I saw a wonderful thread on Idocus in the forum but I don’t think there is one for Opus. If anyone has any experience with his babies I’d love to hear the stories as I’m looking at a three year old. The horse seems to have a marvelous temperament, I already have one by the damsire that is the most sensible young horse, so I think this filly be a delightful friend and we already have a nice chemistry. But, I’m not totally sure about the conformation/performance aspect. This filly is a tad cow-hocked (that may improve as she develops). I don’t have any experience with Opus and it seems like there aren’t that many in California. The damsire was a very successful GP stallion so I’m hoping this is a relatively “safe bet” but it does give me pause that I have literally never ridden an Opus. Any thoughts/experiences people have would be great.
I have one at 31/2. He has an in-your-pocket attitude and wants to be your friend. Very food motivated. LOL. I have his half-sister sired by Idocus (her nickname is Ferrari because she is truly the epitome of a sport horse - beautiful movement, knees to the eyes jumper, and presence for dressage. So, when it was time to breed the mare again for her last foal, Opus was chosen. He just came back from Helmut Schrant’s after his first two months under saddle. Unflappable whether there was light contact or no contact at trot or canter. Helmut even popped him over a cross rail or two, which was fun to see. Beautiful movement and uphill already. Free jumping demonstrates real potential in that direction as well. I will post some picture/video tonight. He is put up for the winter until spring when we will start under saddle again.
This is great to hear, thanks so much for sharing. I’d love to see the videos of this young man, he sounds like a dreamboat!
Here is a video at four months of age. And a photo.
I purchased him as a long weanling. I don’t have a lot of pictures because - and maybe this seems strange - but so much can go wrong and I don’t have much reserve left in my heart for loss these days. So, I’ve just let him grow up. As a baby he lacerated his cheek - stitches. Then he tried to scalp his forelock off and I mean OFF, more stitches. Then, he injured his hock badly and after that he developed juvenile arthritis in that hock. I sent him to Iowa State where they drilled the hock joint out and we waited for it to fuse. 6 months of waiting to see if he would become sound, which he did. However, I still am holding my breath. I will get some good quality videos of him this weekend at liberty. Right now he is just out for the winter and we are only doing in hand work. My trainer starts babies very slowly and correctly.
I’ve seen a fair amount over the years and have ridden one owned by a friend. They have friendly, outgoing, in your pocket personalities. The foals have quite correct conformations and nice movement. I rode a friend’s young gelding a few times and he was lovely in the contact and nicely forward thinking. Overall, I think they make very nice amateur horses.
Oh wow he is typey and just a lovely foal all around, I love him, thank you for sharing these images. So sorry to hear that he’s had some bad luck, that sucks. Sending you positive thoughts that it all turns out to be nothing in the end. My gelding had the motherload of SI injuries and dammit if the idiot didn’t come 100% sound after being so lame he lost complete control of a hind leg, definitely gave me a new appreciation for the possibility that things can turn around and I hope that is the case for your boy.
I’d actually like to have someone with a better eye than me take a look at a conformation photo. Would anyone be open to receiving a PM? I’m not feeling super confident about this filly conformation-wise, but am hesitant to post her photo here. I love the breeder and would be devastated if it turned into a hate-fest.
Feel free to PM me. Trainer is off on vacation until Jan 1. I can give my ammie opinion and get his pro thoughts when he returns (maybe today before he hits the road)
