[QUOTE=RyTimMick;5961306]
Since things can easily be misunderstood on this forum, I would like to Clarify. I maybe shoud have done this in the first place. I like Coconut Grove XX. I have seen many of his offspring, and they were all athletic. The mares of these offspring were also. I follow what is done in Holstein, because they are best in my opinion. They do not breed to TB stallions to increase scope, or movement, or type. They breed to them for refinement, quickness, sensitivity, legs, and overall bloodedness. And they do it to produce breeding stock not sport horses. Its not to say that a good sport horse might not come out of it, but that isnât why they do it. They then take these well typed, athletic, refined, beautiful dams and breed with them. Some of the best breeding Holsteiners are half breds. Some times that is a Stallion.
So, I was not trying to make this about Coconut Grove xx, or TB over anything else. I asked why the ower of this Holsteiner mare was wanting to breed to a TB stallion, when this is not done frequently in Holstein. Almost everyone jumped in here without any knowledge of this mare, what her type is, what she needs, or how she breeds, yet a slew of TB names were thrown at her. I wanted to know why she wanted a TB stallion, because I wanted to know what she was aiming for. Again, as someone already stated, these halfbreds are traditionally bred for breeding stock in the future. If this wasnât her goal, maybe a TB isnât her best choice. I donât know. I would suspect neither does anyone else. Either which way I still feel it was right to ask why to help improve the dialog, and until I feel like most people understand the difference between refinement and modern I will continue to ask whyâŠ
Tim[/QUOTE]
This is well put. And Tim brings up a very, very good point which the OP might consider. This isnât slamming TBs! Quite the opposite. The point is, if the OP is wanting the TB because he/she is looking forwards to the generation beyond this next foal, i.e. generation #2 and the influence of blood, then there is a certain number of TBs which are very suitable for this purpose. Or if the OP wants a TB/WB X because this is what they like to personally ride, then this is also information we need to know because there is a difference as to what sort of TB stallion would be suggested. Some approved TB stallions are great for blood and their grandkids are the best representatives of what the stallion offered to the pedigree. Other TBs are better for more direct sport purposes. Define the purpose of your breeding direction and you will get more satisfactory results⊠as a BREEDER! And ultimately as a horse owner.
There are some award-winning breeders on this forum who have a world of information and sage advice. Because theyâve been through the school of hard knocks, made some awful mistakes, had their egos knocked down past the basement, learned how to make some better choices and now after years of learning their craft (and being a breeder is a CRAFT), they can pass along some very well-earned sage advice. Please, letâs just keep this in mind.
And it is true - the comment about the TBâs place being for the breeder, and not necessarily for the sport rider. TBâs have their place in breeding, but it is not usually to improve talent, although sometimes, yes, that happens. More likely it is to usually improve blood, sensitivity, etc., as Tim stated.
Tim breeds Holstein, I breed Hanoverian and Oldenburg, others on here breed KWPN. Most of us all use TBs judiciously in the breeding program. I have a young 1/2 TB-1/2 WB mare right now that Iâm looking forward to HER kids because this is where I will see the results of whether I made the right choice of TB one generation past. I think I did, but time will tell. If I end up having to âcullâ her from the breeding program, she is still a beautiful amateur horse for someone to have a lot of fun at the shows with. I said it in my first post up above - âif you are influxing AA or TB in a program, you are looking forward to generation 2 or 3 for the true results.â
So, points to ponder for the OP.
One anglo yearling won reserve at Scottsdale in hand (sport horse) over all (older horses too) score wise.
