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I feel a little sorry for Izzy. Every time I write about his shenanigans, the one thing he can't change gets blasted: his genetic make up. If he tries to bolt or duck out from under me, people are quick to say oh, that's the thoroughbred in him. If he throws a fit about getting to work, I hear those warmbloods, they're opinionated. When Speedy was getting started under saddle, no one ever lambasted his genes. And oddly enough, Arabs have a pretty bad reputation in the horse world. In most folk's eyes, they rate right down there with Shetland ponies and chestnut mares.
 Unpredictable and hard to manage? In fact, of all the horses that I've owned (at least 10), Speedy has injured me more than any other. He was a terrible three, four, and five year old, and he wasn't all that great at six either. But not once did anyone ever tell me it was because he was an Arab. Izzy on the other hand can't fart without someone pinning it on his ancestors. I get that people love/hate their chosen breeds, but I don't really subscribe to the breed bias thing. Don't misunderstand. There are certainly characteristics, both physical and mental, that certain breeds might demonstrate more often than other breeds, but I don't think that we should be so quick to spread the "breed blanket" over every horse. If I had subscribed to the all Arabs are crazy notion, I would have missed out on a heap of adventures.
I like Izzy. He's a fun horse that doesn't scare me. There are moments when I think Oh, crap!, but he has shown me that he has a brain and doesn't want to hurt himself. While he was started as a youngster (60 days of training), his first owner only put a few rides on him before he sat around for two years. I pretty much had to restart him this spring.
With that said, he's been working under saddle consistently for only 6 months. I think the guy is allowed to be a jerk, at least some of the time. So far, he's moving along a lot faster than Speedy did. Speedy tried to buck me off every single time I got on him. And he did get me off; so hard in fact that it took nearly six months before I wasn't riding with a a knot of terror in my stomach. Arabian ... Thoroughbred ... Warmblood ... Quarter Horse ... they're all the same to me. They each have their strengths and weakness as breeds and more importantly, as individuals within the breed. I'd rather take each horse as he comes and see what I've got. Consistent training can fix a whole lot of things while low expectations can bring you just what you asked for. What do you think?
April
12/19/2015 11:14:27 am
I don't think it's a breed thing. I think it's a young horse thing! Your patience will prevail and in a few years, when he grows up and gains confidence, you will have an amazing partner. You will look back at his shenanigans and marvel at how far he has come! My preference is Morgans and my little guy is 5. He sees no reason to bend and be soft in the ring and we are always discussing it. On trail? Phenomenal! But he sees that as fun and not work. We, too, will get there! Thank you for sharing your journey with such honesty and humor! 12/19/2015 02:47:11 pm
Although Izzy's not "young" at seven, he is mentally young.
Carly
12/19/2015 11:32:24 am
I one hundred percent agree! I don't subscribe to the breed personality/problems bias at all. It seems pretty silly to me. All horses are capable of showing the same naughtiness or brilliance.
April
12/19/2015 11:42:19 am
And sometimes both within the same ride😊
There are some characteristics that are more or less related to breed but it's not the main thing. It's funny- Irish my TB/QH cross was a lot like Speedy as a youngster and he had me off more times than I can count. Carmen has had me off once and she doesn't frighten me at all. 12/20/2015 10:11:03 am
I won't say that Izzy NEVER scares me because there are times when I worry he'll take it one more step. I can laugh at his antics most of the time, even if they're difficult to ride through. I don't think his behavior is breed specific though, it's more related to his level of training. :0)
Marlane
12/19/2015 05:18:01 pm
In thinking back to the different horse breeds that I have ridden. All were green when they were learning about different stimuli. But the reactions varied. The Morgans were less likely to suddenly jump and snort. I have ridden Welsh section B, Thoroughbred racehorses and Arabians also. Within each breed there is a variation according to personality and specific bloodlines. 12/20/2015 10:12:43 am
I definitely agree with that. I just get irritated when certain naughty behaviors are ascribed to one breed or another. They can ALL be naughty. :0)
We do a lot of joking about "dumbbloods". Trainer sees many unstarted and just backed horses come through her training program. The thoroughbreds tend to be high energy and easier to ride and easier to handle on the ground. They are like dogs - they want to please so badly that it comes off as neurotic. The warmbloods have many more opinions and tend to have less experience being handled. Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods just have different takes on life I think, as well as different starts in life. At the end of the day though, they both got to the end goal - being nice riding horses. They just had different paths. That doesn't mean we don't joke about Penn. He's 75% TB, 25% Dutch Warmblood. 99% off the time he's got the thoroughbred try. 1% he becomes an insolent horse that needs put in his place. 12/20/2015 10:14:02 am
Exactly! Some horses are easier to start than others. :0)
lytha
12/20/2015 12:24:10 am
I walked up to the empty stall and put my hand on the gold name plate that says Kilimandscharo. He lived here! They are keeping "Kili's" stall empty in his honor. 12/20/2015 10:21:59 am
That would be fun to see. I've been to Sheila Varian's barn several times - I really like the Varian horses (Desperado, Huckleberry Bey, Bay el Bey, Bay Abi). I don't necessarily think Arabs are the best horses, but they've certainly gotten into my heart more than any other breed.
Karen
12/20/2015 11:08:55 am
They are all the same to me, too. Of course there are certain characteristics, like you said. But every breed has their good eggs and bad eggs. You have to ride the horse you have, not its papers. Not its heritage. 12/21/2015 06:09:52 am
I love this, "You have to ride the horse you have, not its papers. Not its heritage." Very true. Even the most well-bred horse can be difficult to ride. Thanks for writing this! I completely agree. Every time Indy does something wrong, I get some form of the "it's because she's a thoroughbred" comment. A lot of people won't even recognize the fact that her sire was a Hanoverian. They act like the TB blood has tainted the WB blood and so she can only be referred to as a TB. The fact that we have full thoroughbreds I'm training at the track that behave better as three year olds than she does as a five year old kind of proves that bad behavior or hotness isn't always breed specific. Maybe it just makes me mad because I have so much respect for TBs as sport horses. 12/21/2015 06:16:14 am
You said it exactly right, Jodi. I get comments similar to this one a lot - "They act like the TB blood has tainted the WB blood." Comments are closed.
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About the Writer and RiderI am a lifelong rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010. Welcome to my dressage journey. 
Photo by Lori Ovanessian
About Speedy GSpeedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)
About IzzyIzzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)
Bakersfield Dressage approved!
My favorite breeches!
FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE
I love her stuff!
Watercolor Artist and Friend
National Rider Awards
USDF Bronze Medal - 2020
USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013
State Rider Awards
CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018
State Horse Awards
Speedy G - 3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
Speedy G - 2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018
Working Towards:
CDS Sapphire Rider Award Third Level: 63.514% Third Level: 62.105% Fourth Level: Fourth Level: 2023 Show Season
Show Rating (***) CDS/USDF/USEF (*) CDS (s) Schooling (c) Clinic (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic 2023 Show Schedule
TBD 2023 Completed … Pending 2023 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Training Level 3 Scores/2 Judges/60%: Score 1: Score 2: Score 3: Archives
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