We are continuing to celebrate 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 three 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?
Entre Toi et Moi (Just Between You & Me) – I’ve had some great horses in my life, but Tango is super special as I trained and showed both his grand sire and his sire, and bred Tango specifically to be my dressage horse. He’s also the first horse that I have trained all the way to fourth level myself (with help from some amazing professionals, of course). While I still have aspirations of FEI with him, Tango will do anything else I ask if him – he does a little bit of jumping, we are playing around with working equitation, and next month he will be doing a demonstration in full native Arabian costume. – Trisha Louise Dingle
WH Marengo – “Tumbler”- was my once in a lifetime horse. I bred, delivered, and trained him, all the way to two National Top Ten Sport Horse Stallion titles. But he was also my biggest heartbreak – plagued with an undiagnosed digestive disorder his whole life, we had extreme ups and downs in both training and health, until I finally lost him too soon at the age of 18. But his legacy lives on in his son “Tango”, who really has become my 2nd “once in a lifetime horse”. Photo by The Summer House. – Trisha Louise Dingle
Love my Old/arab bred by me and out of my Oldenburg stallion Decoupage. Who I also bred. So a special breeding for me for sure. Best of both breeds! Competing at 4th level and talent to keep going!! – Tiffany Hattler
Anglo Arabian mare – The Lioness- known as “Elsa” (you have to be old to understand that stable name) is a been there -done that hunter jumper who in her late teens is now mentoring an 11 year old beginner rider in dressage. – Sue Wilson
My 3 year old HA gelding CV Dubl Smoking Guns and I at our first show under saddle together and my first ever Intro test scoring a 65.9%. We have a lot of fun together and he is FULL of personality. Im super excited for our future together. – Stephanie Ernst
FVF Mandarin Fizz. While this mare has only done western dressage (and dabbled in ranch, hunter under saddle, too!), she absolutely loves it. Photo by Highland Photography by Darcie. – Nicole Anne
Driving Dressage at CDE (Combined Driving Event) Circa 1980’s Bask grandson. 💙 -Paige Mccollum
The amazing CP Witching Hour + (Stella) owned by Sarahbell Kleinman has taught me so much in the last year and a half ❤ Here we are at Third Level last summer. We’re now working on the PSG. She’s truly a unicorn and a best friend. It’s been so fun to do both open USDF shows and Arabian shows together and meet new friends! Photo by AJSK Photography. – Sam Gioia
Miracle Max NKH purebred Arabian Training and First Level. – Serena Coley Doyal
Rowdi Magic Sundancer, started at 10 and I got my 1st level scores on her at her first recognized show. She also doubles as a school horse occasionally and has done a few CTRs. – Sherry Morse
FVF Seakhret Always++ and I! She’s a turbo Friesian! (Arabian and Friesian!) We have since switched to western dressage, but I sure miss those 2nd level days. Photo by Highland Photography by Darcie. – Nicole Anne
My adorable “Trumpet”, Trakehner/Arab cross, winning our USDF Silver Medal! – Naomi Parry
Windsong N Dance VT, purebred Arabian gelding. – Melanie Chang
Kathy Gilker and CA Destiny Gro+ just joined The Dressage Foundation Century Club! Kathy purchased seven year old CA Destiny Gro+ in 2004 to be Kathy’s daughter, Jessica’s, show horse for a few years before college. “Des” is a purebred Arabian and is the last progeny of her sire *Grojor. Photo by Custom Taylord Photography. – Megan Thomas
My beloved purebred Arabian mare, August Melody. I got her in 2003 as a 3 year old and we did breed show stuff for years and then switched to dressage when she was 10. I showed her through 4th level, schooled through I1, and earned my USDF Bronze medal with her. She’s now 25 and living the best life as a semi-retired/schoolmaster/trail horse/babysitter/ good influence to the other horses on my little farm. – Marielle Watson
Knights Silver Luna, Grand Prix half Arabian mare. Absolutely a unicorn and irreplaceable in every way. Will be competing with Christine Headley at this years SHN! – Lindsey O’Keefe
– Lisa Del Mundo
Major Shai my Grand Prix Arabian! Bought him as a unbroke 4 year old & trainer him all the way up myself. He’s all qualified for USDF championships in the Grand Prix this year & looking to do a freestyle next season! Photo by Tamara with the Camera. – Maddy Kent
Velvet Cyte+++ she does Working Equitation too. – Maren Cochran
This is my special boy, QH Eclipse. We’re currently showing 1st and 2nd level at open/USDF shows, and it is so much fun to proudly tell people that he’s a (big) purebred Arabian when I’m asked! I feel so lucky that he found his way into my life.- Marielle Watson
Sheldon aka Wasnt Me- half Arabian, dressage, western dressage, Trail, sport horse, all around best friend ❤️ – Lindsey O’Keefe
Aulways Out of Socks, 8 yo purebred gelding. We’ve been out for 3 years due to various injuries but are having a blast back in the show ring this year! Love this boy and our journey learning together. Photo by Steve Storm Photography. – Kim Dailey
Arabian and pony! ❤️ -Kelly Meade
My first homebred baby, Rewrite The Stars aka Iris. She’s showing training level and has shown once first level to prepare for the prospect class at sport horse nationals! She’s 3/4 Arabian 💜 she’s just getting started, and has a lot of baby moments, but we are extremely excited about her! – Katie Lauer
My friends Marielle Watson’s super pony (Arabian)25 years young and still can give me a run for my money. This multitalented lady has taught me a lot. Photo by Shawn Tinkham Photography. – Karen Teixeira
Prom Queen A, registered half Arab mare and 100% princess! We started our journey together this past winter and have really found our connection and vibe. Looking forward to showing (and winning) in the near future! ❤️ this girl is something special 🦄 – Elisabeth Juliana
VA Rico Suave! Arabian x Andalusian gelding. He does both English and western dressage as well as sport horse under saddle and show hack. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography. – Jamie Parker
Rebbel Yell ++++// multi National champion stallion. Amateur trained and managed and the best boy. Shown through 2nd level so far! – Jennifer Jones
My first homered baby! Rocking it in 1st level and hoping to move up and beyond. Interstellar +. Photo by Wendy Peterson Photography. – Jennifer Jones
8 year old Gatti Be Famous did his first dressage show in July and loved it. He rotates between being a therapy horse and a kid’s show horse and is the most joyful horse most people have ever met 💞 – Jill S – r
Starstruck Athena++++// half arabian mare with multiple National Championships she produced an incredible filly for me who is already a national champion herself and momma is now right back out in the show ring winning again doing what she loves. Photo by Bob Conklin Photography. – Diane Sherman
PR Maximus. 17yr old purebred Arabian showing at Training level. – Debbie McCullough Griffin
5 yr old mare Pandemonium KG. Half Arab, Half Dutch Harness horse. Currently showing Training level and schooling first level with several Regional wins. Photo by Brooke Louise Creative. – Debbie McCullough Griffin
My homebred Arabian stallion, FCF Oberons Vanity, is now retired due to a hock injury in the breeding shed, but he competed at USDF shows from when he was a young horse in DSHB classes and Materiale at Dressage at Devon to Intermediare II in USDF Region 8. He also did the 70 day Stallion Performance test in 2015 where he finished in 5th overall and was the the highest scoring and highest placing Arabian (or half-Arab) to ever do the SPT in North America. At the SPT he had very high interior scores with a 10 for character. When his trainer was injured and out of the saddle for several months, the Arab stallion was the horse she chose to get back on first due to his kindness and rideability. He typically had a light show schedule so did not always compete enough to qualify for USDF All Breeds, but he was the Arabian Intermediare I champion one year. – Dawn Jones Low
This is “Mocha” registered PL Cafe Au Lait is a half Arabian. She is out of a purebred Arabian polish Bask lineage mare PL Obsession. She is a game pony mare! Here she is competing in the new Children’s division at the 2025 NAYC a couple of weeks ago. Tomorrow she will compete in Dressage Seat Equitation 13 and under finals at Festival of Champions. – Circle 3 Dressage and Horsemanship at Forreal Farm
ES You Gotta Be Kiddin+++// ❤️ Earned all of my USDF medals with him as we worked our way up the levels learning together. – Cami Benway
Sharing my 4 year old Arabian Warmblood, Strawberry. She is 60 days under saddle and we did our first schooling show last weekend. She was a rock star! – Charlotte Graham
– Charlotte Graham
My 8 year old purebred Arabian gelding, Rain On Me+++// ❤️ He just started showing dressage this year after being a successful Hunter pleasure horse! He seems to love it! – Chelsea Wesson
Grand Prix 1/2 Arabian champion. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography. – Christine Georgia Betz
My purebred girl Tamar Ingenue (Jinny). Trained through I1 and an absolute sweetheart 💕with a lot of successful centerlines. – Audrey Barr Humphrey
My sweet boy is 7 and we are in the training level. He’s an amazing partner, and even if he does get “spooked” he comes right back and I can channel that adrenaline into him. He’s the best horse I have ever owned. I love him so much! – Arizona Kris
My very first recognized show, the weather took a turn for the worse. And what is funnier, we live in AZ and this was a rare end of January storm ⛈️ …the banners were horizontal, the rain drops were huge and the wind was just driving the rain, thunder and lightning ⚡️ the whole thing… and my Arab did a fantastic job and we got through it! – Arizona Kris
Half Arabian LMB Khant Touch This, 4yo in his first year of showing! Photo by Steve Storm Photography. – Amy Pike
Vulturi+++/ a purebred gelding who found his new groove in the sandbox after an unfulfilling try at hunter pleasure. Photo by Steve Storm Photography. – Amy Pike
Love my Arabians and half Arabians ❤️. – Alexandra Sullivan
[…] it! Not only am I a rider that doesn’t fit the sterotypical “rider” image, but I also ride Arabians, horses that aren’t the typical dressage mount choice. I enjoy riding everyday though, and trying […]