So this may seem like a dumb question but I was wondering if an Arab/saddlebred cross could make a good eventer. I currently have an older TBx gelding and I’ve been thinking about getting a younger mare. I’ve debated back and forth about getting an OTTB, rescue, or inexpensive greener horse.
Here are some videos of horses I’ve found:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkDqyXFRkNk
IME it is type more than breed that seems to weigh heaviest on whether or not a candidate is suitable.
that being said i see nothing about these horses that suggests they’d be incompatible with lower levels if the right temperament is between those two cute ears. second video, that horse – he has the potential there for a really nice trot. i’d be working with an experienced dressage trainer to get the most out of him flat wise.
of all of these the last seems most suitable - the first, the least. the last horse is already doing half the job you are looking for so if you are green to green horses may be your best bet.
one of the best eventing ponies i ever met was a arab X hackney - he was also a game pony, a pony club mount and a nice showjumper.
Saddlebred crosses can be cool and there are quite a few good Arabs out there eventing. Most of the latter come from the endurance lines and not the show lines as yours seem to be. A friend of mine competed a Saddlebred up through Rolex many years ago. Cannot recall his name. I just recently had a Georgian Grande (Saddlebred/ Percheron) in training who can jump anything from anywhere and is a good mover, albeit with a LOT of knee action. And I have had a couple of other Saddlebred/Draft crosses in the barn in the past that were quality horses. All have been fox hunting / lower level eventing types.
Arabs can vary so if you have a modern show Arab bred to a show (most are) Saddlebred, you may get something fancier than you want. Also, some Saddlebreds move gaited and that takes time to train. On your video, 1 looks unsuitable (that head carriage and muscling and stiffness overall will be a bear to fix), #2 does not have enough info, and 3# looks okay enough (nice fl-change). All 3 look a bit hot and I am curious as to why you are looking at that sort of horse. None are horses I would look at for projects, or for clients for that reason and maybe others (upon close inspection).
Any breed can event, depending on the level you want to do. You do not say what your “real” goal is… If it is lower level eventing, there are so many possibilities out there that are affordable and nice. Heck, I have found some good LL event prospects in the most unlikely places (like a local dude ranch, a cow field, etc!).
And beowulf, those hackneys can jump the snot out of big fences!
As a viewer from across the pond, I am always curious why the Saddlebred isn’t used more in eventing. Seems to have a lot going for it http://www.americansaddlebredsporthorse.net/
[QUOTE=Willesdon;8530232]
As a viewer from across the pond, I am always curious why the Saddlebred isn’t used more in eventing. Seems to have a lot going for it http://www.americansaddlebredsporthorse.net/[/QUOTE]
IME, they do not always have the right type… long/weak loin, a lot of knee action, trailing hocks - great horses but not really bred with eventing in mind. however, many of them are able to overcome this limitation because they usually have incredible dispositions.
@winding down, yes, met plenty a hackney that could jump… this one was no exception… we used to play “chicken” with one of our hackney-x when we were kids… we’d jump him over increasingly big spreads until one of us chickened out :lol: never ran him to the ground or anything, and he never tired of the game… had a horrible canter though. suspect that had more to do with the fact he was barely 12h and no trainer was small enough to ride him.
I like #3 quite a bit; she didn’t look hot to me. #2 is pretty and has a nice trot, as Beowulf mentioned, but is she even broke? #1 I did not like at all.
I am glad to hear hackney’s can jump. My 5 YO is 1/4 hackney. He hasn’t done much jumping yet, but I think he is going to be scopey.
I have a Saddlebred/Hanoverian cross that is great fun for eventing 
We are at Training level right now and as soon as I get my act together we should move up to Prelim.
[QUOTE=beowulf;8530173]
of all of these the last seems most suitable - the first, the least. the last horse is already doing half the job you are looking for so if you are green to green horses may be your best bet. [/QUOTE]
I agree, here. But would also say, be sure you can trial ride outside in an environment without boundaries… Cross-country course would be ideal of course, but a big field or a trail system where you can W/T/C would be fine.
(Voice of somewhat failed horse-buyer here … Things turned out fine once neither of us were able to event, but the mare was quite a pistol over X/C and that wouldn’t have been good at all…)
Disclosure: I own and ride arabs. I like them a lot. Good points: The non-halter ones are reasonably conformed for riding purposes, tend to have good feet, and are smart as hell. They are sturdy, hardy, easy keepers. Buckets of personality and a long working life, too. Downsides: They’re small. Unless you’re doing endurance, people will laugh at you until you beat them in competition. Horse may be smarter than rider. Horse may eyeball rather a lot of things for a fairly long time. Horse will not tolerate rough or ill-considered treatment, may have a bit of a temper. In Eventing, you will probably top out at Prelim on an arab unless you have an exceptional individual.
Video 1: Horse is tight, hollow/inverted, shows musculature under neck from improper riding. Never relaxes. Ears on full-alert pricked or flicking constantly, tail a bit wringy. For a horse who is in a small covered ring with nothing to see, presumably where she lives, that’s rather a lot of fussy for a sale video. Mare in Video 1 does not look to be an easy horse. My best guess – hot, fretful, going to be a bit of a project even for someone with a fair amount of clue, probably not ever going to be a packer or very ammie-friendly.
Video 2: Horse has pretty head, floaty trot. Not shown under saddle. Moves with slightly trailing hind legs, looks a bit ass-high. Fattish, but no actual riding muscles. If over 4, would not buy. If under 4 and cheap, may grow into butt – look at parents. Born 2012 and according to sales ad (I googled) “not started”. Also, not impressed with her sire. Nope, nope, nope. For $3500 you can get something wither-high, full grown, and already riding.
Video 3: Horse rides reasonably well. Packs rider through course of small fences, is not eyebally or overjumping or being a jerk despite rider flopping a bit forward on landings.
If I was suggesting one of the three horses for someone else to buy as a “take out in public and try to do eventing” horse, I would pick the third one.
If you’re set on an arab, you might try shopping in the “endurance” lane instead of the “halter arab” or “saddleseat” lanes. The endurance-style arabs are cheaper and better-made (in terms of athletic ability).
As for what money will get you in the not-show-arab world, This is my young horse, who turned 4 last summer. He’s a purebred arabian gelding, 14.3, slightly parrot-mouthed. (About 1/4" out of alignment. He eats fine, just needs regular dentist work.) He’s smart, reasonably capable, and sensible as hell. His full brother (good mouth, slighter build) sold for a thousand bucks started under saddle. I paid less b/c I got an unstarted two year old instead of a “rides out and about at three gaits, by himself” four year old.
I’m in rural Pennsylvania, where prices are low, and I had the advantage of “future vision” (met both parents) so that helped me see past the reedy unfortunate narrowness of his two year old self. (The first 2 yr old pic is when I got him.) But anyway, you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a decent horse. Know what you’re looking for, take along a second set of eyes, and do not let the facility (or lack thereof) blind you to the horseflesh in front of you. Good looking horses are good looking horses even if they’re ribby and knee-deep in muck. Poorly-made horses are still poorly-made horses when they’re glossy fat and standing in a foot of pine shavings.
I fox hunt with a woman who whips and sometimes leads first flight on a National Show horse. The mare is brave, sound, smart, a good jumper, very hot and difficult to ride. My friend is an excellent horseman, and the mare trusts her completely. Also, the horse loves hunting-just one of those horses who “gets” it.
In the beginning, the mare went exactly like the horse in the first video. It took my friend a couple of years to turn her horse into the mount she has today. The first six months took the patience of Job. They are a great team now, but it’s sure been a process.
Video 1: Horse is tight, hollow/inverted, shows musculature under neck from improper riding. Never relaxes. Ears on full-alert pricked or flicking constantly, tail a bit wringy. For a horse who is in a small covered ring with nothing to see, presumably where she lives, that’s rather a lot of fussy for a sale video. Mare in Video 1 does not look to be an easy horse. My best guess – hot, fretful, going to be a bit of a project even for someone with a fair amount of clue, probably not ever going to be a packer or very ammie-friendly.
I have a horse a lot like this one. She has a MUCH shorter back, but otherwise same movement, etc. She is a Saddlebred x Arab. Whichchick got her down pretty well - when I bought her she tried hard to please (still does), but had muscle in all the wrong spots and was flighty and hot. She has gotten a lot better, but she’ll always be somewhat spooky. She is also an AWESOME sporthorse. Beautiful movement and a lovely jump. She does not handle showjumping well, but oddly for a spooky horse, she’s nice over the countryside. She’s a dynamo dressage mare - she moves the same way as horse #1. She will NEVER be a packer, and she is only ammy-friendly for someone laid-back and working with a trainer. In the wrong hands she would have a complete nervous breakdown. With me and her former owners though, she is such a sweetheart. She just isn’t very mentally tough.
She took a lot of time, patience and quiet riding to settle. I like the first horse myself (and with some training, it would probably be a nice dressage prospect), but it will need a lot of time put into it first. If you’re willing to deal with that, you could get a nice horse out of the bargain. If not, I like #2 and #3, and I would probably pick #3. Already doing the basics, seems to have a good personality, and super cute?
That being said, I think they are all capable of lower-level eventing, so it is up to you.
[QUOTE=D_BaldStockings;8533181]
FYI -
Horse #1 sans rider
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W17Z28T_dnk[/QUOTE]
Oooh, that horse has some nice movement potential.
I would ride a few horses to be sure you like the breed and crosses. They are not for everyone…
I have a half arab (not NSH) that is an excellent dressage horse and jumper, but he is not typical of the breed. I don’t like 9 out of 10 arabs, but find me that 10th one? I buy them and keep them for-eva. 
I personally like Arabs…but I grew up riding them. I also tend to like hot TBs. It is just more my type of ride. HATE riding most ISH horses. Have discovered I generally don’t like a “WB” ride. Can I ride them…sure. But we all have a type of ride that we prefer. I like a hot finesse type of ride and that suits me, and they tend to go well for me. That first horse is a lot like many that I’ve had and like.
Basically…my point is posting videos like that when you are looking to buy a horse for yourself is likely not going to be helpful. What matters is what type of horse YOU like and is well suited for you. So getting help from someone who actually knows you and the sport is more helpful.
The breed doesn’t matter as much as long as they suit you and are basically athletic. Some types of horses, the sport is easier for…basically the reason so many TBs are good at eventing is that as a breed, most are generally good all around athletes for the tests of the sport.
[QUOTE=D_BaldStockings;8533181]
FYI -
Horse #1 sans rider
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W17Z28T_dnk[/QUOTE]
Like a different horse without a rider. I’m not a Saddlebred person, and I wouldn’t kick this guy out of my barn.
[QUOTE=D_BaldStockings;8533181]
FYI -
Horse #1 sans rider
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W17Z28T_dnk[/QUOTE]
Nice! I have three Saddlbred crosses. Two are Saddlebred x Percheron and one is Saddlebred x Clyde/Hackney/TB mare. All three have lovely temperaments. The last is the hottest of the three and I would describe him more as sensitive than hot. They try VERY hard to please and get very attached to their riders. Mine are all big and so far two of my three have gone through growth phases where one or the other of their stifles seemed to be become looser which impacted their canters, but time and conditioning took care of that.
I have owned a little bit of everything from Quarter Horses and Appaloosas, to Arabs, Trakehners, TBs, to Dutch Warmbloods, but sold them and went specifically looking for a Saddlebred x Draft Cross to have fun on because of their super good dispositions. I’m older and no longer care to ride hot, quite challenging horses. With all of my obligations, I want to be able to go out and enjoy my rides no matter if I’ve ridden five days in a row or not in two weeks, and these horses let me do that. I am eventing the oldest at novice and he’ll easily do training which is as high as I’m interested in going. The two I have going under saddle love to jump and run cross country; the youngest is not started yet.
Happy shopping.
[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;8533514]
HATE riding most ISH horses. Have discovered I generally don’t like a “WB” ride. [/QUOTE]
Off topic but BFNE, I’m curious about what it is you hate about riding ISH’s, particularly as they seem to be one of the go to horses for eventing?
Pretty sure that horse 1 in the two videos is all Arab…not a Saddlebred cross. I’d guess more Polish by her looks. But hey…I could be wrong.
ETA: Yeah…I’m wrong. Found her ad. She just reminds me more of the Polish arabs I rode as a kid. I like her but she will require the right type of rider.
