The Adaptable Arabian: Part I

We are celebrating the Adaptable Arabian as our September Breed of the Month on YourDressage!

We recently asked our community to share a photo of their favorite Arabian or Arabian cross, and the response was overwhelming! Check out part one of our Adaptable Arabian galleries below, and stay tuned for more galleries and stories dedicated to this breed.

Did you know that dressage riders who partner with a member of this ancient breed are eligible for special awards through the Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Awards program, as the Arabian Horse Association is a participating organization?

Jennifer Rodencal and I with our Purebred Arabians Trubadour and HF Its Miller Thyme+/! Nothing like a win shot with one of your besties! Photo by Highland Photography by Darcie. – Ashley Hoffman Riehle

My 6 year old Purebred Arabian Mare HF Its Miller Thyme+/ (Milly) and I won our first Region 10 Dressage Championship this year at our first ever show under saddle! Milly was rejected as a foal and as her breeder/owner/rider we have been through a lot together. So this moment was super special! Photo by Highland Photography by Darcie. – Ashley Hoffman Riehle

My purebred Arabian stallion, Enlightened ++++//. He has been my partner for the past 11 years. I have competed through I-1 and is the most fun horse I have ever had. Note: USDF strongly recommends protective headgear when mounted. – Kim Lacy

Just beginning our journey- both he and I learning a new discipline😊. We bred Zaim AEA and he is a straight Egyptian Arabian stallion! We tried many different styles but He picked dressage so I am learning a whole new discipline at 63! Photo by HLJ Images. – Allyson Burns Nutt

Eljomar the Amin ++/ Photo by Winslow Photography. – Bailey Black

MCLUVIN, 2007 Half Arab, competed in main ring until 2019 in English pleasure, country English pleasure, show hack and costume. At 18 years old he just competed at his first AHA regional championship in dressage and was training level reserve champion and first level champion. A heart of gold and a true show horse. He loves the show ring no matter what you ask him to do. – Cheryl Loeffler

My 7 year old purebred Arabian mare – MSU Sha La La💗 Photo by Rachel DeRose Photography. – Brianna Spellerberg

More of My 5 year old Great Django. The horse no one would buy lol so, I bought him as a baby because his personality stole the heart instantly. Im a tad obsessed

Groovin. 10x national champion and 3 or 4 x reserve national champion. Competed through i1 schooling the Grand Prix. National dressage pony cup champion for small horse division in fourth and psg. Not only winning on the arabian circuit but winning on the open circuit against warmbloods. Has been reserve champion at fourth level at USDF regionals. Several other placings in training level, third level and freestyle at USDF regionals. – Caitlin Heinz

My daughter and her purebred Arabian Kahili heading into the dressage court for their first show this past summer 🥰 – Corrie Chaffin

Midnight Sun CFA Arab/Saddlebred x. 12 year old gelding. Sunny is a wonderful heart horse who can excel in dressage and walk the beautiful trails. Photo by Jennifer Bechard Photography. – Diane Thorpe

This is my rescue Pstardust FTA (Hadji) studying for our training level test. He is expressive and willing and fun to ride. – Deana Tennill

Ar-raqis 14 yr old purebred stallion showing 3rd this year. Best minded horse I’ve sat on in 30 years of training💕 – Dee Packard

My Arabian mare Thee Summer Solstice she is 18 this year and just started on first level. She wasn’t started till 12 and has been an absolute joy to work with. She absolutely loves dressage and am looking forward to seeing her progress in it. Photo by Rosenheim Photography. – Elizabeth Ann Webster

EA A MAJOR ELAGENZ. Our PB gelding that has been started in Dressage the last couple years. Also, at Freestyle Farm

Atticus Rex PVF, In our first year as a showing team. Photo by Highland Photography by Darcie. – Gabi Siefkes

GF Bravado++/ 6 year old Swedish WB x Arab that competes at both AHA and USDF shows. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography. – Jennifer Bensen

GF Bravado++/ 6 year old Swedish WB x Arab that competes at both AHA and USDF shows. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography. – Jennifer Bensen

This is my purebred “little engine that could” gelding, Stargali++++//, with my trainer, Katherine Rich-Elzig. 2020 Unanimous National Champion 3rd level, Reserve National Champion 4th Level, and named Super Sport Horse of the show. 2025 Region Two Champion at 4th Level, Reserve Champion PSG. Debuting at Intermediate 1 this weekend! Photo by Brooke Louise Creative. – Joyce Alford

– Kari McClain

This is my half Arabian gelding Rohknroll all night+. I got him when he was 2 and he’s now 8. He’s is the most versatile horse I have ever had. Not only does he do dressage but also ranch riding, showmanship, and trail riding. This is the best horse I have ever owned with the best personality. So sweet and always wanting to know what your doing. Photo by Kim Cook. – Richelle Borninkhof

Lux Edition PA ++ my whole heart ❤️ Photo by Rachel DeRose. – Kayla Mayersky

Rohara Marc Twain ++++// Half Arabian. National Champion Halter and Trail horse. Last chapter is Western Dressage. Champion L1&L2 @ Region 4 Arabian Sport Horse Championship show. Photo by Steve Storm Photography – Kelly Waltos

My daughter and I winning and going reserve in the HA open Showhack. To see my daughter ride against many amazing professionals and only 15 at the time- I was so proud! Bay horse is Midknight Orkid++++// and Knights Silver Luna is the grey. – Lindsey O’Keefe

Zee Kahili dabbled in the dressage arena last year and earned two top tens in 4th classical and 2nd western dressage. At heart, he is a cow pony but he helped his classical rider come back from breast cancer and got her into the Arabian breed! She now owns a very promising young half Arabian debuting at SHN in a couple of weeks! – Lee Cary Chase

LL DARKH IMAGE++++// Owned by Nichole & Don Tuscher Stargazer Ranch. Bred by Darkh Horse Farms. The best boy!! A brilliant example of what a versatile Arabian should be. – Lisa Piccolotti

Lunacy, my half Arabian mare. We just celebrated 12 years together, I’ve had her since I was only 13 🩷 we have done everything from barrel racing to cross country together, now we kick it on trails and school low level dressage and working equitation 😊 Photo by Fire Rose Studios. – Maggie French

Great Django. 5 year old KWPN / Arabian! He is a big boy with the best mind. My heart horse who is not only proving to be an incredible dressage horse, but making a lot of memories with us as a family. He even did leadline with my son when he was just 4 years old. Trained by Erin Miles at Freestyle Farm

My gorgeous pure bred, Charlie (Jade Dragon) out of a halter bred Arabian mare Bella Jade BVA and by ZT Martwyn. Hes got an amazingly trainable brain and a fabulous personality ❤️ – Marianne Clare

Hucks Wild Annie.+// (Hucks Connection v x callaways laurel Annie) half saddlebred. Was champion in PSG atr, and 4th open. And Show Hack. She is is my heart horse. Little package with a huge heart. She is sitting out nationals and will be going to usdf regionals. – Maryann Laferriere

Maximiliiam JK. Half Oldenburg. 5yr old Will be at nationals this year. Photo by Ferrara Photography. – Maryann Laferriere

My absolutely angelic Half Arabian gelding JAG Kalico Kid+// out of JAG Silhouette. He is a two time National Champion, first time rider packer, beginner horse saint, schooled 4th level as well as trail ride, bareback, bridle-less or Bitless extraordinaire, and helped me earn my USDF Bronze Medal. He is 25-years-old this year! Photo by Don Stine Photography. – Megan Thomas

JAG Lady Pegasus & JAG Khasanova 💖 Photo by N. Smith Photography. – Megan Thomas

In 2014 with Half Arabian mare JAG Lady Pegasus+/ who is now 29. I showed her in her first show when she was 4 and I was 12. – Megan Thomas

My absolutely adorable, athletic, adventurous, assured 3/4 Arabian gelding JAG Khasanova also known as “Khody” 🦄💖 He is third generation bred and fourth generation owned by my mother, Kathy Gilker. I grew up riding and showing his Half Arabian dam JAG Lady Pegasus+/, who is now 29 and still going strong! – Megan Thomas

Uphoria is a half Arabian/KWPN cross, and is registered GOV, bred and owned by me! Uri is by the KWPN stallion UB40. He is a 5 time national champion in first and second level dressage, and has shown through third level (with a high score of 69.7 at third level), and assisted his first junior rider in obtaining her bronze medal. He is an absolute superstar, has amazing gaits, and loves to please! Photo by Winslow Photography. – Samantha C Werner

1/2 Arab 1/2 Oldenburg Bohemian Rhapshahdy+ (Bey Shah), SHN top 10 Young Horse Dressage, USEF Regional Champion, USDF All breeds award Champion, Region V Champion & Reserve Champ SHUS ATR, and many many more.

My now retired Arabian gelding, Biya Tequila. The best teacher I could have asked for! He is 28 years old now and we just do bareback rides for fun.

My 1/2 Arab mare True Serenity helped me achieve my bronze medal. She did it 90% with pure heart as she had very little other advantage! So proud to have achieved this on an Arab. The greatest breed!