that they can run circles around most horses at the end of the hunt anyway…
[QUOTE=Beverley;3607907]
I know an Arab named Omar who is huntsman’s horse for a harrier pack in California. Maybe I should say ‘the’ harrier pack, only one in the US these days to my knowledge. Prior to that he was a whipper-in’s horse at Red Rock.[/QUOTE]
Are you talking about Ridgecrest, John Auburn? Good horse!!!
Yes!
I’m very partial to the breed I ride (the Irish Draught), but ultimately, pretty is as pretty does, and if your friend’s Arab shows her a nice day in the field, than kudos to her and her beautiful horse!!!
I have had two of my three American Saddlebreds out and they have both done great. I might get a few remarks at the beginning of the day, but anyone with half sense can appreciate a horse that is out there doing the job just as well as any other.
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