Contender's influence in Aachen jump off

[Bayhawk]

[QUOTE=andy.smaga;7684402]
This is just my 2 cents, or food for thought.
Not so long ago the best stallions never competed, today the top stallions are top performers (at least 90%)
Do you think that broodmares can follow the same route if they have a decent temperaments, fertility, reasonable conformation, health and long term soundness. (we ask the same for a stallion)
Mares can be tested until they are 6y/o to confirm that they are better than average as a competitor. (don’t forget that today a mare can compete and breed at the same time, that wasn’t available some years ago)
Do you see this trend increasing in the future or do you think that knowing very well the maternal family is enough ?[/QUOTE]

Andy , this won’t work in the long term because you limit the gene pool with embryo transfer because you would have so many foals coming from so few mares.

The show ring will ultimately evolve away from the mares type , just as it did with the stallions. Contender , Cassini , Alme , Darco etc…these stallions would not be competitive on todays showjumping courses.

Performance is not the only thing we should breed for. Future breeding stock , soundness , fertility…all have to be taken into consideration. You can only improve this by breeding with the mare FAMILY over generations.

[andy.smaga]

[QUOTE=Bayhawk;7686026]
Andy , this won’t work in the long term because you limit the gene pool with embryo transfer because you would have so many foals coming from so few mares.[/QUOTE]
Bayhawk, there is much less risk, with mares having a couple babies, to reduce the gene pool compared with what we see today with stallions producing hundreds of foal every year.

[Bayhawk]

[QUOTE=andy.smaga;7686449]
Bayhawk, there is much less risk, with mares having a couple babies, to reduce the gene pool compared with what we see today with stallions producing hundreds of foal every year.[/QUOTE]

For sure Andy but I was referring to the contingent that is advocating only breeding with performance mares thru ET.

I think ET is a great thing. It should never replace generational family breeding though.

[andy.smaga]

Bayhawk, I agree, and I don’t advocate replacing but using all means that can lead to the best outcome.

[Bayhawk]

[QUOTE=andy.smaga;7686552]
Bayhawk, I agree, and I don’t advocate replacing but using all means that can lead to the best outcome.[/QUOTE]

I agree Andy !

[HyperionStudLLC]

Ok after all of this lets make it simple… A large percentage of the horses jumping in sport today have Holsteiner blood in their pedigree. My stallions… 50-100% Holsteinter blood… For all the reasons mentioned in this thread…fact of the matter is, Holsteiners reign supreme regardless of their discipline. Stop arguing and stop trying to discredit.

One other note I will make, until breeders in North America start studying their mares, stallions available and the genetic percentages of their breedings, we will always be behind. Don’t try to repeat…instead improve and expand.

Bravo to Contender for producing a legacy… may we all be so lucky to take advantage of that.