Re: RC: Small Arabians

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 5/13/00 4:17:31 PM Pacific Daylight Time, TddWil@aol.com 
writes:

<< Does anyone out there breed for small arabs anymore. Like in the 13.2 to 
14.2 
 range. I ask because thats my personal preference, I'm 5'4" and a 
 featherweight, and kind of enjoy the 'large dog' arabs. My friend has a 
 little stallion, my geldings only 'fling' before the vet took his little 
 gems, and I just wondered how hard it would be to find a little mare(s) that 
 also had the right stuff to produce endurance type 'ponies'.  >>

Well, let me put it this way--when one breeds for old-time Arabian traits, 
one gets individuals in the classic range--with the average being around 
14:2.  Some are larger, some are smaller.  So if one uses quality and not 
height as a selector (ie doesn't "throw them away" because they are more or 
less than average height) one gets horses a hand (or sometimes more) either 
way of that average.  So in any classic program, you are apt to find a great 
many in the 14 to 14:2 range and the occasional smaller one, just as you will 
find a great many in the 14:2 to 15 range with the occasional larger one.  As 
I've said before--height should not be a selector in breeding, either for 
large OR small--but since large and small both happen, it should not be 
difficult for the individual rider to find large ones or small ones out there 
to suit his or her needs.  When one focuses on height as a selector in either 
extreme, there is a very real tendency to begin to alter the character of the 
breed in other ways.

Heidi