As you all know I have made my way down to Arizona, settled in and found a new job teaching horseback riding lessons. B has been rocking it at flight school, and Turbo is doing so well its like he never left his home state.

However, before that all happened we were still in chaos mode and I was applying to jobs left and right hoping for a step up from my last position. I immediately found Royal Arabians, and I did some digging.

They are a 3 location based program, most in Arizona though obviously. They are a halter, breeding, performance and sales barn founded by two Arabian horse lovers, Cindy McGown and Mark Davis. They have a small group, but they are one heck of a team. While focused on their jobs and the later goal of show season, the team and owners stand by their mission statement posted on their website, included below for you all to read.

“It’s our passion to breed the best attributes of the Arabian Horse, by breeding the best examples of the Arabian breed available today.  We believe the Arabian Horse’s we breed should not only be beautiful, with a distinctive, refined head shape, alert expression, and beautiful eyes, but should demonstrate the athletic, speed, and endurance qualities of the breed that make it one of the most popular breeds in the world today.  With a long history of having close human relationships the high-spirited Arabian horse should not only be beautiful, but should also be good natured, quick to learn and willing to please.

At Royal Arabians, it’s our mission to breed the best examples of the Arabian horse, and to provide a home for them to flourish and grow to their maximum potential.  Our breeding program ensures both beauty and athleticism by breeding some of the best examples of both Halter and Performance Arabian Horses available in the world today.”

While I had minimal experience with Arabians, or showing in general, they were very welcoming and willing to add me to their team. They showed me the ropes of show life outside of the show venue, and gave me a small but meaningful taste of working student life, but for pay. I learned the great skill of polo wrapping, and a few other tricks of the trade with Arabians. Ultimately, I didn’t think it would be a good fit just because of how demanding the job was schedule wise, so I decided to take another job offer.

Even though I decided to go elsewhere, I hope they took my offer to heart if we cross paths again later down the line. I think I would learn a lot, and showing at Scottsdale would be a top tier experience much like Winter Equestrian Festival would be.

The performance location is in Rio Verde AZ, and its gorgeous. While I won’t share the stable set up since I have a photo, I will share a video link to the facility posted by the Royal Arabians team. They have a life size mare and foal statue at the front of the barn, nearly 50 horses in perfectly manicured stalls and turn outs, and state of the art equipment around pastures to keep these horses looking and feeling phenomenal.

One of my first trail rides was on a fleabitten grey Arabian mare and I was terrified according to my Mom, and of course Capone who we know very well here on Grey2Bay. I would love to say I learned all I needed to know about the breed through leasing him, but I had a reality check at Royal Arabians.

I can’t wait to see them at Scottsdale, until then enjoy this post!!