Hofrat ... or not

[madamlb]

Well, the Australian breeding season is about four or five months off now, and I’ve got it narrowed down to two stallions, one I know well and one I need to know more about!

My mare, Ruby is a reasonably heavy, uphill and well put together mare with fabulous temperament and excellent movement, the highlight being the big, balanced canter, the walk needing the most improvement though she still has a nice overtrack. I’d like some refinement, possibly some trakehner blood, leggy, uphill and modern and I love a really good trot. Ruby is by Ronaldo (Rubinstein/Ramino) out of a Donnerhall/Winterkoenig mare. She produced a colt to Don Frederico this year who greatly reflects his Donnerhall blood but is slightly refined, which I assume comes from the Consul influence.

So for this season I really like Hofrat. I have done as much research as I can, but not many people have foals here by him, and in fact I haven’t heard of many foals by him around really at all. I’ve heard the semen is pretty good, but if anyone has more experience with it? Then how are the foals- temperament, movement, conformation? Why aren’t there more of his foals around?

My other candidate is Alabaster. I absolutely love the old boy, and think my mare would cross very well with the A line. I already own a mare by him and she’s fabulous. I’ve heard from people on here that his frozen semen is no good, and yet I’ve met quite a few foals by him from frozen, including two full siblings to my mare, my own mare was conceived on one straw, so I’m not sure what to believe about that. All the Alabasters I’ve met are forward, clever, uphill and have wonderful walks, I think Ruby’s bone, her wonderful canter and her lovely neck would be complimentary to the cross. I also feel he has become and will continue to become a valuable broodmare sire, he’s one of the better connections to the A line still around!

Basically, I’d love some opinions on Hofrat. Should I go for the safe option I already know, or try out Hofrat? What would you do? The foal if a filly would be for me to keep, if a colt would probably be sold.

[Kyzteke]

Can’t comment on Hofrat, but I love Alabaster as well.

We got a pregnancy with his frozen, but it was gone by 30 days…:no:

[siegi_b]

Hofrat has always been overshadowed by his son, Hotline, and I think that explains why he hasn’t been used that much. Also, I don’t think Hofrat is your typical pretty Trakehner and I would hesitate breeding anything Rubinstein to him unless you don’t mind a somewhat common head.

On the positive side, his sire is Gribaldi (Kostolany) and the mareline is excellent with Guter Planet (Consul-Swazi xx) and Habicht on the bottom.

[stolensilver]

I believe Distelzar is considered to be Gribaldi’s best producing son. He doesn’t seem to have been used much outside the Trakehner studbook but he has produced some outstanding offspring such as Donaugold.

[jdeboer01]

If you Google the words Hofrat, hengst, and fohlen, you’ll find many Hofrat offspring from German resources, as well as threads on German BB’s. When you get the “Google” results, just hit “translate this page” to the right of the result, and you’ll get a lousy, yet decipherable translation of the German content. Keep in mind that “Hofrat” translates to “Counsilor” in English.

The overall consensus is that he stamps his offspring with long legs, fantastic elasticity, and a great, unflappable mind. He, himself, is apparently quite the sweetheart and can easily be shown with mares nearby. The only “downside” ever mentioned is a plain head that he does NOT consistently pass on. He does seem to be an extremely popular sire in Europe, and very well respected. His owners don’t do the glitzy Schockemohle marketing, and that’s likely why we hear more about his son, Hotline, than we do about him.

I oftentimes find that Googling in German, Dutch, etc., I find many more results than when I Google in English only.

[Crosiadore_Farm]

We have two Hofrat/Donnerhall fillies from 2008 ( full sisters). One is very much like her Donnerhall/Pik Bube dam, but in a plain bay coat. She is “dryer” in texture than the dam and did get the plainer face, but she is going to be a very good dressage horse. Good power/engine, good walk, good trot, excellent canter. Just backed and was uncomplicated. The second is more refined and still a bit immature looking. Much more Trakehner influenced. She too has an excellent walk, very nice trot, and good canter. This one is more elastic in her gaits and has a very free shoulder. They both have great necks on them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hZ3Pwu5SzY

Hofrat and Hotline were shown together at a stallion show a few months back. Hotline was more solid looking and has a better hind leg, Hofrat more elegant and a much freer shoulder.

The only other two Hofrat’s I have seen in the US were out of a Archipel/Weltmeyer mare and were bred by Angela Barilar and now owned by Theresa Schnell They were tall and elegant as foals and very good movers. The colt has been kept a stallion and will be presented this year I believe to the GOV.

[madamlb]

Wow Crosiadore Farm, your filly is stunning.

A plain head does not bother me in the slightest, and yes with her Rubinstein blood, Ruby does not have the prettiest head so I suppose I risk an ugly head, but to be perfectly honest I tend to think you can’t ride the head. Alabaster on the other hand passes on a gorgeous head.

I think both crosses would work well for her, that’s the problem. There’s nothing that really needs to be ‘fixed’ she could have longer legs, and be a bit more athletic but she already has good conformation and lovely movement.

I’ve been doing more research on Hofrat and I do think he is stunning and judging from the foals he seems quite prepotent. Experience with Alabaster though leads me to say he is also very prepotent, he really stamps all his babies.

Thanks for your help everyone, I have to say I am no closer to making my choice! Perhaps I will have to toss a coin …

[tina_178]

My Hofrat, born 2007

2-y old in preparation
http://www.youtube.com/user/wappenpferde#p/u/11/Vx7pvLaALwY

I do not like Alabaster’s offsprings so much. Straight front leg, no knee action

[Boomer]

@tina_178;5626362

My Hofrat, born 2007

2-y old in preparation
http://www.youtube.com/user/wappenpferde#p/u/11/Vx7pvLaALwY

Wow - he’s gorgeous!

[jdeboer01]

My Hofrat foal, a colt, out of FPS Friesian mare Auster (who is 1/2 sister to approved stallion Teade 392 at Iron Spring Farm) was born Sat morning at 12:15 AM. He was up and nursing within 1/2 hour of birth! I haven’t seen him in person yet (he’s in Virginia and I’m in PA) but from the pics & video, he looks very nicely put together. I can’t wait to see his movement!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=226522950707677&set=a.226522650707707.74520.100000499220307&type=1&theater

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=226640064029299&set=a.226639667362672.74577.100000499220307&type=1&theater

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=226842847342354