I appreciate your thorough responses. You have given much for food for thought. And since obsessing over horses is just about my favorite thing to do
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@Bodshi, I see what you mean. Even my half Arabs would seem like they floated over the ground when they trotted and it was comfortable to ride.
@Wally, I'm guessing those endurance Haflingers must have been of the lighter variety rather than drafty (I do hope that is not too stupid of a question)? If I won Best Conditioned on an endurance ride I would feel like my horse won the top prize available.
@Laura_107, an Arab x appy cross sounds interesting. I love a horse who has a ground covering walk and feels like he is really going somewhere. Is there somewhere I can go to see pictures of your guy?
I think I have been trying to veer away from Arabians because I lost my confidence somewhere along the way. They can be in a class of their own when it comes to energy level and sensitivity. Believe it or not, my lesson horse from the time I was about 10 years old was a white Arabian stallion. He was older when I began riding him (about 20), but he definitely remained a stallion throughout his life. He sired the two Arab x Walking horses I had. He was very special and magnificent. I have known a total of three Arabian stallions who were used as older children's lesson horses (not beginning riders of course). Two of them were used in mixed group lessons with mares and geldings, without problems.
After reading your posts I realized, thanks to my challenging little pony Rusty, I have much of my old confidence back. From riding him bareback I feel my balance is solid again. It is as if I had to re-find my seat and Rusty let me do that. I also realized I am riding and working with my equine on a more consistent basis than ever have before in my life (partly thanks to this site). I think I am getting ready to come home to Arabians, but will certainly consider Arab crosses on a case by case basis. I am almost in tears right now.
Just in case anyone is wondering. You may have noticed I have been caring for my pony on a shoestring budget. I took Rusty on as an emergency measure to keep him from being destroyed, since I already knew him and loved him from his previous home. It has been a valuable experience and we have learned so much together. It has forced me to stretch myself and push myself to figure things out many times. I wouldn't do it again because its a bad feeling trying to figure out what I would to do if he were to get hurt or something else expensive came up that I couldn't handle myself. So far we have been very lucky and I am thankful for that.
I won't get an additional horse until I can afford to have an emergency fund set up just for the horses. That is in the near future because nurses over here are getting good paying jobs within hours of applying for them. Of course Rusty will stay with me when I get another horse. He deserves it.