Suzanne, your sister’s Rousseau boy sounds fantastic! Temperament suitable for an amateur and talented enough for a professional! That describes every rider’s dream horse, regardless of discipline! Cool!
Bluehof, your Rousseau offspring sounds great too! These are the kind of descriptions I was hoping to get when I posted this thread. Thank you!
I bred my quite sensitive mare to Lingh. She is very talented, but can be a bit reactive to the wrong handling/riding [she’s by Riverman and lives up to his reputation of producing a bit quirky]. The resulting colt is awesome. He is turning 2 soon and is still intact. I sold him within two days of letting a friend know I was contemplating selling him. She was one of the many people who fell prey to his charm. Not only does he have FEI potential, but he is also the most solid citizen I have ever met. He trusts his people, and you can do pretty much anything to him. She said, even if he doesn’t live-up to his potential he will always be valuable as an amateur mount. I think the only obstacle to him achieving big things is his motor. That may change when he’s broke, but he’s quite laid back. Think drugged-up lunged to death hunter laid-back.
That’s my experience with your list of stallions.
Hassler and SBS were awesome to deal with too. My mare caught her first try with frozen.
I miss my boy. Sometimes I wish I had kept him for myself as I am a very timid rider these days having lost my nerve. I just know he would keep me safe.
Romanov
We love our Romanov colt out of a very, very good T/B mare that also has a better than average temprament. Calm, willing, friendly, smart.
Temperament is the most important to me. As an ‘old person’ I start my own horses and they definitely have to be safe. By that I mean, smart, relaxed and not bothered by much. Real people lovers with a ‘what would you like to do next’ attitude.
When I find a stallion and have researched his offspring as best I can, I use my ‘video’ test for my final decision. I watch for the ‘swishy’ tail under saddle. I have passed on more than one stallion for this. It is my opinion that if he is not happy in his work, his offspring may not be either.
Last year I selected Furstenball for my mares. He appears to be relaxed in competition and seemed quite happy in his work. I was very surprised when both foals surpassed my ‘good temperament’ expectations. Granted, my mares are from lines known for good temperaments, Rubinstein, Lord Sinclair etc, but I was still pleased.
One very important thing if you have to go by videos of a stallion:
It is a very common secret, that some of the stallions are perfectly druged for the stallion shows. So you can not take any video of a stallion show for granted regarding temperament !
Than I would only go by stallions where there is already offspring under saddle. judging a foals temp to be able to have an idea about your future foal - in my eyes and experience not a great idea.
I will take the list that Was ported before and delete those where I have no idea and add maybe one or the other.
Fabriano
Florestan (recently deceased) and sons/descendants
Rubinstein sons/descendants
Rotspon is just one that comes to mind but there are many others
Donnerhall and sons/descendants (not all !!!)
Don Schufro and sons/descendants
Don Principe (
Dimaggio
Hohenstein (deceased) Certainly not deceased, but frozen seems not to work !
Benetton Dream has a super mind and seems to be passing it on (yes !)
I guess Edward (even though first ones are 3 in 2013)
Farewell III
De Niro
Chequille Z (maybe Conen - at least my foal is great)
Contendro
Diamnond Hit
very sought after from professionals due to riding horse qualities: Londontime
Ampere from what I experienced with young ones - no
Quaterback and sons - no
I’ve had 6 foals by Bugatti - and he’s also approved Swedish. They come out looking for people. They are forward and athletic with beautiful gaits, very pretty, easy to ride and score very well at shows. At least 2 of mine have been said to be world class horses. One of my mares is the love of the barn and the judges. I’m keeping 2 of the mares - one is an Elite mare, one of the mares for sale is an Elite Mare Candidate. All Premium Foals. One mare is with an amateur who loves her, and her trainer loves her too. Of the colts, one was the top scoring foal in the country, the other has been said by a GP rider who has competed at the Pan Am Games to be unbeatable at FEI. They’re all sweet and easily manageable by an ammie, easy to ride by an ammie and good enough for a professional. Can’t ask for more than that.
Olivier (KWPN)
I have know many of his foals from birth to riding horses. There isn’t one I wouldn’t happily volunteer to get on at right this minute at any point in training and I have a herniated disk in my back and recently injured my shoulder to the point I haven’t been able to ride in two weeks. They are very trainable and and several of them have been started by amateurs.
I have watched Liz Austin gallop Olivier bareback across open hay fields and seen him put up with large screaming audiences and spotlights with out ever blinking. He is kind, smart, and loves to learn tricks!
Not only are his foals known for being easy to handle and train, they tend to be very talented! I think it is extremely difficult to find dressage horses talented enough for the upper levels but easy enough for amateurs and I personally feel that is exactly what Olivier passes along.
Someday we ought to have a thread on the bloodlines of the broodmares that raised the babies that have the good temperaments.
Wolkentanz II!
I bred both my mares to him last year and had two fabulous babies in 2012! Both foals are incredibly friendly, people oriented foals. They are smart and learn very quickly. The stallion owners are wonderful to work with and both mares took on the first dose of fresh semen. The foals are very sane and easy to handle. I specifically picked WII because he is known to pass along the fabulous temperament as well as fabulous movement. I sold my colt to a professional rider and she is thrilled with him! He is super friendly, sensitive but not overly reactive. 
I kept the filly and she licks my face every time I see her.
Beste Gold, he does not have a tons of offspring, or a following on COTH, so I will tout his accolades myself.
I never wanted a stallion to keep, and he never gave us any reason to geld him. He is possibly the most intelligent, kindest horse I have ever had contact with, and he passes this on. I had never shown recognized dressage, and he made a rock star out of us as a team. I did low level musical freestyles exhibitions at at least 10 expos, with all the commotion, from age 4 on. He participated in the breed exhibitions( petting zoo). We often scored 8’s and 9’s on gaits, submission, and always received great comments from the judges. We won with scores in the 70’s quite often, and I showed in open classes because we had a sponsor. We won the Young Stallions Under Saddle at DAD prior to even owning a dressage saddle that fit him, and Reserve CHampion at GAIG and CBLM at both Trg and 1st. Determined to learn and take him up through the levels myself as a personal accomplishment, he allowed me this luxury,with never an unhappy moment, and I was his sole rider. MY FEI coach/ Trainer/ Judge had begun piaffe, passage and some GP work on the ground and lunge once a week to help us with the fitness and future. He loved him so much, that he and his wife both purchased the offspring they ride today, as do two other FEI Judge/Trainers. Of course, all of those are young, and probably won’t be seen until they are at GP. Unfortunately , once we were ready to compete at 2nd level, he was severely injured in a breeding accident. We saved his life, and he is happy and healthy, albeit unrideable, today. Knowing that he would be slowed by having me as his rider, I placed his full brother in the hands of an FEI trainer, who is finishing his schooling at Grand Prix where he will begin to compete soon.
For a big horse he was very light and sensitive. He was only ever ridden and shown etc in a double jointed KK and a nubby spur. If he was ever a bit lazy or playful , a simple voice correction was enough, and would last for weeks. Shown an idea, he remembers things for years, always calm, but reading your mind and ready for the slightest aids, yet was always happy to trot around on the buckle with a child on his back.
Most who bred to him have been amateurs, the offspring has been their first youngster, and they have started them themselves, with help from their trainers, and the trainers fight to ride them. The first several hitting the dressage ring are scoring very high on collective marks, one was even High Score of an entire 3 days recognized show.
Most who have one wont sell them, and a few now have one older ( 6 yo) and one younger( yrlg) The babies that have shown in hand have done well, but are a bit too quiet for their own good, so don’t always show their best trots. Some have scored 9 at their foal inspections, one a 9.8!!
Anyone thinking of breeding who met him in person booked on the spot. Most can pick his babies out in a crowd, once they know him, or have one of their own. About half have bred to him for the hunters and their offspring also have the lovely round slow hunter jump famous of Absatz blood.
I have a Furstenball coming in April from my Rhodium, Juventis, Rubinstein I mare. Cant wait!
Boleem was a top dressage competitor who had incredible heart and kindness. Love his kids.
I have had foals byBeste Gold and Boleem, can recommend both and I had over 20 different foals over the years.
Kevekko
Everything Rubinstein 
Alabaster … so beautiful, so underrated and the best temperament you can imagine, very rideable, sensitive and sweet.
Bit controversial I know, but my Don Frederico two year old has a phenomenal temperament … he is out of a Rubinstein dam though.
Do any of you have any hands on experience with Wamberto offspring? He sounds like a teddy bear himself, but I’d love to hear if his offspring share his personality. I’d especially like to hear how they behave under saddle. Cute and cuddly on the ground is nice but I care more about having a horse that’s fun to ride.
PSA…regardless of the stallion’s character…always, always look for what you want behaviorly in the dam. Not the sire.
Sid, I totally agree with you. That’s why I’ve got the mare I’ve got. If I could have a perfect clone of her in every way, I’d be totally happy. Unfortunately that poses a bit of a breeding challenge outside of my veterinarian’s expertise and well beyond my budget. In the meantime, I’m trying to pick out a baby-daddy that gives me the best chance of getting the best outcome.
Most of the posts here report about their foals - For me it is much more important tho take into consideration what I hear about the offspring under saddle ! Not about foal behaviour. We want a riding horse, not just a horse to cuddle lead around and to look at…
I agree with you Alexandra but you can see A LOT of the foal’s qualities being translated under saddle. And it has nothing to do with being cute and cudly.
For my part I never had big surprises.
If I take my Rousseau for example, right from the start this foal was people oriented, playful, full of energy, curious and confident. Leading him he was forward and attentive. He would take a correction without making a big deal out of it and he wouldn’t stand a grudge against you.
The first time I took him out from the herd for a walk as a yearling he must have reacted to EVERYTHING. It was winter so first walking on the dirt road was a scary experience, the mail box was a demon, the strange dog coming running to him was a monster, the small river crossing was a tsunami … very discouraging until the next day where he reacted as if he had done this a millions time! Even the hidden bird taking his flight a few feet from us had make me reacted more than he did. He learned from and remembered each experience.
All those qualities were noticeable under saddle. Now what I was wondering is how he would stay focus and take the stress of being ridden everyday because of his playfull nature. But this turn out well.
I could go on and on like that for each and everyone of my horses.
I am not saying you can see everything, but at least how you will have to deal with the horse under saddle, his energy, willingness, general attitude etc…
Having only one to four foals being born every year give me the chance to know my foals inside out however.
In fact, this could be and interesting topic on breeder’s expectation before and after saddle.
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