Your Horse's Name, Age and Bloodline
Mhenshaar - 15 years old - Grandson of Khemosabi- Purebred.
I purchased him from my daughter after he fractured a cannon bone in a trailer accident. I was recovering from knee replacement and he'd suffered a mental breakdown after his accident. He no longer wanted to be ridden and in fact was hateful toward all humans. I needed physical rehabilitation and he needed someone with lots of time to dedicate to him. It was two years before he willingly allowed me to get on his back. I had owned and bred other Arabians. I'd had Arabian horses since I was a child. I'd not owned a horse for 15 years prior to Mhenshaar.
How Long Have You Owned & Where Did You Get Your Horse?
My daughter rode him western pleasure and had sent him to a trainer when she observed that he had never been as compliant with her as he'd been with his former owners. She had to be heavy handed to get him to be obedient. I'd always told her that he looked like a coiled spring ready to explode. While riding in a trailer he fell and fractured a cannon bone. After this injury Mhenshaar suffered a mental break down. He lost all confidence in humans if he'd ever had any. I knew no one would want him in that condition and so I purchased him from my daughter. I'd had two knee replacements in two years and needed physical rehabilitation. Mhenshaar became my reason to get out of bed in the morning. He'd become a horse that had no love for humans and in fact wanted to run over me every chance he got. Everyone at my new boarding facility thought I was crazy and fighting a very lost cause. I was the only one to see beyond his physical beauty. I knew he had just as much beauty on the inside and I set out to find it. I spent hours with him every day of the week. Many months doing nothing but hanging out and talking and touching. It would be two years before he would allow me to get on his back. When that day came he acted as though he were the one taking care of me. As time passed he showed me that he was a very highly trained horse. Western and English pleasure along with and to second level dressage. He was left with a small limp, but whenever he feels like doing any maneuver with difficulty above a lite jog I let him move as freely as he likes. He likes to impress me, but I make him keep it to a minimum.
Advice
- Arabian horses are sensitive, intelligent and loving individuals. They actually feel and think with their brains. If you're looking for a horse to ride once a week and put back in the stall you won't be happy with most Arabians. They become dull and sometimes unruly in those conditions. They desire and need a real relationship to be at their best. They don't just like their humans. They love them and look forward to work and play times with them. My horse would live in my house if I'd let him. He'd also like it if I would sleep in the barn.
What Is the Best Characteristic of Arabians?
Their affinity for and relationship with their human. Their high intelligence. Their classic beauty.
Is There a Challenging Aspect of Owning This Breed?
Getting past their reputation for HOTNESS. The Arabian spirit is nothing to be feared. We must teach them to channel that spirit into classical movement and then the rider must flow with them and enjoy that special ride.
Do You find This Breed Requires Any Special Care?
I don't believe it requires special care. I willingly give special care. He deserves it. He's royalty and he knows it.
In a nutshell my horse is...
a gift only God could bestow on us humans. He has taught me so much about myself and how I relate not only to him, but to humans as well. How well am I communicating? How genuine am I being? How deep is our love?
