Breeding Program

Why did we decide to get into breeding?

I have spent countless hours studying conformation and using a basic understanding of biomechanics in my training practices, so I feel it was only natural to drift into the breeding industry.

With a passion in dressage, I dreamed of reaching the upper levels of the sport. But having other responsibilities in life, and not having the time and finances for an upper level caliber of horse, it was not going to be a reality. Slowly I drifted away from dressage feeling like there was no way I could advance beyond 2nd level with out the money for the kind of horse that could excel, and I began to resent my riding ideals.

I spent the past few years starting a half dozen youngsters of various breeds (half Fresian, Quarter and Paint horses, TB cross horses, grade horses, ponies) and started developing a true interest in how horses learn. Having experiences with many horses of different build and movement types, I began to develop a respect for 'the horse' and enjoyed the challenge of finding what that horse could be good at, but still semi-sticking to the classical ideals I learned earlier. True utility and versatility training using good methods.

Though I decided I wanted to breed, I had no idea WHAT I was going to bred. I only knew I wanted a useable , a fairly athletic horse with a good disposition. I wanted a 'canvas' worthy of applying good, solid training.

Why Arabians?

I know many people do not like Arabians.

In 2002 I acquired an Arabian mare I had known in FL for some years before my move to NC. I acquired her cheaply, and with the intention to pursue 'American Sport Pony' breeding. My first stallion ended up being a purebred Arabian, not because I went searching for that, but because he was standing stud locally, I sent a mare to be bred, and the owner put him up for sale so I purchased him. It had been a long time since I had any dealings with a breed registry, and suddenly I own two purebred Arabians. Filling out for both of their paperwork, I did a lot of research on the Arabian Registry, and their young 'Sport Horse' division. I also did a lot of research on Half Arabians, and what the registry has to offer these horse owners.

A few years prior I nearly purchased a young stallion that had been presented to the American Sport Pony Registry and had his temporary breeding license, and was excited about being involved with this niche. However over the years I have not seen the kind of growth, or shall I say support, for the breeders or the 'average owner' to benefit (of course before you send me an email, it has been just as many years since I've even looked at the organization). The Arabian registry became very appealing with the fact that they had a division for my preferred riding sports (dressage, jumping and showing youngstock or breeding stock in hand for an inspection type judging process), yet had classes for other sports that may encourage total family participation.

On a business level, I liked the fact the Arabian registry also accepts half Arabians, and has just as many classes for them as they do their purebred siblings! The Arabian registry offers a full range of classes, from saddle seat to western, to sport horse to working western (reining) and also driving. Though I don't want to follow trends or fads when breeding, it IS comforting on a business level to know there is a class for EVERYTHING. If I breed a mare to a stallion hoping for 'this type' of offspring, but the offspring falls short of those expectations (movement, general type or disposition) there is a riding discipline, and thus a career possibility, for that offspring you spent MONTHS in anticipation for.

I also came to the honest truth that I was NOT going to make it to the Olympic Team (in dressage) - no matter how many stars I wished upon. But, the greater horse owing population won't be making it there either. I decided that pure sport horse build and movement, such as the warmblood breeds exhibit, might be overkill for the 'average rider'. And who is the 'average rider'? Typically a woman or someone under 18 years of age, sometimes the family as a unit. After giving riding lessons (to mostly beginners, novice and amateurs) for over 16 years, I began to realize the 'average' horse owner will want a horse to have certain qualities;

• Good disposition
• Eye appeal (yes I said it, but when you work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, is it really that wrong to say "gee, I like a nice looking horse"??? for many average owners that fall in love with looks first, this is aspect of a horse has true market appeal - right or wrong!)
• The access to social opportunities that the Arabian Horse Association can offer

What a lot of them do not realize they also need are;

• Comfortable, sitable gaits
• Sound, working conformation

I will be honest, I was not always an Arab fan. Having a Quarter Horse point of view early in my riding career, I also believed that Arabians were crazy, hot horses. Let me tell you, friend, that statement is no more true than saying all Quarter Horses are kid safe, or that all Warmbloods are superior athletes!

I have attended several Arabian shows, a few of which had sport horse classes (unfortunately I missed out on the Sport Horse nationals the year they were on the East Coast). After taking my son to the Arabian Region 12 Youth Jamboree the summer of 2006, I was sold! Arabians and half Arabians were going to be the core of my breeding program.

Arabians, as a breed, do have short comings that can limit them in the Sport horse or even Working Western division. The typical 'table top' croup, cow hocks and over refined limbs in certain family lines can be an issue, and are not conformation traits desired of a sport horse. However, there are family lines that come close, and there are family lines that are still being bred to run as Arabian racing is alive in this country. This is also why I plan to produce half Arabians.

The Barnes Paddock breeding program is very young. I know I am going to breed half Arabians that are athletic, with sound conformation, and hopefully good dispositions (I don't think this is something you have much control over!). I look forward to finding quality Arabian mares, and breeding them to suitable stallions to produce a more 'sport horse' type animal that has the qualities I listed above - that can also be enjoyed on a 'family' level.

To the right you can click on the link to our breeding sub-sections to see where we are in that quest.

Please feel free to read through these articles if you still believe Arabians are crazy and not good for much other than snort & blow saddle seat horses or halter horses. You may be pleasantly surprised!