ISO Half-Arabian little dressage nugget

[mvp]

I have discovered that these can be really nice horses! I’m in the market for a small, AHA Arabian crossed (probably) with a WB. What I’m looking for is 3 good gaits, forward-thinking, smaller and with that smart, game, trainable personality that Arabians bring to the table. I have a couple more conformational requirements that are a bit more technical. I’d also like to be able to show this horse in the Arabian Sporthorse world.

My question: Where to look? Can you guys send me to the Half-Arabian Dressage Horse Store for one-stop shopping?

I’m in the PNW and about to go to a Sporthorse Show. I really like the Aul Magic horses. But I think I need more leads along these lines.

I don’t care whether or not it is started. I’d even take one that had failed at another discipline so long as it still has soundness.

Thanks for your suggestions!

[Ibex]

There are quite a few half arabs in BC if you’re willing to come north! I don’t know the arab world at all, but I know this is one of the local big barn:

http://www.excelsiorstables.com/About_Us.html

[atlatl]

Barbara Parkening has an Arabian stallion Aleros, that Hilda Gurney rides at GP. She also breeds some very nice horses crossing him with warmblood mares. A friend has one who has been very successful at dressage, most recently at Scottsdale.

You could probably track her down by contacting Hilda’s barn, keenridgefarm.com, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, or the Arabian Horse Association as I believe she is active with that group.

Good Luck!

[kashmere]

My old gelding was an Arab/Hano. He was a dream horse. I had him in his teen/senior years - got him (started leasing) when I was 10 and he was 14, and he taught me how to really ride. Was showing 3rd training 4th before his owner at the time had to quit because of big life changes. Had him in my life for 15 years, he was my mom’s horse to learn on when I moved on to younger/sassier horses (and discovered my true love of TB mares). We lost him at age 29, when he went to sleep under his favourite tree and didn’t wake up.

This is Murph at age 24 with my mom aboard:

http://s206.photobucket.com/user/rosemareez/media/murph4.jpg.html?sort=3&o=132

This is TOTALLY irrelevant to your search, but all to say that the arab/wb cross in my life was a complete and utter gem, and I hope the one you find is, too

[enjoytheride]

http://www.ahaco.com/

http://www.aharegioniv.com/

http://www.arabianhorseclubofcentraloregon.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/807517885961959/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/5817656938/

[SendenHorse]

Prarie Rose training center in North Dakota has a nice 3rd level andy x arab mare for sale.

There are a ton of nice horses around- facebook is a good way to see ads.

[TickleFight]

I see no mention of budget.

If you can afford an import, then I would go that route. There are more Arab breeders in Europe that breed for sport (dressage/eventing/jumping) than here in the States, and the stallions go through the same testing as the warmbloods. A couple are even approved warmblood (others are approved AA or Shagya etc.).

If you want to keep it State-side, and are okay with a purebred Arabian, then I would contact Shadow Oak Arabians out in California. One of their stallions completed his testing in Denmark and is approved Danish Warmblood (very nice horse, great personality, I’ve seen him in person while horse shopping). They still have his full brother and use him for breeding.

[SendenHorse]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/431399367056183/

^^^ HA dressage horses for sale group.

I already have a very nice HA dressage horse, but I’ve been really surprised at the high quality horses coming up for sale recently!

You could get a very nice horse for 10-15K. easily.

Some really nice horses come out of the reining world, too. they tend to be a bit more sporty than some english hunt horses.

[SportArab]

I have two half Arabian half Hanovarian mares that I am bringing along. If you’re interested in learning about them, please PM me. They are on the East Coast.

[khall]

Check WBs for sale, they have quite a few HA/WB crosses for sale. I like a good Arabian, a DHH/Arab X makes a snazzy dressage horse!

[Arabiandressage]

MVP, where are you located. I know someone who likely can point you in the correct direction. They are dressage riders, riding Aul Magic offspring currently.

[Halt_Near_X]

Addis Auctions seems to have Arabians/Half Arabians in its auctions on a fairly regular basis.

If you are willing to look at rejects from other disciplines, keep in mind that they often have no idea where/how to market for sporthorse disciplines. You are more likely to find those on DreamHorse, Equine.com, and other national lower-end sites (vs. Warmbloods for Sale). And/or on your local sale sites/Facebook sites.

It takes a little more patience and a little more weeding through to find the quality ones, but when you do find them, they tend to be much cheaper than the ones already identified for/targeted at the sporthorse world.

[exploding_pony]

Jessica Wisdom has a couple for sale, I’d also connect with Patience Prine-Carr.

The thing about an arabian cross is that the value is really all over the place. I personally like that cross, but it’s not for everyone. So selling them can be a challenge.

[Silverbridge]

Another point to their favor is that Arabian shows are among a handful of breed shows that offer USEF/USDF recognized dressage classes.

It depends on your area of course but where I live I believe there are three Arab shows in a calendar year that offer rated classes, available to registered half Arabs that compete.

When I was horse shopping in '13 I had this in mind because I knew I wanted to show my new horse frequently enough to get some qualifications and experience, and was so new to showing and hauling that I thought it would be fun and easy to be able to get more scores locally. Half Arabs offer a way to do this.

I called on one horse in Texas who was a good-sized gelding, described as very safe and sane, not too old, by Bonheur out of an Arab mare. And I think (hard to remember all details) he’d shown to 2nd Level and I think (?) was about 15K. The video on Dreamhorse was impressive.

I got the seller (a trainer, not the owner) on the phone and she laughed and said she’d apparently priced him too low. She said she’d take my name and number, but I was about the 20th person to call on him and there was pretty much no chance he’d be on the market much longer, based on the enthusiastic people already scheduled to see him.

That was a nice horse with a lot of potential. They are out there. They get snapped up for sure.

[RedmondDressage]

Here in the PNW - Lindsay Anderson may be a good person to contact. Also, Missy McGann at Woodbrook Stables/Chestnut Farm Sporthorses. I believe she does Arab/WB crosses.

[mjhco]

Look for WB crosses. But don’t neglect other crosses.

I have had a few WONDERFUL Arabian Saddlebred crosses. Willing, forward, excellent gaits. Just have to look for the right ones.

The one I have right now looks like a WB. Moves like one. Has a GREAT GO button. So willing to try anything. No spook.

[mbv]

Totally thread crashing but does anyone know of anyone who uses Crabbet/CMK lines for the Arab side of breeding Arab/WB crosses?

[JLR1]

First I’d like to say welcome to the dark side:lol:

I would recommend Lindsey Anderson as well. She has experience riding warmbloods as well as Arabians in both the open and breed worlds which some of the other trainers don’t have. She also trains her horses using correct methods rather than the “Arabian way” which some of the breed trainers do relying on gadgets that create a false headset. I believe it was to a breeder in Denmark she sold her purebred stallion Quick Silver Bey who was absolutely amazing!

Regarding Addis Auctions I personally would run clear. Too many unsound and rehabbed horses end up there.

I wouldn’t limit your search to the Aul Magic lines…yes, this line has been heavily promoted but certainly not the only game in town.

[mvp]

[QUOTE=mjhco;8622671]
Look for WB crosses. But don’t neglect other crosses.

I have had a few WONDERFUL Arabian Saddlebred crosses. Willing, forward, excellent gaits. Just have to look for the right ones.

The one I have right now looks like a WB. Moves like one. Has a GREAT GO button. So willing to try anything. No spook.[/QUOTE]

The “ambassador” horse in my life to the Half-Arabian thing is a NSH-- the Arabian/Saddlebred cross. Love what’s between his ears. But I think he has in the hind end a lot of the problems that were bred into both of his parents’ breeds. He has lots of hock action, but it’s all out behind him. And standing there, he’s a bit straight behind. I don’t think collection and a lot of push from behind is easy for this conformation.

I mention this combination (Arabian and Saddlebred) because I wonder if this hind-end conformation comes from breeds selected for their trot (and maybe just an extravagant front end), and not bred to canter or jump. Do you guys worry about finding a hind end in an Arabian or Half-Arabian that’s good enough for dressage?

[neversaynever]

Just sold a homebred 4 yr old with a lot of promise in dressage at the end of March. He was sired by Sinatra Song, out of a Bask/Padron bred mare. Smart, athletic, very balanced, very level-headed, with three good gaits, and a wonderful personality. If I were younger and in a different place in my life, he would have never been on the market.

We primarily advertised on fb pages for dressage horses, Arab/half Arab sporthorses and warmbloods. He was also listed on the old standby, Dreamhorse. He was sold in less then a month.