Hypothetical Amateur Cross - TB/Conn or Appendix?

[horsepooramateur]

This is currently just a “for fun” question, but curious to take a pulse of people’s opinions. A friend has a small breeding program and the opportunity may be there down the road to select a breeding to her lovely TB mare. The resulting foal would hopefully be my low level fun all arounder. I would love to compete through BN or Novice, and pop into a dressage show occasionally or try fox-hunting. I would be looking to produce a “forever” horse that also had the temperament and athletic ability to be someone else’s solid citizen should anything happen to me.

I don’t need a world beater, but would be looking to produce something athletic enough to enjoy the aforementioned jobs and also all the fun things - trail rides, swimming, etc. I know this is always a crapshoot, of course, and so much comes down to training and their fundamentals. Just for fun, in today’s current market and based on personal preference, would you choose to cross with a Connemara or a QH/Appendix to create said hopeful?

Not comfortable sharing too much info about the mare as she is not mine, but she is a tall, leggy TB with great bone that has not had much of a sporthorse career herself but has produced two lovely KWPN foals. Both have taken after the (smaller) sires in size. She was a hard knocker who won over $100k on the track in 30ish races over 4 years and is currently sound, ridden happily by an amateur, and has been a great mom. A warmblood cross isn’t super high on my list based on personal experiences - I have met more consistently reliable Irish horses and Appendixes that are happy to be an ammy horse and don’t necessarily need a fancy WB. I like a horse with a little more heart and try than I have personally found in most of the WBs I’ve ridden regularly - why I love my TBs! Again, this is more of a “for fun” poll to hear others’ preferences - it’s a long time to wait for a foal to grow into a reliable riding horse, and while I have a great team in place to assist and am confident in my abilities working with a green horse, chances are I’ll wind up buying something already on the ground and under saddle But, given the choice, what would be your pick for a fun amateur cross?!

[Janet]

With a sample sixe of 3 (one 3/4 TB-1/4 QH and two TB x Conn) crosses I’d pick the Connemara cross as my most adapable and willing to take on anything. But she was also the hottest.

But on a larger scale either could be good. It dpends on the individual cross. Almost all Connearas are good jumpers, but not all QH and Apendix are. So it will depend a lot on the specific sire.

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

My initial thought is that the TBxConn would probably have more potential value as a sport horse should it turn out that you need to re-home at some point while your Appendix all arounder would have a wider market. If the cross were likely to be a forever horse for you regardless of circumstance, maybe explore possible sires of both breeds and see which seems most likely to combine with the mare to produce the horse you are dreaming of?

[horsepooramateur]

Agreed! Good point re: future market. I think a Conn would likely bring decent money as an eventer while an Appendix is more likely to cross over into H/J world, be a potential kids’ mount, etc. We do have our own farm so barring unexpected circumstances they would be a keeper - however, I wouldn’t want to bring something into the world without setting it up for its future. Agreed that it ultimately would come down to best potential match available, but was curious to see what the general consensus was about each or perhaps something else I hadn’t thought of appreciate the input!

[horsepooramateur]

I have known several that have been spicy as well (similar to the Welsh/TBs I know), but not necessarily in a bad way. More like…brave and thought they knew best? But that may not be as marketable to the broader public if the need arose. My sample sizes are relatively small as well so appreciate any anecdotal thoughts!

[Texarkana]

My relatively small sample size with TB x Connemara has also been hot hot HOT.

They may not deter you, but I do think it limits who will enjoy your horse.

[Montanas_Girl]

@Texarkana

My relatively small sample size with TB x Connemara has also been hot hot HOT.

They may not deter you, but I do think it limits who will enjoy your horse.

Same here. All the Connemaras and crosses I’ve known have been quite spicy - not naughty or difficult, but with serious motors and quick minds. I like them that way, but, for OP’s purposes, I think looking for a nice QH who is proven to sire easy-going, athletic Appendixes is a safer bet.

[exvet]

I would be looking for a Conn x Tb cross or Tb x Welsh Cob cross for longevity, versatility and athletic ability. I have not appreciated ‘hot’ to be an issue in the ones (each cross) I’ve ridden or produced myself.

[Warmblood1]

I would focus less on the breed and look more towards type. Since there are so many “types” within a breed, choosing a horse based solely on its breed isn’t really sufficient. You could find suitable examples from both the Connemara and the QH cross, but I would keep in mind that the mare sounds as though she throws smaller sized foals should you have specific height requirements and go the route of the Connemara. Also, I wouldn’t necessarily rule out WBs based solely on your experience with temperament as there are WB lines full of heart and try and that are ammy friendly. JMHO.

Oh, and yes, 4-5 years to wait for a riding horse is the longest time ever. I agree that if you want to ride soon, buy one on the ground!

[horsepooramateur]

I am definitely open to other options should we go this route, I was just clarifying that while both her current babies have been nice, I was considering a different direction. I agree that a good horse is a good horse and should we decide to get serious next spring, it’ll depend on who really looks to be the best match conformation and temperament-wise. Just taking the temp of the room to see who I may want to start researching…it’s fun to look

I had considered the height thing as well but she is a substantial gal, so thinking if I went with something more fun sized, even if it was on the shorter side it would be full enough around for me I am on the taller side but seem to fit well enough on just about anything I ride…maybe not the perfect hunter picture on everything lol but gone are those days for me anyway! I am fortunate to have a wonderful lease horse at least for now so could be patient enough to raise my own, but also wouldn’t say no if the right baby pops up on my radar sometime in the next year or two!

If we do pursue this option I’d welcome any ideas of particular lines of any breed that would cross well to try for this type and appreciate the insight.

[horsepooramateur]

And on a similar note, if anyone knows of a reputable breeder consistently producing a similar type, of any breed suitable for that job, on the East Coast in the low five’s (under 20?) I’d be happy to be pointed in their direction, here or via PM. I have a couple on my radar but welcome suggestions from this knowledgeable crowd.

[quietann]

Of limited experience with TB/Connemara crosses (3, all belonging to one friend over the past 16 years) and none with Appendixes … I like them. They were all speedy and athletic and all had Grange Finn Sparrow up close. Of the 3 one is sensitive and not very brave, so a less ammy friendly ride. My favorite was the “pony on stilts” a 17 hand 50-50 cross who was a fabulous eventer through preliminary, and starting on intermediate when he just fell apart physically over the course of a year, and ended up euthanized when he lost all sensation and control of his hind end after general anesthesia for a procedure. I think he was only 13? His attitude was 100% pony, and he loved to go fast. The last, closely related, 3/4 Conn and 1/4 TB who ended up just over large pony size, not large enough for my friend, and sold to a petite ammy who is having a blast with her. She has the best brain.

[cripplecreekfrm]

I bred my OTTB mare to a hunter bred AQHA stallion (he is basically an appendix who got his full AQHA registration through performance.) I absolutely love this cross. The resulting filly is now 2 and is built well with great bone (something I was trying to improve on from the mare) and a wonderful mind. She is starting out to be very easy and level headed for this ammy to start with that being said, she is going to be WAY taller than I was expecting as she is string testing to finish out around 16.3/17hh but who am I to complain. She is my keeper foal and I wanted something I could show hunter/jumper, foxhunt and trail ride. She is a beautiful mover even though she is in a growthy stage and is so butt high that her back looks like a ski slope. I’ve had offers on her for way more that I expected as QH’s in my area aren’t super popular unless you are showing AQHA. While I have never shown AQHA now that they have a working hunter division I am not against dabbling in that from time to time. So I would not count out the TB/Appendix cross.

[chocolate_chip_in]

We have similar riding goals, and a Connie x TB is my dream horse. I’ve heard that American Connemaras can trend hotter than their Irish-bred counterparts, but I haven’t encountered a particularly spicy American Connie so I think that’s more down to the individual horse. God knows the American-bred Connemara I rode growing up wasn’t going anywhere fast without spurs and a stick! I have a Connie x warmblood cross now and she has a motor (especially outside the ring), but I wouldn’t call her hot. While she’s athletic enough to do any job I’ll ever ask of her, my favorite thing about her is that she’s just a game, good-minded little mare. She does have a dash of pony 'tude, which I personally don’t mind but may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

I’m most familiar with the eventing sales market, and I’d say that Connemara crosses seem to be popular and sell quickly. But I’ve seen some really nice Appendixes as well, so as we all know it’s down to the individual horse!

[GraceLikeRain]

I’ve never met a Connie or a cross I didn’t love. Great brains, awesome canters, very hardy and surefooted. It’s a small sample size but another trait I’ve seen is that they out perform their athleticism. They have so much try that they will give you the full depth of their ability rather than saying “this is hard and I’m at 70% of my max so I’m tapping out”.

[Janet]

My experience is that Connemaras (and crosses) from performance lines (such as *Grange Finn Sparrow, *ArdCeltic Art, Hideaways Erin Go Braugh) tend to be a bit more enthusiastic than those from more “companion” oriented lines.

I just got back from the Region III Connemara shows, and there were a lot of “bombproof” ponies there: doing beginner walk trot classes and taking care of thier very young riders, in the costume class and wearing dramatic and “scary” costumes, being ridden bareback around the showgrounds with a halter and leadrope, etc.

[fivestrideline]

@cripplecreekfrm

I bred my OTTB mare to a hunter bred AQHA stallion (he is basically an appendix who got his full AQHA registration through performance.) I absolutely love this cross.

I’m considering this for my next one. I kind of want to raise a baby for myself as a bucket list thing, and had waffled around with picking a fancy WB line. After much discussion though I realized that my budget will likely never let me take ANYTHING to the “big” shows more than once or twice, but what I want to do is be competitive locally, have fun at small As, trail ride and run BN and do hunter paces and have fun. Some of the best horses for this job in my life have been draft crosses (a crapshoot on movement and scope, depending on how drafty), and Appendixes. I jive better with a TB than a draft, so Appendix it is!

Anyway, eventers love TB/Connie. But they can be small, especially if the mare doesn’t want to pass on size. If you like a pocket rocket, that cross might be perfect!

[luvmyhackney]

Windchase in VA has a darling Conn cross for sale.

He’s seems lovely when I see him out and about. I think he is under 20k.

[GraceLikeRain]

@Janet

ArdCeltic Art

True. I’ve known a few and wouldn’t classify them as kick rides. However, the two I knew over a period of time were very good minded as youngster and incredibly athletic. Not pro rides but for a skilled rider who enjoys more of a thoroughbred type ride that continued to mellow with age. They both were also drool-worthy athletic and looked straight forward to start.

[cripplecreekfrm]

The biggest thing I found while I was stallion shopping is that I wanted something that had the movement that I wanted. I don’t like the current HUS trend where they are basically bigger WP horses that are moving slightly faster. Now that the AQHA as a Working Hunter division those were the stallions that I looked at. I found that they have some very nice ones now days. I am debating breeding my mare either to the same stallion or a different AQHA stallion next year.