Breeding a hunter - stallion question

[Steve-and-Panda]

Hello! I’ve been lurking and reading here for a while and finally decided to come out of the shadows.

I’m going to breed my mare to hopefully get a nice enough hunter baby. She’s a 10 y.o. hunter currently doing 3’. She’s athletic and can do more, and will do more now that her rider lives at home again and they have some together time. I am breeding so I can have another one of her at least (she’s awesome and phenomenal brain!) but if I can improve croup and shoulder along the way, big plus.

I have two stallions at the top of my list at the moment, one is Dakota VDL (has multiple registry approvals and he’s by Cassall). From
what I’ve seen, he’s lovely and checks many, many boxes.

I’m trying to be diligent with my choice of stallion, and get as much info as I can before committing…

I’d love to see some of his babies and find out what they are like and what they do. What’s he like as a progenitor?

Anyone have any of Dakota’s get? Or can share what they know with me?

[JB]

What about her shoulder and croup do you want to change? Do you have a confo pic of her?

[Steve-and-Panda]

Hi JB, don’t have a picture handy but will post one later. Her croup is a bit sloping so I’d be looking to a stallion who tends to stamp hind end. I’m considering other boys too, of course, was just interested in that one particularly.
But even with that said, disposition is priority.

I’m in the US and prefer fresh to frozen, so if you have some ideas of jumping hunter-type stallions around NA worth looking into, please share!

[propspony]

He’s not quite as well known as some, but since he’s local I’ve seen him and been around quite a few of his progeny, and they all seem to have fantastic minds and a really nice jump, he’s had some do well in the hunters, and he definitely stamps them. lol.

also, he’s an absolute gentleman on the ground… which is a big bonus for me!

Picardo: by Parco out of a Cantour/Corofino mare.

Picardo Stud Services

[weixiao]

I looked through the horses registered with USEF with him listed as a sire and, while maybe I missed some (if you go to USEF horse search you can search by sire and check) I only saw one that was actively showing in the hunters at the moment. Doesn’t mean he isn’t a nice stallion and can’t produce a hunter, but there might be choices that would give you a stronger probability of producing a hunter vs a jumper. Since your mare is maiden and you don’t know what she will produce, you may want to consider a stallion more known for producing hunters.

That said, I do believe in going with your gut sometimes and you know your mare best. What is her breeding?

[SusanO]

There are several Holsteiner stallions that did the Grand Prix and Europe and then did Hunter Derbies here in the US. Ralando? was one and I can’t place the second one. Of course it all depends on how the bloodlines nick and I am sure not an expert on jumper bloodlines. There are also several top hunters these days by Lordanos. He is deceased but there are several sons standing and Dreamscape stands one of them along with Checkmate and some others.

[Steve-and-Panda]

Thank you for the feedback. She’s a 16.2hh Sir Sinclair out of xx mare, and registered in the KWPN studbook.

Has a great mind I’d like to keep (Dakota seems to be superb in that respect).

I’m considering some other stallions too - narrowed down to 3 others — and coming to realize that they all have great breeding and are all great horses — making a final choice hard! I’d just like to research more on what each of the stallions tends to stamp and go from there.

I wish I had more mares

[cristalle]

@Steve-and-Panda

She’s a 16.2hh Sir Sinclair out of xx mare,

Do you know her Thoroughbred breeding too?

[Steve-and-Panda]

Yes, she’s out of Miss O’Brightest xx by Cool Virginian xx (who’s by Icecapade xx). Miss O’Brightest is out of Significant Factor xx (by Key To Content xx). I knew Miss O’Brightest - she did hunters - and also had a wonderful temperament.

[cristalle]

Thank you, @Steve-and-Panda, what an interesting pedigree she has. Lovely.