Tell me about Arabs in dressage

[iberianfan]

@blue_heron, do you need a big horse? No No is still pretty cute, but he is small.
Pros: seems very quiet and willing. Doesn’t look like he’s been pushed at all, but not phased by a flapping leg wrap. A nice package.
Cons: a slightly wry tail, but that, in a gelding (not a halter horse or breeding stock) is only cosmetic. Not a lot of push, but it might improve with work over his back. Looks cowhocked, but that’s not uncommon in Arabs. Decent gaits, but not Wow. I don’t know if he can lengthen in the trot.

But I still like him for the price. He looks like a good egg but I don’t think he will set the world on fire. However, I firmly believe a good brain will get you a lot farther.

[blue_heron]

I don’t need a big horse; in fact I don’t want one over 16.2hh, but No No is unfortunately younger than I’m looking for and about as far across the country from me as he could get.

I don’t love his hindquarters or how they tie in to his back-- true of a lot of Arabs I’ve seen, but not all. I do love the white sneakers and the blaze!

[J-Lu]

Looking at the posted video for No No, I don’t think the video shows his capabilities at all. The lunger is settling for some mediocrity and I think the horse can do more. She also seems to be longing in a rope halter which is very fine (I used to until my horse learned to longe on voice commands, no halter) but depend on how that rope halter is used in his education. Rope halters really put pressure on pressure points. This horse looks fine but is not as forward as he can be.

He looks easy to train and his gaits look like they all can be developed. He doesn’t have much push from behind but he isn’t asked for much. He looks incredibly green and one can’t really chart his future being so green.

I think he has more potential than shown in this video.

[iberianfan]

I agree! I just didn’t say it as well as you did.