Specializing in Russian & Polish Arabians

for Reining, Working Western, Dressage, Sport Horse, and Endurance

INDEX

 

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*** See Our Sales List of Purebred Arabians and Half-Arabians

Leslie Hammel-Turk

 

• Riding Philosophy

 

• Training

 

• Clinics and Instruction

Turk Arabians

 

• Breeding

 

• Our Horses

 

• Sales List

 

Directions to Ranch

 

 

 

 

 



TURK ARABIANS

Arabians of Russian bloodlines are greatly appreciated for their movement, the “Russian Trot”, which is present in most Russian horses.  They are known for solid legs and fabulous body structure.  The Russian and Polish lines share many of the same foundation horses, so they are an excellent cross.  At Turk Arabians, our breeding stock includes many of the greats of Russian and Polish lines; Mammona, Priboj, Menes, Ptashka, Kann, and Amurath Sahib to name a few.  Our sires are of the Kann and Bairactar lines.

 

Turk Arabians is dedicated to producing high quality performance Arabians. With that objective, Turk Arabians promotes Leslie's philosophies of breeding, training, and riding that are important in creating excellent, athletic horses.

 

Our approach is to rely on an in-house breeding program that furnishes individuals with characteristics suitable for advanced training and riding. These horses are then introduced into Leslie Hammel-Turk's sophisticated programs of schooling and fitness with an emphasis on high-level training for reining.

 

Why Arabians?

While all breeds have their strengths and weaknesses, we have focused our breeding program on the Arabian because of their versatility and athletic ability, intelligence, and people-oriented personality.  A good summary description of the history and characteristics of the Arabian Horse can be found at the Wikipedia web site (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_horse), some of which is excerpted here:

 

"The Arabian horse is classified among the "hot-blooded" breeds, a category that also includes other refined horses bred for speed, such as the Thoroughbred.  The Arabian is quick to learn, alert to its surroundings, and is very willing to please humans.  The modern Arabian is thought to be one of the most intelligent of all horses.  This is both the greatest strength and the greatest weakness of the breed, as these horses require intelligent handlers who do not resort to force, brutality, or mindless repetition in training.  Arabian horses are sometimes compared to dog breeds such as the Border Collie who, likewise, are sensitive, have a strong spirit, and do not tolerate rough treatment.

 

Because of its naturally kind, people-focused disposition, the Arabian is one of the few breeds where the United States Equestrian Federation allows children to exhibit stallions in show ring classes limited to riders under 18.  On the other hand, Arabians are also sensitive horses that some people consider high-strung and therefore difficult to manage.  In many cases, bad behavior is frequently the result of abusive, inconsistent or incompetent handling on the part of humans.    Unfortunately, some show ring trends that emphasize the flash and spirit of the Arabian horse over its disposition and soundness have also served to increase the reputation of the Arabian as a high-strung animal, and thus given the breed a poor public image.

 

In Western riding events, such as cutting and reining where breeds such as the quarter horse dominate, Arabians are sometimes criticized for not having powerful enough hindquarters for the abrupt stops and starts required of top competitors.  Nonetheless, when given proper training, some Arabians have excelled in these events.  The best known example was the Arabians mare Rontenza, who defeated 50 horses of all breeds to win the 1961 Reined Cow Horse Championship at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, CA. "

 

The attributes described here apply to all of our Arabians, but are best exemplified in our stallion Arsenal, who competes at a very high level, yet also happily provides riding lessons for beginners.

BREEDING

Over many centuries man has been selectively breeding horses for a variety of activities, such as riding, racing, driving, and pulling. The human breeders should carefully select for specific conformation characteristics, so that the horse can optimally perform each task. The preferred differences can be large or small, but all working horse activities require a "powerful motor" or rear-end that must have a correctly placed sacro-lumbar joint (the last functioning joint of the back in front of the pelvis). Among riding horses, various riding styles may emphasize slight differences in conformation, but all riding horses will benefit from being 'built uphill', where the withers are taller than the highest point of the croup.

Breeding Goals The goal of our breeding program is to produce riding horses that are sensible, responsive, nimble and powerful - at home, on the trail, as well as in the arena. The conformation type for these horses is exemplified by the high level reining horse that has a long powerful pelvis, a short strong back and a laid back shoulder. In addition, correct legs where the knee and hock are placed low serves to increase the power generated in the body. Fine examples of horses with these characteristics are seen in these photographs. Not only are these high level reining horses developed for sale, many of these horses have the genotypic and phenotypic strength to go on to be outstanding producers of future winners.

Evaluating Our Program To measure the success of our breeding program, we feel that it is important to provide difficult tests for the breeding stock and offspring. At Turk Arabians, the horses are exhibited in reining and used as riding and pack horses in the mountains. In competitive reining, the maneuvers are physically and mentally demanding, thereby stressing the structure of the animals and their durability under prolonged training and showing. Packing and trail riding challenge the horses' endurance and tractability for tolerating the variety of different situations that can always be expected around the next bend.

To schedule a visit to the ranch, or for information on demonstrations, showings, or other activities, please call 505-454-8073.

OUR HORSES

Following are some of the horses that represent our breeding program. Click each picture to see more photos at a higher resolution (these pages can be large, so please be patient).

Stallions (stud services, including transported semen, are available)

 

 

Arsenal CAHR (*Arpan x Navitra)

 

Palo Flechado (*Nariadni x *Provodka)

 

Partene (Palo Flechado x Pewtere)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prospecktor (Arsenal x *Provodka)

 

 

 

 

Mares

 

 

*Vienna MBF (*Menes x *Pustinia)

 

*Provodka (Nadejni x Protalina)

 

*Minuet (Nadejni x Minutka)

 

Offspring

 

 

By Arsenal

 

By Palo Flechado

 

By Other Stallions



 

 

 

 

For more information, we can be reached at:

Leslie Hammel-Turk

Turk Arabians

P.O. Box 1366

Las Vegas, New Mexico 87701

505-454-8073

turkarabians@aol.com