Who's on a Shagya?

[Chall]

I understood it to be mostly Arabian, but cross bred with other breeds.

[katie+tru]

One source I found said there is supposed to be Lippizanner blood in them. That's why other Arab owners do not consider them pure Arab, like the other lines.

[Beentheredonethat]

They are not Arabians in what we think of as Arabian. It's a completely different focus in breeding than what you would think of as traditional Arabian. There's nothing wrong with Arabians, just saying it's incorrect to call them Arabian, any more than TB's are Arabian, even though they descend from them. The traditional Arabian is breed for specific purposes, and you don't tend to see them as really nice jumpers or dressage horses (not insulting any at all!) The Shagya has been bred for centuries towards a different purpose. That's why when you see one you may think Arab or warmblood, because they don't look, move, and perform like what you would think an Arab.
http://www.shagya.net/shagyaarabianbreed.htm
http://www.sterlingshagyas.com/theshagya.html
http://www.shagyabreeders.com/photos/sirelines.html
http://performanceshagyaregistry.org...isashagya.html

I think a lot of Shagyas you could throw in a herd of warmbloods and not be able to tell the difference from them in size, look, or movement, though they may have a more refined head. I rode one at a show and had everyone asking what she was. She was very nice and impressive looking, but no one would have thought Shagya or Arabian.

I don't event, but if I did, I would certainly be really excited to look at a Shagya. They have the athletic ability and movement, but are tough, tough, tough and I get the impression that they really like to work. The "never give up" kind of horse. And as someone said, part of that is great feet and soundness.

[Shaytana]

You may have opened a can of worms so Ill throw in my two cents worth: Yes the Shagya is recognized under WAHO..the World Arabian Horse Organization. They are included in Arabian shows but with their own classes in Europe. However in North America ..thus far....CAHR and AHA do not allow them in their "Arabian" shows.

As to being "Arabian" my personal feeling and observation in pedigrees is that the Shagya may be as much Arabian - sometimes more - than some "purebred registered Arabians". There are special groups within purebred Arabians that promote the "pure" horse...such as "Al Khamsa' and "straight Egyptian" in which all lines must go back to desert bred bedouin horses. However within the purebred registry there are known impure horses , even some recognized Thoroughbreds etc...even a known Shagya in purebred Arabian pedigrees from Argentina. The amount of impure blood was deemed by WAHO to be so small that they did not warrant worldwide exclusion from the "purebred Arabian". So OX or purebred Arabian is not entirely "pure" (if anything really is)

Meanwhile the horse "Shagya" who the breed is named for was a desert bred pure Arabian. He and many other founding Arabian stallions (such as OBajan) were bred to other Arabians and also Arabian "rasse" or related horses...usually with a large amount of Arabian blood but either not pure or not authenticated as pure. So these Arabian and Arabian related horses founded the Shagya breed and purebred Arabians have always been used for crossing - the offspring accepted into the Shagya stud book. So in my opinion many Shagyas are as much Arabian as many "purebreds".

My Shagya IS 16 hands, but there are some Arabians that also reach this , although admittedly rare. Politiciann was a legit 16 hands and Magic Domino was also that tall and had been an approved stallion for Trakehner breeding.

So you will get those that insist the Shagya is a separate breed.......I think they are but from the beginning they originated from Arabians and have always included Arabian crosses. The greatest difference might be that the breeding goal was different. That is where the sport horse interest in similar - the production of good riding horses. The Halter classes are a great indication of the difference. The Shagya is shown as a calm , lowered head, disciplined horse and shown naturally. The purebred Arabian halter classes have become a joke with the shaved eyes and muzzles and half the mane missing, with ginger and other ridiculous aids being the norm. Many of the "world class' halter trainers whip these horses to a frenzy before entering the ring and continue the practice when the judge looks the other way. Altogether the scene results in people leaving disgusted and unimpressed with a horse that seems to be "useless" as a riding animal. This is often unfair, but that training gives the Arabian a bad name.
Unfortunately the "showy" and "typey" horse is preferred over the correct and calm horse with riding potential. Therefore the result leaves Arabian breeding behind as useful animals. Although there ARE Arabian breeders that focus on rideability. Unfortunately the ridiculous halter classes are the prestige events.

[Bensmom]

Me! I have one! Actually, mine is technically a Hungarian Felver, which is the registry for half Hungarian/Half Shagyas. Her dad is the amazing *Budapest, www.wineglassfarm.com -- and her mother is Hungarian Wineglass Sonoma, who is out of an arabian mare (shhh) and by the stallion Hungarian Bikaver.

My baby is going to be five in May -- fabulous feet, and is showing great talent for everything we've asked of her. Most fun, at least for me, is that she loves people enough that she'd rather hang out with the people than anything else (other than eat!).

She jumped a fallen tree just for fun at a gallop as a yearling and I was smitten!

Her breeder, Linda Rudolphi, has very, very nice horses. I cannot suggest them enough for sane, sound, lovely mounts

Now, what will she do? No idea yet. Right now, she's trail ridden, and mostly stands in the pasture and eats!

Libby & Razzy (H. Wineglass Shiraz)

[Shaytana]

and thats the beauty of the breed...they can be the sound sane family horse in the backyard with the athletic ability for endurance or eventing or dressage....and used as crosses can produce world class jumpers....and as someone said earlier, we can go trail riding and even do endurance barefoot !

[Napoles]

Roma ML is a successful event horse (up to ***W level) and is by a Shagya sire as far as I know.
Details here... http://www.eventingireland.com/horse...oma&order=&pg=

and here:
http://www.britisheventing.com/asp-n...?HorseId=82004

Here she is. Smashing little mare.
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/galle...2_itemId=17224

[NortheastSHG]

Thank you for posting the link to Roma ML!

I ride a young Shagya who is slated for eventing - a solid 16.1hh and large boned horse. Everyone asks me “what kind of horse is that” and most think it must be sort of warmblood x Arabian cross.

It’s definitely more common to find a Warmblood or Anglo with Shagya lines vs. a purebred Shagya in eventing here in the States…but I think this is due to the smaller population of the breed vs. anything else.

In EU Shagyas are more popular and regularly compete in cross-country, dressage and jumping.

One can find all sorts of info about the breed & specific horses on the internet - some I've found which present info & pics of Shagyas & Shagya-influenced horses bred for these disciplines are:

http://www.wr-sportaraber.de/wr-sportaraber.htm
Or
http://www.easpstamboek.nl

If you have time to browse - check out the "Shagya Links" listings on the following web site!

You’ll see plenty of information & examples of why you may want to consider riding a Shagya, too.

http://www.moellgaard.dk/English/index.htm

(P.S. This list above includes the Stud in Ireland which bred Roma ML :-)

[Foxtrot's]

Years ago I went to a relatively isolated farm and saw a horse that took my eye in a way that a horse rarely does. Upon enquiry it turned out to be a Shagyar.
It was the kind of horse that squeezes your heart - and to this day I regret not getting her.