Spirited, elegant, and brimming with history, the Arabian horse has captured the hearts and imagination of horse lovers for centuries. This light horse breed is known for its endurance, presence, athleticism, and—of course—its exquisite beauty.
When discussing the Arabian’s gorgeous good looks, it seems logical to begin with the head. The Arabian’s delicate dished head is undeniably one of its most recognizable features, accentuated by flared nostrils and large eyes. The gracefully arched neck flows into a short back, and the tail is carried expressively. Arabians display a balance of strength and elegance.
And besides being beautiful, the Arabian is brilliantly versatile. Looking for a reliable and enthusiastic trail mount? Interested in pleasure driving? How about hunters, western, or dressage? Maybe you’d like to compete in showmanship or in-hand conformation classes, or you love endurance riding. Perhaps saddle seat is your thing.
Guess what? Arabians can do all of that—and then some!
But we don’t have to convince you that Arabians are awesome and intelligent equines—it’s easy to see the appeal. And many young riders feel the same, which is why the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) offers a wide variety of youth programs. Let’s take a closer look.
Opportunities with the Arabian Horse Youth Association
To start out, consider joining the Arabian Horse Youth Association (AHYA). You can then explore the available programs and see what looks most interesting to you. And don’t worry—you don’t need to own an Arabian horse to join or participate!
The AHYA hosts an in-person and virtual convention each year, which helps youth members learn important leadership skills, make new friends, and vote in elections. Maybe you’ll want to volunteer for one of the AHYA committees—also, youth members fill all the seats on the AHYA Board of Directors!
The AHYA Youth of the Year award is presented annually with a perpetual trophy and a $5,000 scholarship from the Arabian Horse Foundation. The AHA and the Arabian Horse Foundation also provide many other scholarships. There are lots of opportunities for students, so be sure to check them out.
If spending time in the show ring makes your heart sing, you’ll love taking part in AHA-sanctioned shows, including Regional and National Championships. In addition to all the regular performance classes that you’d expect to find, you can also participate in youth judging contests and hippology contests.
If you have friends who also love Arabians, you can form a team to participate in the Regional Youth Team Tournament and work together to earn points through your experiences in and out of the show ring.
Riding & Writing
The AHA Frequent Rider program is a great option if traveling to AHA-sanctioned shows isn’t possible. Just keep track of hours ridden (on the trail, at open shows, et cetera) and submit your log. This program is also open to adult competitors.
Love learning more about Arabians? Check out the AHA’s interactive map to see if there’s a Discovery Farm near you. Discovery Farms provide the opportunity to meet and interact with Arabian horses while asking questions and gaining insight on the breed from those with years of knowledge.
If you’re more interested in writing, you’ll want to check out the AHA’s monthly writing prompt on their website. Youth members are invited to use the prompt to write a short paragraph, story, or poem.
You’ll also want to check out the activities section of the AHA website, where you can access puzzles, games, coloring pages, recipes, and other freebies. You can join the fun on Instagram @arabianhorseyouth, where the AHYA features Senior Sundays (posts highlighting graduating senior youth members), tips, selfies, show info, and more.
Fast Facts About the Arabian Horse
- Arabians are usually between 14.1 and 15.3 hands.
- Compared to other horse breeds, Arabians have fewer lumbar vertebrae, tail vertebrae, and ribs.
- Arabians are typically found in bay, black, chestnut, and gray. White markings are sometimes seen.
- Arabian horses are considered to be among the “purest” horse breeds.
- Arabians have influenced the development of many other horse and pony breeds all over the world.
- The Arabian Horse Association, formerly called The Arabian Horse Club of America, was established in 1908.
Key Takeaway
The Arabian is the world’s oldest horse breed, and within the breed’s registry, a world of exciting equine adventures awaits! Through the Arabian Horse Youth Association, young riders and horse enthusiasts will find a plethora of opportunities to enjoy this historic breed.
This article about the Arabian horse appeared in the September/October 2023 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!
