Where Have All the Arabians Gone? Your Turn, Part II

ARABIAN HORSE WORLD PRESENTS:

WHERE WHEREHAVE HAVE ALLTHE THEARABIANS ARABIANS ALL Arabian Horse World has published numerous features addressing the status of the Arabian breed globally over the past year. In the September issue, we heard from you in “Where Have All the Arabians Gone — Your Turn” (page 130), readers’ responses to Bruce Johnson’s article “Where Have All the Arabians Gone?” published in the August issue (page 8). The letters kept coming, so this month we’ve published more of your responses.

We at Arabian Horse World recognize the passion, focus, and urgency required by this moment in time, and we’d like to do our part to facilitate real action and solutions. To help move from discussion to action, Arabian Horse World will sponsor “A Call to Action — A Forum to Discuss Real Solutions” on Wednesday, October 24, in Tulsa. It’s one step toward a better future. If you’ll be in Tulsa, join us.

Links to Bruce Johnson’s original article, and Part One of “Your Turn” can be found at www. arabianhorseworld.com.

John Jacobs, St. George, Utah: Thank you for inviting replies to the query about the decline in numbers of Arabian horse registrations (August 2012 issue, page 9). Jeff Spivey and I are getting old now. Even my own sons ride Quarter Horses. What a slam. It’s going to take some dedicated people to turn the situation around. There’s always going to be people with the wherewithal to sustain a big herd. But new people being attracted to the breed for a personal riding horse are not being born anymore. If we want to attract new people we need to breed horses with good minds that can work and be safe. If everyone who owns a breeding horse would ride that horse in a tense situation they would soon make a decision to breed safer horses. Of course, if those large breeders are only interested in walking on the ground alongside the horse they will never know what they have. In the few years I have left I am trying to improve my herd by testing each horse myself.

I’m not going to look for new blood so don’t anybody write and tell me where to get better horses. I am satisfied with my old blood. I want to invite all the breeders worldwide to join me behind the cows to see what kind of mind your horses have.

Well, Denise Hearst, you asked for it. Are you brave enough to put my challenge to the studs of Poland, the studs of the peninsula, the studs of the Nile, and yes, even Texas? While I’ve got you on the line I want to thank you for traveling all over the world and keeping us up to date on all the good people worldwide who are dedicated to the Arabian horse. It brings tears to my eyes every month, learning of all the good horses and dedicated people.

GONE?YOUR YOURTURN TURNPart Part II II GONE? Dick Adams, Cave Creek, Arizona: Bruce Johnson’s article was very nicely written, yet the answer to the title is: They have gone nowhere! They are conveniently in the care of a disinterested society. As it is now, the concept of Arabians in a “zoo-animal status” just might prove to be more exposure (to outside interest) than we currently have.

Just how many zoos are there?

were beneficial to the farming industry. Up until this year, if you bought a new horse, you could write off that purchase price.

Every year, I always bought a new piece of animal status” just equipment. We got a tax incentive for that, but we also had to pay the sales tax. Well, might prove to be those incentives may be gone this year. more exposure (to According to the American Horse Council the horse industry has a $102 outside interest) than billion impact on the U.S. economy, and the horse industry pays $1.9 billion in we currently have. taxes. Is the American Horse Council — Dick Adams Roxann Hart, Orange Lake, lobbying the federal government to provide Florida: for our industry? I think it’s something I was impressed with Arabian Horse World’s August issue our breed association, joining with other breed groups, could article by Bruce Johnson, “Where Have All the Arabians Gone?” lobby for. If we look at all the things farmers receive from the It was a comprehensive overview, incredibly well done and well government … if we became a unified group, who knows what researched. The follow-up comments in the September issue we could accomplish. were wonderful as well.

I’d be interested to hear from anyone who would like to There is an angle I would like to discuss concerning the explore this idea with me. horse industry as a whole. We live in Marion County, Florida, the horse capital of the world. We have more horses here than in Karen Page, Lawton, Oklahoma: Louisville, Kentucky. We have a lot of breeds of horses here and We need to take the Arabian horse back to the backyards every one has declined. In talking with feed companies, I learned and 4-H kids. I specialize in family horses because that’s the only that in the last two years we’ve lost 50 percent of our horse way the Arabian is going to survive long term. I grew up riding population. It’s just becoming too costly to own horses.

Arabians and Half-Arabians. They are family horses, not the This year we are losing so many of our tax incentives that ding-a-lings that some have branded them. We can’t prove this

The concept of

Arabians in a “zoo-

If we want to attract new people we need to breed horses with good minds that can work and be safe. If everyone who owns a breeding horse would ride that horse in a tense situation they would soon make a decision to breed safer horses. — John Jacobs Roxann Hart 40 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ OCTOBER 2012

41 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b OctOBER 2012

ARABIAN HORSE WORLD PRESENTS:

WHERE HAVE ALL THE ARABIANS Arabian Horse World has published numerous features addressing the status of the Arabian breed globally over the past year. In the September issue, we heard from you in “Where Have All the Arabians Gone — Your Turn” (page 130), readers’ responses to Bruce Johnson’s article “Where Have All the Arabians Gone?” published in the August issue (page 8). The letters kept coming, so this month we’ve published more of your responses.

We at Arabian Horse World recognize the passion, focus, and urgency required by this moment in time, and we’d like to do our part to facilitate real action and solutions. To help move from discussion to action, Arabian Horse World will sponsor “A Call to Action — A Forum to Discuss Real Solutions” on Wednesday, October 24, in Tulsa. It’s one step toward a better future. If you’ll be in Tulsa, join us.

Links to Bruce Johnson’s original article, and Part One of “Your Turn” can be found at www. arabianhorseworld.com.

John Jacobs, St. George, Utah: Thank you for inviting replies to the query about the decline in numbers of Arabian horse registrations (August 2012 issue, page 9). Jeff Spivey and I are getting old now. Even my own sons ride Quarter Horses. What a slam. It’s going to take some dedicated people to turn the situation around. There’s always going to be people with the wherewithal to sustain a big herd. But new people being attracted to the breed for a personal riding horse are not being born anymore. If we want to attract new people we need to breed horses with good minds that can work and be safe. If everyone who owns a breeding horse would ride that horse in a tense situation they would soon make a decision to breed safer horses. Of course, if those large breeders are only interested in walking on the ground alongside the horse they will never know what they have. In the few years I have left I am trying to improve my herd by testing each horse myself.

I’m not going to look for new blood so don’t anybody write and tell me where to get better horses. I am satisfied with my old blood. I want to invite all the breeders worldwide to join me behind the cows to see what kind of mind your horses have.

Well, Denise Hearst, you asked for it. Are you brave enough to put my challenge to the studs of Poland, the studs of the peninsula, the studs of the Nile, and yes, even Texas? While I’ve got you on the line I want to thank you for traveling all over the world and keeping us up to date on all the good people worldwide who are dedicated to the Arabian horse. It brings tears to my eyes every month, learning of all the good horses and dedicated people.

If we want to attract new people we need to breed horses with good minds that can work and be safe. If everyone who owns a breeding horse would ride that horse in a tense situation they would soon make a decision to breed safer horses. — John Jacobs

40 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ OCTOBER 2012

GONE? YOUR TURN Part II Dick Adams, Cave Creek, Arizona: Bruce Johnson’s article was very nicely written, yet the answer to the title is: They have gone nowhere! They are conveniently in the care of a disinterested society. As it is now, the concept of Arabians in a “zoo-animal status” just might prove to be more exposure (to outside interest) than we currently have.

Just how many zoos are there?

were beneficial to the farming industry. Up until this year, if you bought a new horse, you could write off that purchase price.

Arabians in a “zooEvery year, I always bought a new piece of animal status” just equipment. We got a tax incentive for that, but we also had to pay the sales tax. Well, might prove to be those incentives may be gone this year. more exposure (to According to the American Horse Council the horse industry has a $102 outside interest) than billion impact on the U.S. economy, and the horse industry pays $1.9 billion in we currently have. taxes. Is the American Horse Council — Dick Adams Roxann Hart, Orange Lake, lobbying the federal government to provide Florida: for our industry? I think it’s something I was impressed with Arabian Horse World’s August issue our breed association, joining with other breed groups, could article by Bruce Johnson, “Where Have All the Arabians Gone?” lobby for. If we look at all the things farmers receive from the It was a comprehensive overview, incredibly well done and well government … if we became a unified group, who knows what researched. The follow-up comments in the September issue we could accomplish. were wonderful as well.

I’d be interested to hear from anyone who would like to There is an angle I would like to discuss concerning the explore this idea with me. horse industry as a whole. We live in Marion County, Florida, the horse capital of the world. We have more horses here than in Karen Page, Lawton, Oklahoma: Louisville, Kentucky. We have a lot of breeds of horses here and We need to take the Arabian horse back to the backyards every one has declined. In talking with feed companies, I learned and 4-H kids. I specialize in family horses because that’s the only that in the last two years we’ve lost 50 percent of our horse way the Arabian is going to survive long term. I grew up riding population. It’s just becoming too costly to own horses.

Arabians and Half-Arabians. They are family horses, not the This year we are losing so many of our tax incentives that ding-a-lings that some have branded them. We can’t prove this

The concept of

Roxann Hart 41 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b OctOBER 2012

by the showring, all snort and blow, but we can prove it on the trail, over fences, and in 4-H and similar events. Find ways to reward breeders for breeding amateur and child-friendly horses.

Rewarding the high-strung and sometimes unridable show horses is killing the breed. Lets do a 180° on the haunches and head in a new direction. Head back to horses the entire family could ride. Horses that could go to a fun show and participate in every class — halter, English pleasure, western, trail, hunter under saddle, equitation classes, etc. Versatility used to be found in one horse. I know this because I rode those horses! Put the big bucks where the breed needs them — bringing in backyard owners, who have always been the backbone of the breed.

And trainers need to be willing to take on the backyard horses and give them a good start. We are suffering from a lack of trained horses. Every gelding I have that is green broke sells within 30 days because “nice, quiet riding horses” sell.

Finally, instead of having fewer, very high-prestige, highdollar shows, why not model after the AQHA shows? Have more, smaller shows. Two-day shows on the weekend that can be a great family outing. Smaller rewards at the grassroots level to encourage people to show more, not less. And make showing affordable to the middle class. Whether they are for retirees, or families with small kids, make Arabian activities fun and relaxed.

Life is stressful enough, riding horses shouldn’t be part of that stress!

In the last two years we’ve lost 50 percent of our [local] horse population. It’s just becoming too costly to own horses. — Roxann Hart

Linne Mackenzie 42 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ OCTOBER 2012

Ron Barnett, New Port Richey, Florida: There are some grassroots efforts the AHA can work on. I started out going to the shows (Tampa, Thanksgiving Show) for years until I experienced a transformation. I participated in my first combined driving event. I am the proud owner of Khatar Alee, a Khemosabi son out of a Bask* daughter. Pull up his Facebook page; he is awesome. The three elements of the sport, from dressage to the marathon, say so much for the total athlete and the partnership the horse and driver create. The Arabian Horse Association should be partnering with the American Driving Society. Don’t waste any more time.

Linne Mackenzie, Felton, California: I’ve been involved with the Arabian horse breed since I was just 17 years old. I’m 53 now and still own six Arabians and Half-Arabians. In the past, I was always in the show world.

One of my Half-Arabian mares, Good As Golde, boasts five National championships and too many Regional titles to count.

However, as I am now older and just want a nice horse to ride down the trail, I am having GDA Ribbon And Roses, her fouryear-old daughter by Magnum Psyche, trained as a trail horse by a local horseman who specializes in nice ranch and riding horses. I adored the trainer who rode Goldie to her many wins and love his training style and the horses it produces, but I am less enamored of the show world than I used to be. I want a horse I can take to local competition and events that is not only beautiful but displays good manners and is the type of horse I will be proud to say is an Arabian when I am asked. I am currently entering both Good As Golde as well as my other National Champion Half-Arabian Palomino Gelding Shine Time in our local fourth of July and Memorial Day parades all decked out in my vintage silver parade tack and getting a great response from both horse people and non horse people

look to the future. Where do we need to go alike. They are great ambassadors for our Every gelding I have from here? wonderful breed.

I can tell you from the vantage point In my little area of California, that is green broke of someone who works with the Georgia Arabians are considered playthings for sells within 30 days Equine Rescue League that a lot of Arabians the rich and famous — show horses of have gone to slaughter. In the mid-80s rather limited use — too hot and spooky because “nice, quiet, when classified ads were offering colts at and not user-friendly for the average one of the most famous Arabian farms in horse-loving family. I know what versatile riding horses” sell.

Scottsdale for $400 each with no mention and personable horses my Arabians are, — Karen Page of papers (to paraphrase), some colts were much more so than other breeds I have sold with papers to people who had a owned and ridden in the past. And at our perceived value of the Arabian and felt they mostly hunter-jumper barn where my could breed indiscriminately and still produce something to sell horses are boarded, there is an elderly purebred Arabian mare, for ten times what they paid. The factors so clearly outlined by Serenade, who has taught more young students to ride than Mr. Johnson regarding the end of cheap feed and the decrease can be counted. I wish horses like her could receive as much in rural lifestyles due to economic conditions sent scores of recognition as our National Champion show horses. Anyway, the descendants of these horses into an already flooded market I’m pretty proud of my “herd” and try to help promote the and demoted them to the status of grade horses. This has been Arabian breed in just small ways, such as the local shows, fairs devastating for some of us who would like to market Arabians to and parades. I’ve even had my Half-Arabian gelding work a broader market. We have an image problem. buffalo and give demonstrations, proving the Arabian can My idea is not new, as I have seen “Geldings Are Great,” also be a useful working horse as well as being nice to look at. promotional ideas and many others that try to find a market for Thanks again for considering my thoughts. the adorable foal that grew into a gelding that needed something to do. So here is my idea: sponsorship. A program could be Suzanne (Zan) Economopoulos, developed that would give a worthy child a horse (better than Atlanta, Georgia: raffling one off ), give a child lessons (give our trainers some Thank you for the editorial “Where Have All the Arabians work and boarding income), and give them the thrill of showing Gone?” in the August issue. As one of the many who have in a special class at the Youth Nationals or the Egyptian Event. owned, loved, and admired the Arabian horse for the better At the end of this time, these horses could be auctioned off to part of a lifetime, it didn’t come as a shock. In fact, I admit to put money back into the project. Promote a new generation of being one of those who likes to look back at “the old days” and Arabian horse lovers. I don’t have to make a case here for the recount my experiences when prices were high and classes were value the hard work and discipline of horse ownership gives to a full. Mr. Johnson makes a very compelling argument for the person’s life. need to be pragmatic. We do need to move beyond the past and

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Although it dates me terribly to say so — at the Egyptian Event this year, completely by accident, three of us confessed that we had grown up wanting to be Carol Chapman and own a horse like Pulque. Google it. And let me tell you, that was showmanship! In every sense of the word. There is a lot of appeal in a sport that lets you wear sequins or a cowboy hat — or both!

We need to return to the image of the Arabian horse as one that can make a great mount for anyone, doing anything, and put us back on a level playing field for midlevel sales. And I would like to see the starry eyes of a young trainer who would join the next generation of Arabian horse lovers who remembers when.

Pam Farly, Alamo, California: Reading the article “Where Have All the Arabians Gone?” in the August 2012 issue, I now understand why the Arabian horse industry is in decline. In order to solve a problem, you must first admit there is a problem, and until more people begin to speak out about the immorality and corruption of the Arabian horse industry it will never change.

Our family got our first Arabian horse when I was eleven years old. I have passed on my love of Arabian horses to my children, and we have participated in all aspects of the Arabian horse world. This year we are seriously contemplating dropping out of the Arabian show circuit. The show circuit is corrupt, and I think this is the main reason why the Arabian horse industry is in decline. I have to say I was shocked that the author did not touch on this aspect of the Arabian industry.

First of all, most horse trainers are judges; that would be OK if we had a majority of trainer/judges who thought of themselves as stewards of the industry. Unfortunately, most

44 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ OCTOBER 2012

trainer/judges trade ribbons for personal or financial gain. This large group of trainers, who are judges, think they have found a way to stay on top of their game. But the gig may be just about up — people are fed up with the games, and since the economy is full of unknowns, families are choosing to hang up their show clothes, and take off on the trails rather than spend thousands of dollars, and a weekend of frustration watching trainer/judges pick trainer/judges, and their clients.

That brings me to the second aspect of why the Arabian horse industry is “going away,” and that is the way our horses are expected to bridle and move — or not move. I have participated in the Arabian Horse Association’s judging school. There you are taught that picking an over-bridled western horse is not appropriate, and a judge should penalize western horses that are four-beating. I was also taught that hunter horses should be set up so their frame is longer, like a rectangle, and too much knee action should be penalized. A country English pleasure horse should not look like an English pleasure horse, and is not expected to have as much knee action ... you get the idea.

The Arabian Horse Association judging school says all the right things, but that is not what is happening in the show arena.

How do we fix this problem? Basically, trainers, judges, breeders, and leaders in the industry need to admit this is one of the reasons why the Arabian horse industry is in decline. This issue cannot be fixed by some bureaucrat demanding new rules and regulations. This is a moral problem. Trainers need to do less judging, and become mentors to the people and horses they are training. Stop playing the games because someday soon horse show secretaries will be planning shows where not one stall is taken. The trainers will just show up, tell each other how great they are, trot around the arena, collect their ribbons and go home.

event designed to provide camaraderie, Shelly Carn, Valley View, Interaction with an education, and exposure to the general Texas: public on a local level. Team with a I’ve had a “letter to the editor” Arabian horse can charity to help bring in non-horse on tap for months … at least since the owners, and provide everyone with an article you ran with comments about do much to enrich a enjoyable, user-friendly experience.

Ray LaCroix’s “Enough is Enough” Competitions that show off the letter. After last month’s article “Where life, and teach one’s versatility and cooperative spirit of our Have ...?” I’ve tried to condense my horses — natural horsemanship classes, thoughts and offer one solution that children responsibility walk-through trail/obstacle courses to might help. show that our yearlings and two-yearI hope that Arabian Horse World and relationship skills olds are easily handled, a ranch pleasure continues to address this topic and offer class where the only requirements a place where people can swap ideas, they will never learn beyond a saddle and bridle are boots, and ultimately move to action. Much a hat, jeans, and a long-sleeved is being said about the state of the from a video game. shirt, “fun” gymkhana-type classes, Arabian horse industry, and there is little and maybe even some more “fancy” evidence that the future of the breed — Shelly Carn classes on Friday and Saturday nights. is bright. Our industry has become so Elements such as these would go a long fragmented that it seems the overall way toward involving currently noncompeting horse owners as health of our breed is being sacrificed as each segment tries to well as interested observers from the general public. build its own base.

If we can offer Arabian horse breeders and owners the Looking at the registrations per owner statistics, it’s obvious good times they remember — with the addition of education that the heart of our industry is the small breeder. The one to and marketing opportunities in order to expand our ownership two foals-per-year breeders are the largest growth segment of base — they will come out to “play.” Horse ownership is our industry in terms of producing horses to be made available an expensive proposition, but it offers a benefit not readily to interested parties, and they have the most potential to bring available in America’s typical recreational activities — that of a others into our industry as their numbers provide the most reciprocal relationship with a nonjudgmental living being — contact with people outside the horse world. and no breed of horse is better suited in that capacity than the Being a small breeder myself, I’d love to see our Regional Arabian. People need to see that interaction with an Arabian shows turn into breeders’ celebrations or fairs. We don’t need horse can do much to enrich a life and teach one’s children regionals to qualify for nationals, and the infrastructure is responsibility and relationship skills they will never learn from already set up. Using the dates/facilities/resources already in a video game. place, bring Arabian horse breeders and owners together in an

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