I own two Ara-Appys I bred and raised...one is 5 years old, gelding 15.1
hands and 1100 pounds. Tough as nails with a go to it attitude...perhaps one
of the best distance horses I have ever bred. Fearless, sure-footed, feet
and legs like iron and a solid bay-BEAUTIFUL!! He has a half sister (i bred
her as well) that is a year older and gangbusters on the 4 50's she has done
so far. She is 14.3 hands and solid as a rock. Great feet and legs again.
These were babies 12 & 13 out of a hardship registered Appaloosa mare (who
was definately an appy)...ALL of her babies, no matter what stallion she was
bred to (always an arab), have turned out to be GREAT distance horses.
Another sibling in the neighborhood stands 15.3 and is beautifully spotted.
There horses are GREAT distance prospects. John Baker in western PA breds
ara-appys and sells most to distance people...a lot of them are doing VERY
well.
Web Coleman in Vermont has a mare named Arabell (you guessed it- a
Belgiun-Arab Cross) who competed until the age of 20 doing MANY 100's very
successfully. She is now at Steve Rojek's farm as a retired broodmare...THESE
are the kinds of mares to breed...NOT the ones that don't make it.
I have an anglo-arab colt (2 1/2) that I have high hopes for, Both his sire
and dam got their Legion of Supreme Honor and Legion of Honor respectively ON
TRAIL!!! Every breed and cross has it's problems...it depends on what the
owner is willing to put up with and able to redirect into productivity.
Teddy