I love Arabans and I have them. Now down to three, I had 10, three of them I bred. I always had TB's, an occasional warmblood, a Haflinger mix. But I will always favour the Arabians. My three now are
one almost straight Egyptian, 15.3, 23 years old, good bone, not afraid of anything, and the only time he acts flighty is when he heads out to pasture for the first time in spring. But he will NEVER forget that there's me attached to the leadrope, so he's dancing and prancing, but all on a loose rope. Under saddle he's about bomb proof, and you can leeave him out in paddock for three years and after that saddle up and go without any problem whatsoever.
Number two is almost straight polish, 15.3 also, 17 years old, very good straight legs, a conformation to die for. He's a bit more "flighty",because he's been mistreated before I got him and has not forgotten it. But he's always aware of where any fiber of his body is and you can give him to a 3 year old kid to lead around, Also he'll be dancing and prancing, but he will never even try to pull on the rope or run into you or things like that.
The third one is a little Crabbet bred mare, as sweet as they come, typical girl. 13 years old. typical stocky Crabbet type. Ideal for Western Disciplines, which she does.
I usually take all three out together, even after some days in due to rain. We do go a bit faster than I would like, but they wait nicely to be freed, for their carrot, and then take off.
In my opinion, halter shows have ruined the breed. All is excess, the heads, the stance, the gaits. All that is judged is the beauty of the head, backs and legs are being forgotten. So they don't count as riding horses anymore .
I cannot speak for the states, only for Germany, since I'm German, and for Italy, since I live there. Show horses don't ride, riding horses don't show. The first ones lack substance, the second ones type. That is what people say and think,. And sometimes see. There are, thank God, exceptions. I'm being always asked where I got mine, they do look like real horses.
Maybe, sooner or later, breeders wake up and return to the Arabians who can do it all...not olympic level, o course, but all. And do it with style and beauty.
As for Haflingers...there are Arab Haflinger crosses, called Arabo-Haflinger. I used to ride one and enjoyed the heck out of it. But, as with any cross with two breeds so different, not always the best of both breeds comes out in a foal.
The attached pic is my last filly, Pekhasha, 2 months old on the pic
Ulrike