POINT OF VIEW  by  Carmel Rowley

Originally written for the Arabian Horse Express August-September 2003 Vink Publishing

There are many aspects about being an Arabian horse breeder that makes you wonder about your sanity. Sane or insane a basic life philosophy tells us ‘what you put into life, you get back’. This viewpoint can also be applied to many of the different avenues associated with breeding Arabian horses. From personal experience I know all breeders put enormous effort into learning about their chosen breed, pedigrees, conformation, preparing horses for the show ring, training as well as a multitude of other horse associated tasks.

This dedication indicates how focused breeders remain while on the road to success. This is why it’s an interesting exercise to ask people why they have chosen to breed Arabian horses. Sometimes the response is slow and thoughtful but on further questioning often the enthusiasm and passion comes bubbling to the surface. Enthusiasm like hysteria is infectious, and in a perfect world when coupled with positive energy, happiness and Arabian horses it should be recipe for a blissful life! If only it was that easy! Continued positive energy, enthusiasm and happiness can be hard to conjure when associated with the tedious day to day hard work of operating a horse stud, plus for many, full time careers.

Where enthusiasm lifts the spirit and gives energy, patience can be sorely tested. Will I get a filly after three colts- this time? Which stallion is the ideal mating for a champion filly? Should I show my horses, should I ride my horses? Where did that conformation come from? There’s no substitute for good research, so learning about the pitfalls is as important as the accolades. Is it time to turn on that enthusiasm motor and begin to draw on basic energy – the kind that comes from natures beauty and the flow of creativity. Is it time to focus on the affirmative because if you concentrate on failure and disappointment that’s generally what you receive. It’s entirely up to the individual breeder to recognize life’s lessons and then strike out towards another opportunity.

How many breeders have stood beside their horses closed their eyes and looked at them through their fingertips? Tracing the small pointed ears, sliding down the broad forehead into the slight indent above the eye cage, cupping the eye and feeling it slowly close relaxed as eyelashes tickle your palm. Slide your fingertips around the large jowl then across and down the structure of the tear bone onto the velvet soft muzzle and finally around the nostrils. This exercise is perfect when everything feels just too hard, it immediately boosts the spirit and revives enthusiasm.

On this journey there are times that breeding the ideal Arabian horse can very nearly have breeders teetering on the edge of insanity, it is after all hard work, but when is anything worthwhile easy. If sanity can be retained and if the outside elements and inner peace be balanced with the spiritual, social, and the sheer physical beauty of the Arabian horse, its probably as close as anyone could get to the Garden of Eden.

Carmel with Simeon Sima and Simoonah Sihr 2010