American Bedu

Arabian horses had been the most desired export product of Arabia…before the discovery of oil.  Prior to oil, all other trade goods were mostly trade and not locally produced.  For example, while Saudi Arabia is known for having some of the best dates (tumer) in the world, in the earlier times dates would not travel far and Europeans and others were unwilling to pay large sums for receipt of dates.  An Arabian horse on the other hand was a highly prized commodity and therefore be guaranteed to bring a high price. Most modern sport breeds have been heavily infused by Arab blood since many centuries. The thoroughbred was bred crossing imported Arab stallions with English mares. But what is it really like to own an Arabian horse?  What is the attraction of the Arabian horse?  How much does it cost to upkeep an Arabian horse?

Aafke has loved horses all of her life and was able to fulfill her dream of owning an Arabian horse.  She has graciously agreed to answer questions for American Bedu on Arabian horses and ownership.

I know you have loved horses all your life, but what made you single out the Arabian horse?  What made it different?

The Arab horses are exceptionally beautiful and enduring. As a small girl I would swoon over pictures of Arab horses .And draw my own. The desire to finally be able to do justice to these beautiful horses is one of the reasons I ended up being an artist. But I really thought a true Arab horse would be out of the question for me.

Besides beauty and strength the love an Arab horse can bear towards its human companions is legendary and the subject of many stories, both from the West and the East.

Before you acquired your own Arabian, how much experience did you have with Arabian horses?

I had no experience at all. I had had a very difficult half thoroughbred mare, and a Trakehner mare Trakehners are sport horses who have been bred with a lot of Arab blood. In the nineteenth century they had the best Arab stallions crossed into the breed. Hence they are larger, but very much like Arab horses. They are very spirited and sensitive. They were very popular for sports until the last few decades. I think because these horses will not endure very coarse and forceful training methods used in modern competition dressage they have lost popularity to the more dull breeds like Dutch warmbloods , Holsteiners, etc. In old books you see much more temperamental horses like Thoroughbreds, Trakehners, and Arabs. But then these people rode much better as the modern Grand Prix and Olympic riders ride today. With no force and coercion, but with a light hand and slightly loose reins.

Is it true that the Arabian horse is highly temperamental or is that simply an “Arab legend?”

Which brings me to this question. Arab horses are not ”temperamental” in the sense of being fickle or ”nervous”, But they are highly sensitive, intelligent and very perceptive of the world around them. Also they often have strong characters. Both my Arab horses, and my Trakehner mare have very domineering personalities. This calls for you, as their friend/trainer/leader/and responsible guardian, to be strict, honest, equally perceptive and strong. These traits also make such horses a lot of fun, and when they support you, very reliable mates, but they are not for everyone.

My Arab Al Tarq calls for almost constant awareness. He will try all the tricks in the ”Horsebook of allowable subversions”. You see horses have their own very strict social laws. And humans should understand that a horse can play many tricks on you which are still correct behavior in a horse sense. I think an Arab horse will very rarely step across the horse rules. They are essentially honest. Except when damaged by bad treatment from humans.

When did you acquire your first Arabian?  Please tell us about him.

My first Arab was Rabhar. He was given to me as a ”meadow decoration”. He came from nice people who were looking for a good home for him, and my grandmother was looking for a companion horse for her two mares, and so Rabhar came to me. He was an ex-show stallion, a reserve world champion, who had been treated as a money machine, and had suffered greatly as a result. He was trained, but he had never been allowed to live a normal life, the people who gave him to me found out he had never even eaten grass! He did not know it was edible! He could not communicate well with other horses. I learned later he had been beaten. He had some very strange behaviors, and would go in attack-mode if he felt threatened.

However, he also had the kindest, most generous soul. He was exceptionally intelligent and brave and loving. He completely stole my heart. He improved a lot and learned to be a normal horse whom you could put in with any other horse, and we had many lovely rides. If you entered the meadow with a saddle he would perk up and trot or gallop towards you! And although always a bit lame, he enjoyed every single step we made, and snorted and blew his nostrils in pleasure every single step.

At what point did you acquire a second Arabian horse?  And how did you acquire him?

I brought the Tarq five years ago. Rabhar had become too bad to be ridden and I needed an anti-depressant. I found the Tarq on the internet! I went to see him and I liked everything about him. I did not especially look for an Arab, but after Rabhar… only another Arab would be good enough! I looked at many horses, but The Tarq felt right. When I rode him I felt good! And secure. Also I noticed the second time I came to see him he was grazing, doing his thing, but staying close to us, keeping an eye on us: he liked the company. That is something which seems particular for Arab horses; they are very human oriented. I do think that most horses are human oriented if they are treated right and with care and interest, but the two Arab horses I have known close-up, were very interested in making contact with you. Although Rabhar tended to close himself off to other people; he was always very close to me.

Tarq tends to see other humans as a source of amusement, and easy prey if he wants to play a prank, but he is usually very sweet and easy to handle.

How is owning and caring for an Arabian horse different from say a Thoroughbred for example?

I find that the two Arab horses I have had are really keen to have you visit them and do fun things (I do make sure all ”work” I do with a horse is presented as a ”good time”) They hardly ever let you come to pick them up, they come to the gate of themselves, eager to be with you and have some attention, food, and fun!

They are very sensitive, which makes many things easy. If you are sensitive yourself you can use their sensitivity to make your life easier.

Is it more expensive to own and care for an Arabian horse?

No. Arab horses are actually very cheap to keep. They require very little feed compared to sports horses, Al Tarq is always a bit too fat actually. they have exceptionally good feet which means that my horses are not shod but go about barefooted, (or bare-hoofed) which is better for the whole hoof mechanism, but it also saves you a lot of farrier bills. I do have a dentist once a year, an ostheopath for the yearly check-up, and the farrier for his pedicure every 8 weeks.

What can you tell us about the personalities of Arabian horses?

I can only talk about my own horses. I find that they are gentile, loving, courageous, loyal, intelligent, very trying, dominating, eager and very tough. An Arab horse will really walk himself to death for you.

If someone wishes to acquire an Arabian horse, what should they know in advance?

I think they should have experience with horses, and be able to treat a horse with consistency and honesty, They should be able to notice the many small signs horses give out. You can deal well with many horses without noticing the small signs which horses give out trying to communicate with you, but I think with most Arab horses they would get upset if you don’t respond to them. With horses like Rabhar and the Tarq you’re going to be in deep trouble if you don’t see what they are up to because trust me, they see and respond to every little bit of information you give out without even noticing.

Please share the many ways in which the Arabian horse is unique.

You already know it: the many ways! Besides their personalities, they are of course the most beautiful, perfect horses! And very, very tough and strong. All that beauty, pretty face, silken coat and elegant limbs hide bones muscles, and tendons of steel and a will to match. They are all soldiers. I think that if trained appropriately no other horse can match the Arab in endurance and stamina. Add to that their hooves of steel, easy keep, and sweet loyal natures and to me there is nothing to compare with an Arab horse!

What do you do with your Arabian horse?  Do you show him in shows?

No I don’t like shows. I hack and train in classical dressage. Every so often we go on a weekend with friends and spend a few days going ”Ludicrous speed” through the forests. These are my main holidays. I don’t want to go on vacations without my horse and my dog. We go trekking too. As long as we do enough ludicrous speed outside the Tarq also enjoys the dressage.

How well does the Arabian horse adapt to living outside of the desert?

I think very well. I sincerely doubt if Al Tarq would enjoy the desert: he doesn’t like really hot weather, he likes sand only to roll in, (and to go ludicrous-speed)
I do think the desert origin of the Arab horse is the root of their tendency to become very close to humans. In the desert horses cannot survive; they need humans to take care of them. And with the constant dangers, wears, raids, the humans needed the horses.

Arab horses do tend to grow a bit larger outside of e desert environment, but it doesn’t do to try and breed for size; they lose ”type”. Al Tarq is big for an Arab though, his mother tends to give tall foals.

How does your horse remind you he is indeed Arabian with desert blood in his veins?

He is always happy to see me, often he greets me with a low whinney, or comes trotting or galloping to me when in the meadow. He never gets tired, we can be riding for hours, and he may get sweaty with the heat and exercise, and as we walk the last bit he is dry in 10 minutes, and then when you (exhausted after the ride) put him back in meadow, thinking we have been really going at it and he must be glad to get some r&r, he spends the next ten minutes galloping around because he needs to get some exercise!

Are there additional comments/advice you’d like to give about the Arabian horse?

Only take on an Arab horse if you are really going to be the right leader to him, be fair, be strong, listen to him, give him limits, give him freedom, give him enough to do, and spend enough time with him (or her). An Arab horse is your mate, not your occasional hobby.

Thank you very much Aafke for taking the time to share and further educate American Bedu and readers about the magnificent Arabian horse!

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