Hello,
I apologize in advance for my English - not a nativnÄ› speaker and living in EU.
The thing is - I have a 9 year old OTTB maiden mare that I would like to breed next year. I know the risks involved and all those monetary risk - in fact I acknowledge that I will just throw money down the drain. I just always wanted to breed a foal, I bred smaller animals, so I am somewhat experienced ať breeding at least.
My mare is okay - conformation wise, even vets say she is nearly perfectly built. Character wise, she is not a witch, has undying willingness to work, no spooks, no bucking, no looking around. She just needs to work, I often say she is a border collie.
I don’t need a foal with some sporting ability, just a horse for trail for an aging person. I am perfectly fine with exact replica of my mare, but I would prefer if the foal was a little less willing to all the running and generally little less hot. I would like to add more bones as well and would appretiate if the resulting horse wouldnt be another hard keeper, because man, the mare is driving me crazy with all the feed she needs to keep her looking good! I don’t need to add height, as the mare is 16 hands and I wouldnt mind if the horse was shorter, as long as it is over 14 hands, I am fine with it.
I was considering draft stallion, but I am afraid of increased risks during labour, and also it can go awry conformation wise. I was also considering gypsy vanner, or ranch line quarter horse, but I heard gypsies are stubborn and not cooperative, and rancher lines of QH are buckers, so nothing for me. Obvious choice of irish draught would produce taller horse than intended.
I don’t want any European warmblood either, as they are often hot and spooky.
Do you have any suggestions? Or should I just gicw up on that dream?
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In the UK a TB cross native pony is a popular one. The pony adds a bit of self preservation and cools the blood slightly and likely not to be very tall. Connie, Welsh, New Forest are common and a happy combination.
I’ve had and produced a couple of Welsh x Tb crosses as well as Connie x TB. All turned out to be sensible and athletic. The key for the success in my opinion was that both parents had great dispositions.
My first pony was a TB X Connemara cross. Actually, in shoes, he was technically a horse! :lol: While I’m sure a pony/horses disposition depends a lot on the parents, that pony was gold - could do anything and was my best friend. I’d definitely consider having another.
If you accept the risks, go for it. Happiest horse days of my life are the raising of the youngsters - could have one every year.
Quarter horses are not buckers - quiet, steady, willing.
An Appendix is a QHxTB and generally a marvellous horse.
Quarter horses can move ok, but a lot just pitter patter along with small steps and I do like a good moving horse.
Research them before saying ‘no’.
I had an Appendix quarter horse (had some TB in him) Best horse ever. Great mover. Willing, kind, never ever bucked, rarely spooked. Was not a border collie, but had a lot of get up and go in him and always willing to work. Had him for 23 lovely years. Get tears in my eyes thinking of him. Easy keeper. Wonderful mind. Training him was a joy. Considerate and kind. One time I was bent over, underneath him cleaning his sheath and a horse fly landed on his butt. All he did was swish his tail madly, didn’t move for fear of hurting me. Another time we were cantering up a hill and the cinch came loose. I started to slip to the side. He came to a dead stop while the saddle and I slid to the side and I hit the ground. Quarter horses are steady souls.
I bred my TB mare twice to a QH - no luck - and got a first time attempt with Royal Appearance. But while she is a wonderful mare, she is over 17 hands. Appendix are a registerable breed. Be aware, that in the QH advertising they often show videos of real slow pokes with mincing steps, yet when these same horses are at liberty they move quite normally.
I was also thinking of an Anglo Arab as they may be easier to find where the OP lives?
I know there are some QHs around in Europe, reining has gained a foothold there. Might be worth looking into that route.
You might also look at RID stallions, or ISH stallions. Depending where you are in the EU and his availability, you might look at Gortfree Hero. I have a horse by his sire, Castana, who is absolutely lovely, and I’m hearing good things about his offspring’s temperament. A RID/ISH would be a marketable cross with your TB mare as well, if you decided you wanted to sell in the future.
Connemara would also be an option, but be aware of which lines you choose because some can have some heat and be sharper. The same would apply to the ISH types too, though.
I have an ISH that I bred, too - but he is very big and big boned, although born broke and kind.
And thinking of the Anglo cross, Arabs do not jump with style - they can have their heads up and knees hanging down and jump like deer .
Appaloosa crosses make good solid citizens - and it is always good to try and produce a good horse in case down the line it has to be sold. But spots are not guaranteed, and they may be hard to find where you are.
Frankly, I am not the one to ask about Gypsy Vanners or half drafts as the thick necks are harder to make supple - for me, anyway. Fjords, Icelandics, the same. I do like a nice sporthorse type - kind, willing, good looking and nice mover
with some form over a fence. And you do not need a WB for that.
Since you asked, personally I’m against backyard breeding (as adorable as foals are) and think you would have little problem finding a wonderful horse that can do the job you want it to.
CONNEMARA!! 
The OP is potentially breeding for herself…she would not be called a back yard breeder where anything with a uterus or
set of gonads is put together. I have loved having my own homebreds and am very proud of my thoughtfully bred horses that I have ridden for my own showing and pleasure. The OP is free to make her own choices.
Thank you all for your input. I am planning to have a foal for myself, not for sale. Also not a backyard breeder, as I am boarding and I plan to move mare to a breeding farm for foaling. I want the foal to have the best possible care during growing up and then to have it broke under saddle by a professional trainer. I know that it is not for sure that I will end up with a horse suitable for me, if it is not for me, at least it will have a higher chance for having a good owner.
Sadly, no connemaras here, only by frozen semen. There are mostly warmloods available, plenty of western breeds (QH, PH, appaloosas), ponies (haflinger, gypsy vanner, sport pony, fjording), and some more exotic breeds (akhal teke, andalusian, friesan, arabian, berber). I want to have the best possible chance to have a suitable horse for me, and I will probably not want to do it again if it is a complete failure, so I want to choose carefully.
Freiberger. Compact, solid, Allrounder for many disciplines, good character.
Your mare is very lovely! I would strongly consider a QH or an Irish Draught. They are both known to cross well with thoroughbreds and produce level headed, workmanlike offspring.
In the past the authentic Gelderlander was crossing very well with TB.
https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/sport-horse-breeding/10445537-the-authentic-gelderlander-breed-is-retained
http://www.gelderlanderhorse.nl/english/revolution.htm
I wouldn’t write off WBs. Yes, some lines are very hot and spooky and a lot to manage, but some are lovely, quiet, and sane.
I would look instead for a stallion that has multiple offspring ridden and shown by amateurs. That will tell you a lot about the stallion’s ability to improve the mare and/or pass on a good temperament.
I don’t take “amateur friendly” for granted when it is part of the stallion listing - I research it and confirm it with people who actually own offspring. A SO’s version of amateur friendly can be very different than yours or mine.
I think you would have a hard time finding a non-WB with quantifiable results bred to TBs. So would cross off most of the pony breeds listed (except Connemara, that’s a very lovely cross when done right - not all I have seen have been ammy friendly though).
ISH and IDSH are not always a bid for good temperament; many of their lines are sharp and brave. So do your research… and let us know who you end up picking!
Agree with this completely ^ ^ ^ Unless you are willing to throw the dice, you will have a better chance of getting a foal with more predictable qualities by breeding to a sire with a similar phenotype, and who is known to cross well with TBs…
Are there any WBs who ship fresh cooled and are smaller, or tend to throw smaller - along with consistently throwing Ammy temperaments from a variety of mares?
Your mare is lovely :), but you might want want to look for a stallion who throws a better neck set and is more uphill. For that reason you might not want to choose a QH - though there are some Appendix QHs who are more “Thoroughbreddy” and lighter built, more uphill.
Best of luck, there really is nothing like breeding your own!
