There is a lot of talk about “good brain” or rideability, but in thinking about horses that I have truly enjoyed bringing along and riding - the one thing that they have in common is that they really want to do the job, always put in 110% effort, and will really put in their all to try and help a rider they trust. I know a lot of this is about how horses are brought along - but I’m curious if there are also bloodlines that are known for these characteristics.
Hmm, that is a great question. I’ve often thought that part of the try comes with natural engine … and often amateurs want quiet and reliable, which loses the engine, which then loses the try over a certain height.
I’ve also wondered whether we train some of the try out of horses by keeping jumps too low for too long. If ‘big’ is a 1m, reasonable that a horse eyeing up 1.15 is going think . Whereas the Europeans (yes, I’ll stereotype a continent into one generalization) tend to start their youngsters at 1 m and very quickly - within the first year - have them going 1.20 m. So that become the benchmark that divides big and little.
Regardless, back to your question, I would say that scrappy little ‘get her done types I’ve seen tend to Cornet Obolensky (look at Shak Attack, Checker 47, a legion of descendants who all seem to be overgrown game ponies that can definitely take a joke). I also have a Indoctro x Voltaire cross who was an athletic freak of nature, but so careful and so athletic that I think the try could have been squished out of him very easily if pushed too hard/too fast/too many amateur mistakes.
Just the my personal musings, not a breeder but I like pretty beings with pretty bloodlines 
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That quality is why I ride and breed Arabians. 
Not the bloodlines you’d seek out for an upper level jumper, though, obviously.
