If you want to do well in the show ring, you need a horse or pony who not only ticks all the boxes for conformation, movement and manners but also has an extra sparkle. That’s why Arabs have a head start and why many owners won’t settle for anything else
At international level, purebred in-hand Arab show horses are probably the most valuable in
the showing discipline and a horse who does well at the Arab World Championships in Paris will command a telephone number price tag. But another beauty of the breed is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy and be successful in the show ring, whether you’re aiming for
the ridden finals at the Horse of the Year Show, in-hand classes at the British National Championships, or showing an Anglo or part-bred.
An Anglo-Arab has only Arab and TB blood, though the rules for the Cherif Championships – the UK annual show open only to ridden Anglos and part-breds – say it doesn’t have to carry a minimum percentage of Arab blood to be shown. A part-bred is a cross between an Arab, Anglo or part-bred and any other breed. To be registered with the AHS, it must have a minimum of 12.5 percent Arab blood.
Purebred Arabs are shown only in breed classes. Anglos and part-breds are often
shown in standard show classes affiliated to the British Show Horse Association and are usually seen in riding horse, hack and intermediate classes. There are also many ponies with Arab blood who are fantastically successful, especially in show pony classes but also in show hunter pony and working hunter pony classes.
Find out more in the current issue of Horse Deals, out in shops today...