The Appy is actually 3/4 Arabian. His pa got loose one night, broke down one fence and bred a purebred Arabian show mare thru another. Good horse, but he was spurred viciously by a cowboy while on a ranch about 5 years ago. Still has the scars on his sides, and he's none too fond of men. But he is great with my daughter - if she wants to fall, she'll have to work at it! Still, I'd prefer for her to keep her feet in the stirrups...something she doesn't view as important.
Here’s hopes & best wishes for a full back recovery. You know the saying: if you ride, you fall. I’ve had four broken arms & one concussion, all from getting tossed. All you can do is heal up and get back on.
Arab/Appy is a good mix. I had one myself. I never heard of a rider not wanting to keep her feet in the stirrups. That’s a new one for sure.
The inception of your Appy reminds me of the founding of the Thoroughbred line. The Earl of Godolphin was gifted w a prize Arab stud, which he despised for its smallness. He tried to partition it off, but the Arab jumped several fences in order to breed the Earl’s best racing mare. The Earl hated the offspring and tried to ignore it too. In due time, however, the half-Arab’s ability to outrun anything on four legs was duly noted, and so began one of the three lines to which every Thoroughbred traces its heritage.
I don’t think I’d admit to getting dumped by an arab. (after the age of 8 anyway)
But that’s just me...