Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ouch! Sorry, I missed that... You were undoubtedly trying to use his neck as a pain reliever. ugh. Something I've done too. Mais ouie.

i love your paint

I have only read the first and last pages, which I apologize in advance if any of this is a repetition, however I have just a few comments. First of all, I know many people that love Arabians and I have seen some Arabs that are very athletic and versatile...HOWEVER, I have seen lots and lots of Arabs which appear to be good for nothing but looking pretty, which they do well. This is entirely a personal opinion, but I dont think I would ever own one. It isnt their fault of course. It is the breeding. Look at the shows, they have classes where they turn the horse loose in the arena and have the crowd applaud to judge its 'spirit' (ie. level of craziness and spookiness at noise and motion) I think that Arabs spend too much time moving up and down than extending and stretching. Arabs DO NOT make hunters, there might be one person out there that has seen one arab at a rated show that can challenge me (and yes I mean a serious hunter, not a local hunter show/4-H show hunter winner). I was at a B-rated show and watched an attractive pair walk in the arena for the Children's Hunter, a slender girl on a large white gray. The horse was very classy looking with a nice Thoroughbred head on it....and then it trotted. Declaring to the world that it was an Anglo. Needless to say they didnt place despite putting in a clean, controlled round. Arabs really arnt much for dressage horses either. Now they have SLIGHTLY more success in this arena than as a hunter, only because it is much easier for them to do the collected gaits. However you must also extend and work long and relaxed, not easy for most Arabs.

Now, my last point to make...I know that most of you that go to local shows or even a fair amount of rated shows have seen some nutty jumper riders. HOWEVER ::glare:: a real jumper is a disciplined, controlled rider that is far more accurate than a hunter rider because of the quick turns and angles necessary in the patterns. The horses must be able to use themselves and be completely responsive and athletic. While Arabians are no doubt athletic, their serial stargazing(def- head held really really really really high) keeps them from utilizing thier back end and makes their jump flat, which means legs hanging and rails down. So please, dont judge all jumpers as fast and loose riders.

Now all of that was observation and commentary. My solution to your situation is this. If you really really love this horse and think that you want to do hunters, by all means go for it. However you must realize the reality of your situation. Now as far as his head goes make sure that you arnt trying to use your hands to gain control of his head. Take him through the grids (my favorite is two ground rails to a cross rail, one stride to a veritical, two strides to an oxer and one stride to a vertical) on the buckle, just pick up contact to keep him straight through if necessary. Keep your seat back as he jumps, the slightest bump in the saddle will send that head right up and DO NOT ever even think about using your reins to brace yourself. Work him on the loosest rein possible with light half halts on alternating reins in accordance with the movement of his hind legs and push him to use himself more and more within each gait. If he canters off or gallops off just let him go a few strides and then bring him back and keep asking for the extension. In order for a horse to really stretch their legs out they MUST put their head down to align the vertebrea to bring their hind legs up under their body. Once he sees that he is free to use his head he will enjoy the freedom and really use himself and you can begin to pick up more and more contact but their is no telling how long it will take him to learn to do this. But thats what you have with Arabs xd