4 replies to this topic

[WindDancer Racing]

What is needed to make this happen?  Is there already a steeple chase for Arabians?  Would like to hear from everyone about this...Jack McGhee

[VanAlma]

Jack - I don't think there's anything like that currently, although would be interested to hear if there is. TB's and WB's have the market in big jumpers and Arabian owners, historically, have not jumped or competed on their horses out of the MR Arab shows for some time now. You might want to try International Arabians in Sport to see if anyone over there knows of any venues that do this for Arabians. Sharon Jackson would be a good resource, too.

[WindDancer Racing]

Thanks Kate...I see all these Arabians doing show jumping and don't understand why we don't have a steeple chase event here in the US...these courses for the TB's & WB's are only 3-4ft. high...this don't make any sense to me...I'm sure our horses could do that...I will contact Sharon on this matter...can you send me her contact info at my email address:skyworld93@gmail.com
Jack McGhee

[larapintavian]

Hi Jack, As far as I know there is no steeplechasing for Arabs.  Steeplechasing itself is a fairly 'rare' sport for any breed . I'm not sure, but I THINK most competitions are east of the Mississippi. Seems like it could be fun, although I'm not quite sure about jumping those fences at speed in a GROUP.

Chris got to do a steeplechase phase when she Evented MJM Nadezhda in a full, long format, Three Day Event at Nat. Young Riders Team Championships way back in '91. In those, each horse runs the course at speed, but INDIVIDUALLY, thus preventing the chance of a catasrophic 'pile-up' over a fence. Unfortunately, long-format Three Days are almost a thing of the past, at least at the top levels, since the Olympics went to the short format some time ago. There are a few long format Three Days held by USEA at the lower levels that people say are a great experience and really teaches one how to condition properly .... plus adding back the 'endurance' to the cross country section.

It's hard enough to get Arab owners to even train their horses PROPERLY for jumping ... even harder to find the right RIDER for each horse. Those who compete in open H/J and Eventing (even at the lower levels) are few and far between, and given very little recognition. Even so, we're so pleased that we got to do just that with good success (several of those horses being e-sired) ... now we're trying to find riders and get a couple of very promising (already well started) part breds into the hands of riders who can take them on in competition. Still hoping to raise an SE for this, but that will be an approximately 7 year process, lol. By then I'll be truely 'older' and Chris (in avatar on E-sired Anglo) no longer able to compete herself at the upper levels (age is catching her too)... but she's still able to train ours and compete the lower levels, as well as coach our riders (when we find the right one for each horse ... the pairing of horse and rider is very important, they must be extremely compatible and enjoy each other).

[WindDancer Racing]

I'm amazed that only 2 people out of this whole organization replied to this..but the cream of the crop always comes too the top...thanks so much for your replies..Sharon I'm going to give you a call..Jack