Guide To The Arabian Horse Show

By Jennifer Loren, News On 6

TULSA, OK -- You probably know the Arabian Horse Show is in Tulsa beginning this week, but you may not know what an Arabian horse is and why it is such a big deal for Tulsa to have the show.

The News On 6 headed out to the fairgrounds to get some answers and found Arabians, and their people, are a rare breed.

The Arabian horse was introduced to mainstream America in 1979 with the release of the classic film, "The Black Stallion".

But their history goes back thousands of years, beginning in the deserts of the Middle East, their hard-earned stamina and intelligence making them perfect war horses.

They were bred for battle and trade for centuries, moving into Europe and America.

Those elite qualities still exist in today's Arabian champions.

"So many of their characteristics are because of the years and generations of breeding in the desert. They have a larger lung capacity. Their arched upright head is part of the classic Arabian horse type," said Kathie Hart of Afton, OK.

Tulsa courted the U.S. Arabian Horse Show away from other pastures in Kentucky and New Mexico and they'll be back for at least the next two years.

Each year the show should bring close to 8,000 people to Tulsa and 25 to 35 million dollars, not to mention 2,000 horses.

In fact there are so many horses in Tulsa for the horse show half of them are stored in the livestock complexes the other half all the way down a makeshift road in the QuikTrip Center.

The horses are stalled in close quarters, each one waiting for their turn to turn it up in various competitions.

"The level of quality will be the best here," said Chad Judy of Pittsburgh, PA.

They'll compete in dozens of competitions, lasting nine days; a crowd favorite is the native costume event. The horses and their riders wear Americanized versions of historic Middle Eastern garb.

"Oh yeah! A lot of people cheer. It's very exciting and lots of color," said Roseann Lobser of Labzara Riding School.

As if that's not enough the show ends with the crowning of this year's national champions.

Arabian horses will also be up for sale at the show, but they'll cost you. Some of the Arabians are owned by celebrities and cost millions of dollars each.