I’m a fan of “real” QH blood in sport. It’s just not fashionable these day. Before the WB invasion, there were QH event horses (one went to the Olympics for Canada), and the Canadian Olympic jumper rider, Mac Cone, started his GP career on a QH. There are other examples. I’ve love to get the QH engine and catlike turning ability into a true American type of showjumper. Looking at conformation and way of going, I’m most impressed with roper bred horses. They seem, at least to my eye, to have more in the way of level or uphill build than many QHs who are purpose bred for other disciplines.
Indian Artbeat and Indian Artifacts are sport type QH’s and there are others here as well:
http://americanwarmblood.com/stallion-roster/activated-stallions/
Well … I and my friend were breeding QH & Paint for dressgae and jumping. Some were also WB crosses.
I had an AQHA & NFQHA stallion year ago who started my program and he now has 3 approved ISR/OLD daughters who have scored quite well in my opinion.
Khepri - 105 pts! A premium score is a reg. ApHC mare.
Safyre - 102 pts Appendix AQHA - Just has a Premium foal & Site Champion this year.
Montana - 102 pts QH cross
Unfortunately due to the market and since we are so small, we have both decide to retire from breeding.
My friend was using an Appendix stallion we bred who is a 1/2 sibling to the above mares.
Feel free to peek at our farms and our horses.
www.SafyreSporthorses.com
My friends
www.SilverSpringfarm.net
Thanks for the mention Monique!
My APHA mare Bella has done well in low-level dressage with VERY limited showing. She has the aptitude to do much more, but to be honest showing just isn’t really my thing. Our first and only year out we scored consistenly in the high 60’s through the 70’s. This was the first time either of us set foot (um, hoof) in a show ring. Bella had taken the previous year off to have a foal to boot.
http://silverspringfarm.net/bella_18_305532165.jpg
http://silverspringfarm.net/images/bella1.jpg
Here is a video of our very first show. We entered this on a whim and had not so much as practiced this test before:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nXAP3ijqmUw
Bella’s first foal by a Trakehner stallion was exported to Germany as a yearling:
http://silverspringfarm.net/sales_61_1477005514.jpg
http://silverspringfarm.net/sales_61_2596858276.jpg
Her new home: http://www.altmarkhof.com/e_index.html
Bella had a colt this spring and he is for sale. He will be THE definition of a versatile prospect. His name is Cielo and you can see him here along with his absolutely stunning paternal half-sister (who I have decided to keep.)
[QUOTE=vineyridge;6539344]
I’ve love to get the QH engine and catlike turning ability into a true American type of showjumper. Looking at conformation and way of going, I’m most impressed with roper bred horses. They seem, at least to my eye, to have more in the way of level or uphill build than many QHs who are purpose bred for other disciplines.[/QUOTE]
The problem is most of them are “stride challenged.” They have been bred for bursts of speed, and have trouble with certain distances that challenge a horse on today’s hunter and jumper courses. Shoulder and back end “construction” does not lend itself to scopyness or a long stride.
The ropers and reiners may have an “uphill” build, but I can’t imagine many of them have the ability to jump around anything more than a 3’ course set on a 12’ stride. And then, most of them have to hustle. They just don’t have the step. As has been mentioned on threads before, add an in-and-out and you’ve got trouble.
I dearly love QHs for their intelligence, willingness and heart. I’ve never, ever in my life had horses that could put up with a bunch of crap and do it with a smile on their face. But it’s super hard to find one that will suit the sporthorse disciplines.
