Irish Sport Horses

[secretariat]

We’re a full service eventing facility, with our trainer/manager/rider qualified through the *** level. We began a breeding program in 2008 - all of the mares are American TB’s with proven eventing ties/bloodlines - to provide her with world class event horses, and that pipeline has about 4 horses each year from 2009. We’ll be breaking and introducing the first of them to eventing next year. We don’t believe eventing breeding is (yet) a science, so we’ve bred a broad range of what we think are very quality horses, some of which won’t be eventers. We have no issue with moving horses into other venues when they show a particular talent - but we’re looking for world class quality.

We have bred full TB’s (5/8 sibling to Megan’s present advanced horse), British sport horses (Catherston Dazzler, Fleetwater Opposition), Anglo-Trakehners (several first and second generation Windfalls in addition to the F.O.), Anglo-Hanoverians (Fabuleux), Anglo DWB (Consul), Oldenburgs (Contucci, Riverman). The strain that’s we think is obviously missing is ISH.

My question - what ISH stallions, in the US (fresh cooled semen only), have a track record for producing upper level eventers? I don’t want to overly restrict the search, but we like lighter, forward horses (as wonderful as My Boy Bobby is, he looks like a pain to kick around a course - Megan’s not as strong as Buck). We’re willing to breed him to a proven advanced producer, but for this mare we want a track record of good behavior and minds in the stallion’s foals.

Suggestions, contact/web site information, and/or progeny records would be appreciated!!

[Peregrine_Farm]

Not an IDSH expert, but Pallas Digion has sired at least three Advanced/CCI horses, and Brandenburg’s Windstar is the sire of Arthur, who has competed at the 4* level. Cruising, who is getting on in age and stands in Ireland, has sired more than a half-dozen 4* horses, and probably leads the statistics for the number of advanced horses produced by an IDSH stallion. Jumbo is also quite old, and is also overseas, but apparently you can still get frozen semen from him, and he has sired a number of advanced horses as well, including Headley Brittainia.

If you search these forums, there are any number of people who have reported on the quirks of these stallions (although I don’t believe I have seen much critical of Jumbo); I have zero knowledge as to the veracity of that information, however, and have not ridden any of their offspring myself.

Formula One is relatively young, and therefore his offspring are not to the upper levels yet, but he gets a lot of praise here.

A place to start, at least.

[Waterwitch]

Re: ISH stallions available fresh in the US, Pallas Digion and Brandenburg’s Windstar have both produced 4* eventers from TB mares.

Eta: sorry peregrine…posting at same time.

[stolensilver]

The classic recipe for an Irish eventer is 3/4 TB 1/4 ID or 7/8 TB 1/8 ID. Pallas Digion is already half bred so crossing him with a TB would give you the classic mix. His famous son Spring Along was still eventing into his late teens.

An RID stallion who may give you an eventer (albeit a Lenamore stamp of eventer who is 50:50 ID and TB rather than a TB stamp) is Touch of the Blues. I had a son of his years ago, purebred, who had a huge jump in him. He was clearing 5’ oxers with ease when he was a 5 year old. He showjumped to 1m30 by the time he was 7, qualifying for the national championships. I didn’t carry on with his showjumping training because although he had plenty of scope his front legs weren’t quite quick enough as the tracks became more technical. I’ve always thought TOTB x TB would be an incredible cross.

[Graymaresrule]

Maybe his owner will post when she sees this

@stolensilver;5816995

The classic recipe for an Irish eventer is 3/4 TB 1/4 ID or 7/8 TB 1/8 ID. Pallas Digion is already half bred so crossing him with a TB would give you the classic mix. His famous son Spring Along was still eventing into his late teens.

An RID stallion who may give you an eventer (albeit a Lenamore stamp of eventer who is 50:50 ID and TB rather than a TB stamp) is Touch of the Blues. I had a son of his years ago, purebred, who had a huge jump in him. He was clearing 5’ oxers with ease when he was a 5 year old. He showjumped to 1m30 by the time he was 7, qualifying for the national championships. I didn’t carry on with his showjumping training because although he had plenty of scope his front legs weren’t quite quick enough as the tracks became more technical. I’ve always thought TOTB x TB would be an incredible cross.

Thre is a TOTB stallion called Seatle Blues whose owner posts on this board. He’s one I’ve got on my mental list of possible stallions.

I’ve got to admit I have never seen My Boy Bobby go but my RIDSH Sophie is deceptive. She’s a BIG girl, by TOTB and looks like she should be heavy but she is very light and forward (now). I think it comes from her substancial back end. When she kicks that into gear, hang on! Those soup plate hooves just float.
https://picasaweb.google.com/carolp3231/Sophie#5583652132904429762

Note: no whip or spurs

[Peregrine_Farm]

Some resources, based upon the posts so far:

www.acornhillfarm.com

www.teamwindchase.com

http://tamarackhill.com/Stallions/F1.htm

http://www.manufortifarms.com/stalliontotb.htm

http://www.futuresporthorses.co.uk/Future_Jumbo.htm

FYI, Jumbo son Avebury is currently in second at Burghley.

[horsetales]

Might also contact the owner of Clover Cliste by Clover Hill.
adelemahaffy@hotmail.com

you might also still consider a RID. Bridon Beale Street RID is doing 1* and is producing some gorgeous IDSH. Jaunty Star RID is also out eventing. Cradilo RID has produced upper level jumper and eventers.

[crosscreeksh]

I just glanced at this thread on my way by this morning. We own Seattle Blues, an ISH son of Touch of the Blues out of a Seattle Slew grandaughter. Blue himself is a delight to live with - great personality, excellent disposition and very nice mover - very light on his feet. This year we have one 3/4 TB/1/4 RID daughter by him. (With the lousy economy we have backed off breeding most of our mares.) The filly’s dam is one of our Puchi’s Rambo (Puchilingua) overo TB mares and an absolute sweetheart. “Seattle Storm” didn’t get Mom’s “spots” or Dad’s “Black”, but is a stunning, dark mahogany bay with a pretty blaze and one stocking. Very TBy movement and athletic ability, and quiet as can be. She LOVES attention and follows us like a dog while mom is hundreds of feet away grazing! Anyone who has seen her in person is astonished that she has anything, but pure, TB blood in her!! This is the first time we have bred the “heavier” stallion to the TB mares. We have always bred the TB stallion to the ISH mares. We have another 3/4 TB/ISH filly who is two this year. She is by Jagged Illusion (his only foal before he died) out of a The Irish Rover, ISH mare. “Jag’s Irish Flirt” got Jag’s overo coloring and size from both parents (17+ and 16.3). She is an very nice mover, athlete and sweetheart.
I’ve been of the opinion for years that the 3/4, 7/8, TB/ISH would be an exceptional eventer/sport horse. They seem to get the TB athletism and “GO”, without the TB “HOT”. The two fillies we have so far are proving that theory.
I’ll try to get some pictures to post, but we’ve been busy with haying and trying to survive this horrible summer.
Here is a link to Blues picture album http://s1038.photobucket.com/albums/a466/Crosscreeksh/Seattle%20Blues%20-%20ISH%20Stallion%20%2010-10/

[vineyridge]

I thought I read that Pallas Digion had died recently. If so fresh cooled isn’t likely.

If you can put up with a very, very strange disposition, Cruising is still the top ISH stallion in eventing. Maybe showjumping also. Eventing database has him with 19 International level eventers and 60 International level showjumpers. Frozen only, of course.
http://www.shelbournefarm.com/cruising.html

Brandenburg’s Windstar is also supposed to throw very strange dispositions.

[tom]

disposition – sometimes but definitely not all the time.

[Waterwitch]

@vineyridge;5817370

Pallas Digion is dead. So fresh cooled isn’t likely.

Sorry hadn’t heard he’d passed away…that is too bad. Nadia is out of Cruising frozen as of a year ago when I inquired. Unfortunately the two Cruising sons currently available in NA, Cougar and Flexible, are only available frozen last time I heard.

[Graymaresrule]

@Waterwitch;5817743

Sorry hadn’t heard he’d passed away…that is too bad. Nadia is out of Cruising frozen as of a year ago when I inquired. Unfortunately the two Cruising sons currently available in NA, Cougar and Flexible, are only available frozen last time I heard.

I don’t think this stallion has been used much
http://irishdraught.com/horses/profile.php?unid=3376
but combines Sea Crest and Caro

[vineyridge]

Coevers Diamond Boy is a good Irish stallion for eventing.
http://www.coolgrangehousestud.com/coevers-diamond-boy-ish

[knowthatifly]

Flexible

Although ISH Flexible (by Cruising out of Flex by Safari) is a GP jumper of international quality, you may want to consider him on a tall, leggy mare with a good, quiet mind (he is 15.3 H). We have a Flexible offspring due in Spring 2012 out of a Mezcalero (Voltaire/Ramiro/Gotthard/Marco Polo) filly who has a TB damline. While bred for show jumping, this one could very likely end up a top eventer. The filly is 16.3 H, leggy, quiet, with a super uphill canter, floating trot and a walk with good overstep.

[Waterwitch]

http://www.irishdraught.co/articles.html

Link to list I made (last year) of ID bloodlines in top ten ISH with known ID breeding from last year’s WBFSH rankings through 18 Oct 2010. I did the same for top 10 showjumping and dressage ISH if anyone is interested and will be doing a 2011 list when the season is finished.

Also interesting to look at top 10 overall and the TB breeding behind them.

[vineyridge]

Need to apologize for stating firmly that Pallas Digion had died. I could well have confused him with his get, Spring Along, who died in March of this year.

If he hasn’t died, he’d be a top US based choice.

[Real_Rush]

[QUOTE=stolensilver;5816995]

An RID stallion who may give you an eventer (albeit a Lenamore stamp of eventer who is 50:50 ID and TB rather than a TB stamp) is Touch of the Blues.[/QUOTE]

When I first started thinking about getting into sport horse breeding, I contacted Manu Forti Farm about Touch of the Blues to see if he would be standing to outside mares next year. They said due to his age, he would not be. Bummer, as he was my first, top choice. They did recommend the RID stallion Touch Down, by Touch of the Blues. The only other RID stallion that I really, really like is Bridon Belfry, but not sure if or how many of his offspring are competeing at the upper levels. 'Course, Manu Forti could change their minds about ToTB (please, please, please!), but just wanted to share the info they gave me.

[Graymaresrule]

@realrush89;5822317

When I first started thinking about getting into sport horse breeding, I contacted Manu Forti Farm about Touch of the Blues to see if he would be standing to outside mares next year. They said due to his age, he would not be. Bummer, as he was my first, top choice. They did recommend the RID stallion Touch Down, by Touch of the Blues. The only other RID stallion that I really, really like is Bridon Belfry, but not sure if or how many of his offspring are competeing at the upper levels. 'Course, Manu Forti could change their minds about ToTB (please, please, please!), but just wanted to share the info they gave me.

Contact Manu Forti again.
I do love my Bridon Belfrey filly though, out of my Erin Go Bragh mare

[Peregrine_Farm]

[QUOTE=secretariat;5816674]
I don’t want to overly restrict the search, but we like lighter, forward horses (as wonderful as My Boy Bobby is, he looks like a pain to kick around a course - Megan’s not as strong as Buck). [/QUOTE]

Just a point of clarification about the quote above – My Boy Bobby is by Touchdown, who is often listed as an Irish Sporthorse, but is actually Selle Francais by breeding (sire was Gaboulet A). As I understand it, Touchdown was one of the earlier forays of the Irish into warmblood breeding, similar to their use of Cavalier Royale, who is also listed as ISH but is Holsteiner by breeding. Not all ISH’s are RID/Tb crosses these days.

I also had not heard that Pallas Digion had died, and there is nothing on Acorn Hill’s website that suggests that.

[wigum]

Touchdown clarification

Hi

Just to clarify, Touchdown is an ISH not a SF. He is out of the international Irish mare Lady Willpower, he is by the SF sire Galoubet.

Unlike the holsteiner Cavalier Royale who was imported from Switzerland, Touchdown was Irish bred.