I just bought an arabian stallion. He hasn't yet been gelded, but I am starting on him for training. He is currently extremely stubborn with my groundwork training, but it might just be that I am so unexperienced with training. He is 2 years old, and very sweet. Not wild, but not tame. Training him to be good under the saddle will be a challenge I won't be able to uphold. I know a lot of you'll say 'Hire a professional trainer!' but my concern is the price.. that's my parents' concern as well. What are your thoughts?

First of all Arabians mature very slow and should not be ridden until they are at least 3 and then lightly. So at this point you should be working him in a round pen or arena only. Are you planning on gelding him? If so, it's time to do it. If you don't have good reason for keeping him as a stallion, then he should be gelded right away.

When I say good reason I mean that he is of exceptional breeding and/or you plan to begin a breeding program with him as your founding sire. And if he is not of near ideal temperament, I would think twice about keeping him intact. You want to pass on good temperament, as well as confirmation and style in a horse's progeny.

You might want to look at the Varian website to see what Sheila Varian says about stallions and their temperaments. The Ten Commandments (for breeding Arabians). When it comes to breeding Arabians and horse sense in general she is a goddess! (Notice, small "g"!)

Arabian stallions are not a cake walk, even for the experienced horse person, so think long and hard about your plans and abilities.

If you can't afford a trainer, then you need to buy books on training to assist you. I recommend Kelly Marks' book "Teach your Horse Perfect Manners" as she gives in depth help and guidance on groundwork which forms the basis for teaching your horse under saddle later.

Good luck - and be patient - don't rush.

Cheryl is right GELD him. Stallions are not anything to take lightly or play around with and he will be alot easier and happier as a gelding. Learning all you can is GREAT. But good horse trainers are born that way. They understand behaviors/instincts/actions-reactions. You should really try to get him the best start possible. Don't know your age but is there a local trainer that would be willing to apprentice you or a summer job. Take what you learn there don't be afraid to ask questions and apply that to your gelding at home. That way you have someone to speak with. The book will say to do this and the horse will do that. Don't know about you, but my horses can't read and sometimes come up with an answer only they will understand. What then.
Example- 1+1=Sunday

Love the 1+1 = Sunday... so true!