How to Break Arabians

You have heard the expression, “As Stubborn as a Mule,” used repeatedly.  Arabian horses should not be forced to imitate the movements of a trained circus horse when breaking exercises begin. The horses become frustrated with rigid trainer demands and will resort to stubbornness. A gentle pat of encouragement coaxes Arabian horses to comply during breaking exercises. Screaming at the animals during breaking activities will result in negative reactions.

• Begin the process of breaking Arabian horses by consulting with a veterinarian to determine whether the horses' bone formation is adequate enough to withstand breaking exercises. An Arabian foal’s bone formation is typically quite tender. Bones of the young horses are not firmly fused as a strong skeleton capable of withstanding rigorous breaking physical exertion at this stage of growth.


• Observe the standard rule of not breaking your Arabian horses until they are approximately 3 years old to ensure that bones are properly formed and can resist fractures. Be mindful that Arabians have a thinner bone formation than other horses. Do not train these horses using weight-bearing saddles before the age of three as this is counterproductive.


• Prepare Arabian horses for breaking with gentleness. Build comfort levels between you and the horses. Begin breaking an Arabian using a fairly light saddle and bit, and gently lead the horse as you walk it over the training ground. Quicken the horse's pace slightly as it becomes comfortable while walking or trotting. Hitch the animal to its post and make sure that it is not restive before you walk away at the end of a breaking session.

Arabians experience increased muscle growth as they mature, and this aids the breaking process. Muscle strength helps the animals to achieve progress in training. Everyday training of Arabian horses is important as it establishes a routine activity for them. Use human gentleness to gain a horse's trust. The horse will in return demonstrate compliancy, a good attitude and even some eagerness to please the trainer. Pat the animal at the end of the exercise. Add a hug along with the pat or rub its nose. Reward the horse with a treat.