I am breeding my mare for my next dressage horse. She is just about everything I want in a dressage partner. Areas which need improvement are more impulsion and swing in the back (she tends to be tight.) She has a dream disposition for an amateur rider which is very important to me. Also like a smaller horse, since I’m short.
Went to the lovely website and liked what I read, but looking for more input. Thanks.
Ok, I would like to know the lines of your mare… I love the lines of Fabuleux, but it just has to match…
We have a four year old in the barn that we started for the owner and are now helping her develop.
He is without a doubt one of the nicest horses I have ever worked with. Dreamy movement, and a grand temperament. I don’t know the mare, but she’s by Wenzel, so is most likely a bit old fashioned. Their mutual Mom (she owns both) says he’s much smoother and finer that his Mum.
He is a BIG mover, and a back mover, and the owner has had to work at getting accustomed to that, especially at the canter. But he’s very sweet and forgiving. And, on top of everything else, he’s black with four white socks and a blaze–what else could you want?
This baby really put Fableaux on my radar, and he’s one I’d definitely look into.
I have never bred to Fabuleux, but his offspring that I’ve seen move more huntery, with a free shoulder and flatter trot. They all have good walks and canters, and from what I’ve seen (IIRC), he can throw height.
I agree with Callaway except on the height. Most I’ve seen are 16 to 16.1. And I will say most have very pretty heads.
Our 2 year old filles at 21 months (pix) and 25 months (videos). The Fabuleaux is the darker of the two, out of a TB mare.
http://youtu.be/8Ybkkg1msVQ
She’s a real sweetheart, ammy perfect. While we breed for eventing, we suspect she’ll be an all around talent for eventing (brave, good jump), dressage (good trot & walk), and/or hunters (long, low, relaxed).
IME he can shorten up a back, always seems to pass on a superb canter and very good brain. He has added height in the ones that I have bred or know well.
Can definitely add height. He’s not a shorty himself at 16.3. My horse’s dam was only 16.2 and the resulting gelding is umm…17.2 as a 3 y/o. I’ve watched quite a few others on youtube. Looks like he passes on a correct, swingy canter and makes good minded, trainable horses. I would say he does not add refinement. Interesting to know, he is homozygous for black, so you will get a black or bay (unless you have a gray, then the 50/50 rule still applies).
I bred a 16 hh Hanoverian mare to Fabuleux and the resulting offspring is now easily 17 hh, and very substantial. I wouldn’t use him to refine or count on a short offspring.
[QUOTE=Callaway;5779172]
I have never bred to Fabuleux, but his offspring that I’ve seen move more huntery, with a free shoulder and flatter trot. They all have good walks and canters, and from what I’ve seen (IIRC), he can throw height.[/QUOTE]
I would have to agree. I bred a dressage mare to Fab in 2005 and while the resulting boy has nice movement, a real back mover (could sit his trot and canter with such ease), he definitely has the hunter “look” and is doing the hunters and winning. I agree, he is not for every mare if you are looking to breed for dressage, moreover, he is sure a stamper. Can point out a nice round Fabuleux hip on his kids!
I love him, and had an outstanding filly by him in 2009. Filly was a big lofty mover, excellent canter especially. Fab shortened the back for sure, we’ll see about height (sold the filly). One of the best foals I’ve ever bred though.
I have seen Fab in person, and he’s really a gentleman. Great legs and feet, really just a nice horse. I agree that he’s not for every mare, but I’m a huge fan of this boy.
His owner is outstanding to work with as well :yes:
I have had 2 Fabuleux out of my AHS approved TB mare who also passed the AHS MPT.
Both were very pretty, but the filly is superbly pretty. But this mare always gives her type to her foals (dam is pretty). Both have very good canters, shorter backs, very good walks. Both are very sensible and suitable for amateur riders to have fun on because they are uncomplicated.
The colt has a better trot for dressage, but not a lot of knee. He is 5 this year and although bought by a hunter rider, he has been in dressage training for the past 2 years. The dressage trainer LOVES him and said that at a well know Clinician from Germany tried to buy him and export him to Germany.
The filly was sold to a hunter home and they have just started taking her to shows as a 4 year old. They also are totally in love with her looks, attitude, movement, JUMP, and rideability. They say she will be a hack winner and that her jump is perfect. She is shorter (15.3, while her full brother is taller, 16.2). The dam was 16.0 h.
IMHO, you do need a mare that has a pretty head and passes it along. I have seen some Fabuleux with less than attractive heads. Otherwise I agree with the assessments of the others posting above.
Thanks for the comments, still plan to call the SO for a chat. I definitely do not want a big horse and hunter movement is not what I’m after with this breeding.
How about his stablemate Dacaprio? I don’t believe that he adds size. Bridlewood is excellent to deal with.
When I had my Don Schufro mare I bred her to Fabuleux and got a very nice colt. He was sold in-utero so I am not sure how tall he grew but he did have very good movement (especially the canter), a pretty head and a wonderful temperament with correct conformation. I really like this stallion and Barb is really great to work with. Good luck with your breeding. :)
Well then I would not breed to him. I have seen quite a few of them, and sat on a couple. None were what I would consider mid-upper level dressage prospects, all had fairly flat movement, a few were quite heavy in front. All were out of radically different mares, but all were very much stamped by him (to the point were I feel like I can pick out his offspring from a mile away).
If I were breeding for a nice all-around type with a fantastic temperament, really sweet and sane and nice to be around, then he’d be my guy. A 2nd level+ dressage horse, probably not.
And funny enough the least “dressagey” offspring I have seen from him was out of a upper level dressage horse. I would have bought him in a second as a hunter!
Well the Fabriano’s I rode were lovely and supple, very easy to sit. From what I understand, Fabuleux seems to pass this on to his offspring.
But I should warn you that the Fabriano’s we had were HUGE. I don’t know if Fabuleux passes this on, but if you’re hoping for a smaller horse he might not be a great match.
I also agree that The Fabriano line can pass on an ugly head. I was told to buy them, not breed them. I couldn’t see their faces from where I was sitting on their backs, so I didn’t care. But you couldn’t beat their temperaments and ridability, they were dead easy to back too!
I saw a picture of the Fabuleux mare we sold, taken recently. If I didn’t know she had a brand on her hip, I would guess that she had a teeny bit of draft in there; she is that huge. I’m going to guess that the best crosses with him are TB mares, or TB/warmblood mares.
I have 2 lovely fillies by him out of very different SPS Mares. Just starting the 3 yr old by SPS Blanche A ( Bon Bonaparte / World Cup / Grande ) Lovely mover . 2 yr old is out of SPS Pretty Girl ( Prince Orac XX) also lovely . both will mature 16 3 hh . 4 yr old out of a 16 3 - 17 hh mare , 3 yr old out of a 15 3 hh mare. Both fillies very lofty movers with good minds . Annmarie www.winterwoodfarm.net
I personally know two fillies by him. I’ve watched them grow up from foals. One is 4 and one is five. Both are AMAZING and do NOT move like hunters. The mares couldn’t be more different, but the gorgeous movement on these 2 babies is the same. Both are cleaning up at the dressage shows. Temperments can’t be beat! How they finish remains to be seen, but I’d give my eye teeth for either of them at this point.
I have also seen several other of his babies who are just fab.
The only negative that I see (and this wouldn’t be a negative for most folks) is that he does seem to throw height. Both of these girls are 16.2 + and probably not finished growing.
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