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DISPELLING THE MYTH OF THE WILD AND CRAZY ARABIAN
HORSE!
by Diane Jones
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Windt im
Wald Farm
Crabbet-bred
Arabian and Arabian-Pinto Horses
Auburn
Township, Ohio 44023
www.wiwfarm.com
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 On
April 24, 2004, my husband Tom and I were proud to serve as
ambassadors of the Arabian breed as we participated in the
first Thompson FarmFest, held from 10-4 in Thompson
Township, Geauga County, Ohio. Tired of constantly being
reminded by experienced and inexperienced horsemen, alike,
that any horse with an ounce of Arabian blood has to be
wild, dangerous, and crazy, we set out to demonstrate that
Arabians are calm, trusting and trustworthy family horses.
We set ourselves up in a round pen located at Ledgemont High
School with inexpensive home-made props: cavalletti made
from PVC pipe, 2 vertical poles with concrete bases that we
constructed from more PVC pipe, a 10' X10' plastic tarp that
rustled and curled with the slightest breeze, a beat-up
plastic wading pool that made plenty of noise when one of us
or one of the horses stepped on it, and a loading whip with
a white plastic grocery bag tied to its end. From a card
table covered with a white cloth bearing our farm logo, we
gave away promotional material from AHA, including Arabian
horse pictures for kids to color, and our own farm flyer,
which included a brief history about us and a drawing I had
made of one of our Pinto-Arabian horses. Next to the drawing
was the same horse in the same pose in a color photograph so
that the kids would have a key to the colors they should use
to complete the picture.
As both children and adults approached, we gave our
demonstration with the aid of Supreme Tsamaz(HU Sohda Nohta
x Supreme Tsolitaire x Supreme Tsultan), our registered 3/4
Arabian mare, and WIW Royal Windsong (Royal Pride Rythm x
Cameo Windchime x Woodwind V), our purebred yearling filly.
We started the demonstration by trotting Windsong at the end
of a show lead whose chain never made contact with her jaw
or nose, and then setting her up to do a halter stance just
by turning to face her without the use of any whip. Once she
was in position we ran the whip with the plastic bag across
every part of her body, including her face, and she did not
flinch. Our point was to prove that Arabian horses are not
afraid of sudden noises or whips. Windsong also walked
calmly over the cavalletti, the plastic tarp, and across the
swimming pool. We allowed children to lead her around.
Then came Supreme Tsamaz's turn. Under saddle and using only
a bosal with web reins clipped to the center back of the
bosal (no bit), she walked calmly over and bent around the
cavalletti, walked over the tarp as the wind picked it up,
and walked inside the wading pool. Her riders included Tom,
me, a five-year old and several middle-aged folks. Everyone
showed obvious delight in being able to be successful with
horses with no previous horse-training skills.
Later in the morning I rode Supreme Tsamaz and Tom led
Windsong along Thompson's main street from Ledgement High
School to Thompson's main square, where vendors and visitors
alike were congregated. I waved from horseback while
motorcyclists came within eight feet of us. Windsong,
likewise, walked along the edge of a long, deep, open ditch,
ignored oncoming cars, trucks, and motorcycles and braved a
parking lot full of brand new, shiny Ford truck grills
without even a misstep or a flinch.
After we reached the square, we greeted visitors and
vendors, gave away more promotional material, let some of
the vendors ride Supreme Tsamaz, put more kids on Supreme
Tsamaz's back, and let Windsong make friends with dogs,
rabbits, and goats. We were crowded with visitors who
volunteered how enchanted they were with our beautiful,
GENTLE horses. Jo Ann Rokosky, one of the directors of the
Thompson FarmFest, and an avowed Quarter Horse fan,
announced from the microphone, "Tom and Diane Jones, from
Windt im Wald Farm, are here with their beautiful Arabian
horses. Arabian horses have often been stereotyped as wild
and flighty, but Tom and Diane are showing us otherwise."
We had a wonderful time at the Thompson FarmFest. We trust
that there are now many more folks who can give testimonials
about the loyalty and quiet good sense of the Arabian and
Half-Arabian horse. We look forward to being on hand for
next year's FarmFest with our Arabian horses. Sincere thanks
to the staff of AHA, who worked feverishly to make certain
that we would have the promotional materials to hand out at
FarmFest. Please know, AHA, that while our Arabian horses
did most of the promoting, we could not have pulled it off
without your prompt
assistance.
Sincerely,
Diane and Tom Jones
Windt im Wald Farm Arabians and Pintos
Auburn Township, Ohio 44023
www.wiwfarm.com
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Below are
photos from FarmFest. Please Click on the more
info link
under each photo to for a description and to enlarge the
photo
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