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Well I can chime in on this one as I have both tall and smaller arabs.  
Frankly I don't see what all the hoopla is, or difference either.  They are 
both horses, beautiful and athletic, with lots of heart and very loyal.

I do see however, my taller ones not being "as" agile as my smaller ones 
though.  With my taller ones it just seems as if it takes a little more 
effort do the same things;' and I'm talking from what I see them do while 
playing etc...  However, what I can argue is stride lengths.  It doesn't 
matter how tall a horse is to have a good stride.

Case in point; with my oldest daughters 21 y/o, 13'3 hand powerhouse, Miss 
Dolly.  She was lent to my youngest daughter while the oldest was in 
college. During that time period Dolly was used in Pony Club. While at camp 
one week at a camp for Cross Country Riding Dolly turned out to be the horse 
that out paced and out strided ALL the big horses that had been there. ALL 
of them!  TB's, WB.s..some really nice horses!

They were teaching the kids proper pacing and speed. Dolly intrigured them 
with her times which puzzled everybody so they really zeroed in on her and 
studied her.  They were stunned with he results.  It also showed up during 
the Dressage phases of training as well.  Her trot stride, and the way she 
used her rear end was awesome. She also looks very unassuming but she's 
quite tough. She was also strong enough to carry my husband at 230lbs on a 
trail ride. We only did that once, but she was in no way NOT able to carry 
him!! In fact she moved out so well it scared him a bit!  The were out for 3 
hours and did just fine.

I  ride both my small and tall ones. I actually feel like the taller ones 
feel more mechanical to me. But they all are different.  My little 
serafix/bask mare (granddaughter to Miss Dolly above) is like riding on a 
pillow!  Soooo comfy at all three gaits.  And today, watching her play and 
compete with my husbands big gelding in the pasture down the street!  What a 
treat! She blew the doors off him.  He tried to catch her and he couldn't.  
He ended up just giving up!  ahahahah..that was funny! She was running 
circles around him!

The only thing I get a little concerned about with the bigger ones is they 
tend to have more bulk to carry around (not fat, just more structure to 
them), and I've seen some with foot issues.  IE, Feet like QH's.  I've even 
heard the term "bred of out their feet".

I have no real knowledge if this is true, but I have seen one specific case 
first hand at my neighbors down the street. She has a very lovely, wonderful 
gelding, but he just has terrible feet.  She really has to work extra hard 
to keep shoes on him and to keep him sound.  He stands almost 16 hands, and 
a talented arab. Just gorgeous.  But then you look at his feet and there is 
really not much there to support that height.  So who knows.

I do however, remember something my vet told me a few years back while here 
giving vaccinations.  We discusssed small vs. larger arabs and he told me 
that personally, in his experience, specifically vetting the Tevis ride 
every year and being quite knowledgable about endurance as well, that he 
felt the smaller arabs were more capable in the canyons than the bigger 
ones.  He told me overall, by what he's personally seen, that they can just 
get in and out of the canyons in better shape on that ride.  He was speaking 
metabolically as well as soundness.

But who knows.  Bottom line, I think it really just boils down to what you 
want personally desire in a horse.  Smalll or large.  Whatever...  I do know 
from speaking to lots of veteran riders over the years, that things weren't 
trendy like they are now.  Horse size, hi-tech gagets, even conformation 
issues.  Lets also not forget some of the famous stallions and mares in our 
horses pedigrees.  Raffles was 13'3. Mirage...13'3, Wadduda???on and on.  
And the old desert horses?  What were their heights?  What made them great 
and tough?  Was size really an issue? Or was it heart? Was it the 
relationship or training with  their human partners?, was it conformation? 
Luck???? on and on...what qualities did the horses of the past have that 
made them desirable to carry on such traits in the future?  and what we look 
for now in pedigree's?? Think about it?  I haven't thus far seen much 
emphasis on size in there...

I'd like to also look at some Tevis stats, or any other big ride, as far as 
horse heights etc. Might be interesting.

I do know one thing though, much easier gettin on and off a smaller horse. 
I've had to learn where every rock, log, hillside, etc. is to get on my 
bigger horses. My legs just don't stretch well these days...:(((  And I 
recently had a pretty bad fall off my husbands big arab. I didn't enjoy 
falling that far onto the rock with my name on it!!  OUCHY!!!!!!!

cheers,
kathie



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