what are the pros and cons of owning a arabian?

Arabians are a unique breed, it depends on the person for pros and cons. In general (and from personal experience), Arabians can be "flighty", have a high head carriage, have a tendency to take off, and can be difficult at times. It does depend on the horse, (many Arabians are bombproof!), but they are usually considered a more "hot blooded" horse. If you are a beginner or prefer a quiet horse, a quarter horse may suit you better. However, if you do like a more energetic horse that's more willing to go, then you would work well with an Arabian. Arabians are pretty versatile, they can do almost all disciplines (barrels, eventing, trails), but the thing they do best is endurance riding. They are not amazing jumpers but for low jumps they will do fine. As far as appearance goes, their springy movement, long manes, and dished faces catch the eye. Arabians also have longer lifespans and have strong feet, so they may not need shoes (mine doesn't). There aren't really any cons to them, it just depends on what you like. Hope you find the right horse!

Arabians are beautiful, and are usually sweet, fond of people and talented. Many are easy keepers, and very smart. They are not, however, usually a best choice for a first horse. Many are sensitive, and forward (or fast, or "hot"), and "smart" is not always a good thing for a first time horse owner.

Sometimes, stock horse breeds, or a cross are a good choice because they are intentionally bred for calmness and obedience.

Most important is the particular horse. Hot blooded breeds can have a calm horse, and calmer breeds can produce hot tempered idiots.