I have a wonderful WB mare that for no fault of her own will not be able to fulfill the competition goals I have. It’s not genetic or anything she could pass on to a foal, she just got a short straw in life.
She has a lovely conformation, is healthy, and most importantly, has one of the best personalities I have ever met. She is bombproof, easy to work with, is never mareish, and is calm as a cucumber.
I’ve decided I am going to breed her. I have picked a facility that I will send her to when she approaches her due date as I feel more comfortable with a professional operation that can watch her 24/7, and I have a good reproductive vet local to me. A friend of mine bred her mare a few years back and she gave me all of her contacts for the process.
But wow, are there a lot of stallion choices out there. She is a holsteiner but I don’t feel compelled to stay in the same registry.
In the stallion, I want a great brain and personality. That is my #1 requirement. This foal will stay with me so it must be ammy friendly. Momma is but I want to make sure the stallion is too. I would prefer a stallion who adds a bit of ‘bulk’ as my mare is a bit narrow through the shoulder. She is very well put together but the stallion should not be lacking in neck length and rump size as I would prefer a bit more of both of those in the foal. I also am short, I would prefer to foal to stay around mommas size of 16h.
I’ve seen some suggestions on here already, like Cunningham or Lotus T, but as I really don’t want to end up with a 17h horse I’m not sure either are appropriate. Suggestions?
She is WFFS n/n.
Crown Affair. He adds a little bulk but has great conformation himself so he passes that on. I have a Crown Affair gelding I am thrilled with. A puppy dog on the ground (I bred him for myself, like you are doing, so that was a must), and a smart one who enjoys being challenged and loves to jump. A bit lazy on the flat, but that’s fine with me.
I like him! Looks like he could add some bulk. He is a little tall though, so you know if he adds height?
It’s hard for me to say. My boy’s dam was by Rio Grande and both of her babies have been tall. Mine is about 16.1 right now at 4. The way mine is built, though, he doesn’t seem as tall as he is. The trainer says he is COMFY!!
Edited to add: His owner showed Crown Affair in the AO’s and John French rode him in derbies, so he was ammy friendly.
Lotus is very tall, and almost without exception passes that height on.
If your mare is 15 hands, ok, but much more and you’ll get a very tall horse.
Are you looking to produce a hunter?
Qredit will add bulk, won’t add a lot of height, and has twice been reserve hunter breeding sire of the year.
Hunter or jumper. I don’t care either way as I show and enjoy both. I have heard it can be difficult to breed a hunter since a lot is personality.
I like that he is a chestnut. I shouldn’t breed for color… but color is a bonus!
For consistently the greatest brain, ease to work with and moderate size,multi talent but absolute attractive elegant type Rubignon is still pretty unbeatable, He had an international dressage career as a Swedish team horse , loves to jump as well, www.eurequine.com Early booking discounts now !
I agree with Edgar that there are some great R line stallions that produce high rideability and great jump on jumper bred mares.
I have used Rubinus and like him a lot, nice jump in his motherline and has proven himself in the dressage and hunter ring. He is 16.3 but my mare was the same size as her mother ~16h. I think there is a reason you see a lot of R line horses in the hunters; great brain, good movers and jump well enough. I think an R line horse on a holsteiner mare is a nice cross.
If color is something that you are interested in (will pass spots 50/50% of time) I have a licensed Knabstrupper stallion who has a great personality and awesome temperament. He is 16.1h and chestnut leopard. If she is registered Holsteiner then foal will be eligible for Knabstrupper papers.
www.draumrhestaknabstruppers.com
His bloodlines https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/pyxis+av+drommarna
Prototype is reliably passing a wonderful amateur friendly temperament, good bone, a 10 jump and lots of chrome to top it off. www.emeska.com/prototype
My Westporte babies out of +/-16hh mares have been moderate size and have wonderful brains as well, though I wouldn’t say he added much substance.
I agree, would go with R-line. The added bonus being, not all R lines produce height - AFAIK, most don’t - but do your research! So if you are wanting correct and amateur friendly, there are a lot of R line stallions that are unbeatable in that regard.
Rubignon is a great suggestion. He is marketed primarily towards dressage horses, but his sire Rubenstein is the sire of several well-known hunter/jumper sires, like Rosenthal, Rascalino, and Rotspon. Rascalino will give you height, and is typey. Rotspon seems all over the board in height, but will improve bone and substance. Rosenthal is very common in H/J world.
Again, while primarily marketed towards dressage, the above stallions have many hunter jumpers on the ground.
I personally, am a big fan of the R-line in general.
Qredit gives you Rubenstein, too.
Curious what the injury was that side-lined her - and do you have a photo?
Sounds like you’re looking for a sire for Western disciplines?
You could look at Navarone. A+ for Ammy friendly offspring. Super jumper, good long neck. Not light but moderate size. 16-2 and not producing taller unless from a taller mare. He has produced offspring tops in all disciplines jumper, eventing, dressage and hunter. A super Jus de Pomme son.
