Need ideas for a hunter stallion that throws height and amateur friendly foals?

[TheJenners]

Sigh. I miss when the OP was highlighted for replies. @wb_amp_ponybreeder did you ever mention what breed the mare is, registry you’re wanting to stay with? If nothing specific and you want height and hunter movement, I’m going to throw a curve ball out there: Irish Draught Gemstone Clover. He has excellent lovely movement and gorgeous over fences. His sport horse babies are doing very well in hunterland and he is 17.2 and throws big babies with clean legs and excellent feet. I’m looking at a maybe baby in 2024, out of a sport bred QH mare.

Don’t let “Draught” throw you, they are a heavy hunter, not a draft.

[fivestrideline]

Jotting this one down… for research purposes… I’m not breeding or buying but he sounds very nice - several friends with Irish Draught crosses that are just fabulous. They’re big and good movers, won’t win at WEF but they also seem to be sturdy and sensible. And not particularly motivated to get into shenanigans

[wanderlust]

I don’t know that I have any super good suggestions, but have seen a few mentions that I’d caution against:

-For as many lovely Balou stallion sons that are out there, there are just as many Balous that are quirky AF. If you want those bloodlines but with a more consistent brain, I’d go with one of the good brained stallion sons like Amazing or Bandelero JSF.

-Just no on Cabardino. They are not ammy friendly and they are generally small (although I’ve seen a couple very large exceptions).

-Sir Wanabi is a nice stallion but carries warmblood fragile foal syndrome. You’d need to make sure your mare doesn’t also carry.

Right now I like Citadel- he’s a big boy and his offspring seem to be sizeable and move a little more huntery if they are out of hunter-type mares.

Also look at Q-line oldenburgs such as Quaterback, and some of the Donnerhall stallion sons.

[Rumorhasit93]

I totally forgot, Cunningham! I rode a 5 year old big bodied mare by him and DAMN I loved that horse. Incredibly quiet quiet, jumped square and moved okay. Not sure her damnline but I know Cunningham throws nice wines.

[TheJenners]

His sport horse crosses on TBs are not heavy at all and look like every other huntery WB in the ring.

[libgrrl]

I don’t believe there have been any Cunningham foals in the past couple of years. A number of horses at my barn were bred to him a couple of years ago (including mine) with no success. Con Capilots are lovely!

[blondewithchrome]

@wanderlust

Also look at Q-line oldenburgs such as Quaterback, and some of the Donnerhall stallion sons.

FWIW, my gelding is by a Donnerhall grandson and he is HUGE. 18h on the stick and the most Ammy friendly, saintly horse I’ve ever ridden. Started as a PSG prospect and then started jumping under Devin Ryan. He won’t win a hack, but he makes you feel like you can win the Maclay when you flat him he’s so comfortable and rideable. I was not really thinking of the Donnerhall lines because I immediately think more dressage but, now that I think of my own horse, he’s every bit what the OP would want minus the “amazing movement” lol

[fivestrideline]

I know a Donnerhall. HUGE, like 18h at 3. But so so sweet, born ammy broke, and so nice. Definitely more dressagey movement but would do fine on the smaller circuit and in the eq

[vxf111]

He never did it for me but his people did all the right things and I’m sorry to hear his breeding career might be over.

[vxf111]

That’s the one I couldn’t think of!!!

[GoodTimes]

I had wondered about that. I’ve got a coming six year old mare who I’d like to breed in a few years. Her movement and jump is similar to Cunningham’s so I had my eye on him. But assumed he’d retire or pass before I was ready, he’s old.
I’d love to find a stud similar to him, bonus if it’s in Canada.

[DiamondJubilee]

I’m a bit late, but I bred a 14h (BRP x welsh - on her tippytoes) with a granddam who was 12.2h (section B welsh), and I wanted a small horse for the hunters, ammy friendly. I have been watching Sir Wanabi for 10+ years now and not only do I love him, I love all of his ammy friendly foals he has out there.

Now my guy is just 11 months and I don’t know how he will finish of course, with the small heights and large heights in his breeding, but currently he is 14h. He was a very leggy foal and the mares owner (as I leased her) thought when he was born that he could easily make 16h (as she’s bred TB and ponies). We shall see! But he will be over pony height for sure. So far I’ve been very happy with him, he’s handsome, quiet (though was a typical colt and very playful/bity, but has got much better with gelding last month).

Unfortunately Sir Wanabi did pass away (less than a week after breeding my leased mare last year). He has only a limited amount of frozen left. If my mare didn’t take, I was taking a hard look at his son Sir Vari. He is very nice but is young and only had 1 year foal crop on the ground so far, so it was hard for me to tell how ammy friendly they are of course - he is lovely though. I’m not getting any younger and can’t afford to kill myself at this place in time ha ha! I was so happy to hear when the mare caught and I didn’t have to make that hard call(as she didn’t take the first time).

[MissIntent]

I have a late teens Westporte gelding that’s from one of the first foal crops. I always say he has the personality of a golden retriever, because he loves people so much. He comes when he’s called and always wants attention.

[wb_amp_ponybreeder]

She is by Everest. Very huntery. Love love love Westporte. Might stick with him. However I have had good luck with Zeus in the pedigree. Has anyone had luck with Checkmate? I would like to produce a ammy hunter type. Improvements, back leg conformation.

[wb_amp_ponybreeder]

Hilltop has two stallions related to Quaterback.

[wanderlust]

A friend has a Qredit 2 yo out of a TB mare. He is lovely in every way and takes after dad. She bred for a hunter and he does not disappoint.

[Rumorhasit93]

I will never forget when I was about 10 or 11 years old, I went over to the crossties and pet the big bay and he licked me. An ammy/friends mom saw and said “be careful! Wait, is that Teddy? Oh never mind I thought it was Bob” (also big bay, but a gelding!). Don’t ask me how I remembered his barn name, but when it comes to horses my memory is ironclad.

[wb_amp_ponybreeder]

Has anyone ever bred to Checkmate? Does he throw size? And an easy temperament.

[weixiao]

I’ve never used him but I’ve seen some for sale by him that were small and some that were advertised as “spicy”. I wouldn’t look to him to consistently produce height or amateur friendly temperaments.

[Peggy]

I know one Checkmate that’s a nice size (and quite talented) but definitely not easy.