For over 30 years Karamea Arabians bred quality Arabians that competed successfully in both Halter and Performance. The stud bred only, on average, three foals a year. So it is very gratifying to see so many of our horses performing with distinction, in the show arena in both halter and performance as well as on the endurance circuit. Over the years, a small number of outside mares had limited access to the stallions, mainly to El Kheir Galal.
All our foals were handled from birth so that they got used to being around people. Also they were very easy to teach at this age and learnt quickly. Once they were weaned they would spend a month to 6 weeks going into stables at night so that they learnt to eat hard feed and drink from buckets; all part of their ongoing education. The horses were raised on rolling hills, which is excellent for their legs and joints as well as their balance.
A good temperament was very important to us as it is so much easier to work with a co-operative horse than it is with one that is always in opposition. Our mares were all confident and comfortable around us which is especially helpful because we handled their foals from such a young age. The stallions, whilst they were more bouncy than the mares, were still quite manageable.