Hunter Stallion searching - who to choose?

[Bam2014]

Looking for stallion suggestions for a cabardino mare. The plan is to produce a keeper horse for me that will be competitive in the hunter ring. The mare is a good mover with a great jump and ground covering canter. She competeted successfully as a jumper before switching into the working hunters. She can be forward and a little looky but has no stop and is reasonable.

Things I am looking for in a stallion:

1. Reliable at throwing a QUIET foal
2. Known to throw height or will not subtract height (mare is 16.1)
3. Hunter mover
4. Add bone

prefer fresh cooled semen.

[krfarms]

I bred my hunter mare that was a little up, not spooky just a little up for the hunter ring to Farscape (Dreamscape Farm) in Canada. He throws quiet hunter types, has bone and his owner describes him as a kick ride. He showed in the hunter derbys in Canada a few years ago. The filly is now 18 months a a dream to work with, lots of suspension and definitely a hunter mover. I have seen pictures of quite a few of his foals and they are lovely. He seems to throw bone, white legs and a striped face. . He is WFFS positive, but I had my mare checked and she is not a carrier so all went well. I think he may only be frozen because of that reason, but he sure is a lovely stallion. Check him out. Jennifer might collect him for fresh, I also have a Checkmate filly the same age. She has bone, hunter movement (out of not an especially hunter moving mare) but she will be tall. He will add more height. But the mare I bred to Checkmate was quiet anyway, but according to Checkmates owner his babies are quiet. He is also at Dreamscape.

[ElementFarm]

I have almost no personal experience with Checkmate foals–I only know one personally who was born this year to a friend, so no idea about his temperament or mature height. That being said, I really like the stallion and have already purchased a breeding to him to use next spring. Jennifer is great to work with.

I have two Bliss MF 3yos who are just lovely–he definitely improved the brain on both, but I would say he doesn’t add height, and maybe detracts from it.

I love Apiro for hunter babies–all the ones I’ve met have had very ammie-friendly temperaments and are big and quiet. I have one due this spring, though the dam is very quiet as well. But he’s got a ton of offspring doing well in the hunters at all levels, so he’s proven to add bone/height/brain. He stands at Avalon, and Kathy is fantastic to work with.

The Argentinus lines and R-line Hanoverians are all well known for passing on great temperaments, so that might be a good place to start. If you have a WB registry in mind, look at what stallions are approved with them, and then google their offspring, etc. Luckily, with a Cabardino mare, you already have that amazing jump, so you can mostly focus on something with the temperament and height you’re looking for.

[GoodTimes]

Where are you located?

I’ve got a lovely 2yo who was Champion premium filly at her inspection. She’s out of a Cabardino mare and sired by Eclipsed by Colour (Colour Guard). He’s very quiet and seems to throw good temperament. He doesn’t seem to add height, but doesn’t detract, and may add some bone. Depending on the judge he seems to either be the hack winner or middle of the pack.

I don’t know any Diamo Blue babies, but he’s quite nice. Since he stands at W. charlot I imagine they would be able to give you some insight as to a cross with a Cabardino mare.

The only Amazing offspring that I know is small, a little hot, a good mover, awesome hind end o/f, but tends to jump over her shoulder. They opted to move her to the jumper ring this year.

I’ve met two Checkmate babies (we almost bought one, until we found the Colour Guard filly). Very nice movers. Neither would be undersaddle yet though.

Prototype is another one who has gained some popularity.

[DiamondJubilee]

I just love Sir Wanabi and what he throws. I’ve seen a lot of his get up here in Ontario and they are all put together really well, have great brains, and are very athletic.

If I bred horses, I would breed to him in one second, hands down!

[winter]

What is the damline on your mare?

I think with your criteria Apiro should be one of your top choices. He adds height and bone and a super quiet temperament. Mine was a hack winner and had excellent scope.

I bred two checkmates, one is super quiet and one (chestnut mare) is more spicy. They are both nice horses who jump well. Checkmate colts seems tall but the fillies can be small. My full siblings by him are 2 hands apart in height, but both have more bone than their mother.

I would also consider an R line horse. Will add brain and movement, they make really nice hunters on top jumping lines. Rubinus, Rockefeller or something like that.

A stallion that no one uses much outside of Alberta is Beau Soleil. Every single one of his babies I’ve seen are beautiful movers, great brain and jump in hunter form. I would buy one in a heartbeat, really nice types and just good horses.

[Bam2014]

I am in the mid Atlantic region and A Bromont is the damsire. I am super interested in Apiro. He seems to fit the bill. I’m also interested in hearing more about Sir Wanabi, Cunningham, Gatsby, Legaczy, and Figaro B.

[winter]

I tried to breed to cunningham this year but sadly did not conceive. I used him for a jumper mare though. Apparently he puts on a very good brain but I’ve never seen one in person.

[Nevada10]

I can’t say enough good things about Checkmate. I have a 2 year old by him and out of my HOT TB mare. I was hoping for a more rideable jumper, but I’m pretty sure he’s going to be a hunter. He’s currently 16.2 and only 2 years old (but his mother is 17h). Good bone. Super quiet, brave, curious, smart, and easy going and will be a hack winner. My only complaint is that he’s mouthy (no idea if that’s a genetic trait). He has the most beautiful neck — everyone asks if he’s a stallion (he’s gelded). I bought another breeding to Checkmate for next year.

[tucktaway]

Because she is by Cabardino, I would reach out to Charlot Farms for some input too…

[vali]

In our area Devon Heir is very popular. I have a 6 year old mare he sired that I adore. He almost universally seems to throw gorgeous quiet horses with nice movement and jump that are amateur friendly. I’m an eventer but I honestly think my mare would be best suited to be a hunter, and all the hunter/jumper people at our barn want her. Her dam was a lovely mover but a little hot and spooky, and she is much quieter and also an improvement on her mother in terms of being more uphill and taller.

[Pokerface]

@Bam2014

I am in the mid Atlantic region and A Bromont is the damsire. I am super interested in Apiro. He seems to fit the bill. I’m also interested in hearing more about Sir Wanabi, Cunningham, Gatsby, Legaczy, and Figaro B.

I used to board at the farm where Legaczy lives. ALL of his babies are large and very quiet. He himself is not huge, but he definitely adds size and bone. My own horse is a good sized WB (17h and not tiny) and she was dwarfed by them. I remember once I was following a trailer with my mare and one of his babies… she looked small lol. She has filled out since then and probably is comparable in size now, but stilll… he adds size. His babies seemed very ammy-friendly, but I’ve never ridden one.

[Dressagelvr]

Another vote for Amazing…who really is just that.