My mare has a decent walk and canter, especially when relaxed, but I would love a little good influence in the trot. I’m definitely not a pro- relatively brave and can handle some sass and a forward ride, but would really not like to end up with something dirty. I’ve got a great trainer and plan to go slow, but something that’s gonna drop a shoulder just see me hit the dirt… nah… can you tell I’ve been there?
Ill do some digging on Roc USA if he is still around, thanks!
I’ll have to check out Toronto. I wish your friend had the baby on the ground already- I’ve love to hear how that match goes. You said she’s pretty quiet though. Do you happen to know what temperament he tends to pass on?
Oh, I would be very happy if I got something a little smaller- I’m 5’2" and all of that is in my thigh. Luckily, mare is relatively narrow, but I feel like a child riding most other “full size” horses. I have a medium pony that I don’t look too awkward on, lol. What is your mare’s little half sibling like? Completely different dam, from the sound, but I’m curious now.
Thank goodness I have a few months to look at options- this is the most fun I’ve had in awhile with all these choices to learn about!
Do you think they might result in too light when crossed with a lighter mare? I’d like to add a little bit of bone, if possible. Do you happen to know what the ones you are familiar with were crossed with?
I’d be in need of a pretty massive mounting block if I ended up with something north of 17hh 
I’m hoping between her size and this being her first, I can avoid this. I will, however, take your luck at getting fillies!
Tate definitely sounds like he is pretty successful at improving and I really do like the idea of trying something that is competing and has babies competing. Plus, it looked from his Facebook page that there are some belonging to and being competed by amateurs, which is great.
Are you planning on bringing yours along yourself or sending them for training? How fun to have a few by the same sire at once. I really do appreciate all the information; the more feedback I get on him, the higher on my list he is.
Another thought OP is to look into some Connemara stallions. Connemara x TB is a wonderful cross for eventing and sounds like it might get you the size you want too. I don’t know anything about Connemaras, other than that Ard Celtic Art was a pretty amazing guy. Maybe there is still frozen available from him.
Otherwise, check out video of Belafonte D’Avalon I think you might like him.
My last competition horse was 17.3…I travel with a 3 step mounting block no matter how tall my horse is lol I highly doubt Tate would give you a 17+ hander out of a 15.2 hand mare, but genetics are funny so I won’t jinx it lol
There are Tate babies with amateurs and pros, I am an amateur and will likely start mine myself. His owner can give you details on all the various ones out competing and in what types of homes
So, not only did I like him, but I think he might be one of my vet’s first choice as well. We were chatting about breeding today and she immediately brought up German riding ponies when I mentioned not wanting something big. Thank you for suggesting him!
Ha, I know right- most people would love something big… it’s on my hell, no list I should probably go back through my mare’s lines and make sure there is no hidden height in there!
Ive been messaging with Tate’s owner and she has been so helpful with all of my questions. I’ve created a huge spreadsheet with all the details of each and he checks a whole lot of boxes. He really only seems like he would add to my mare, definitely not risk taking anything away that I’d like to keep. What made you just make the leap and pick one? And what made you want to breed in the first place? As an amateur, I usually get the “why don’t you just buy one?” question…
Ooh - exciting! So there was a great article by William Micklem in Eventing nation a little while ago, talking about using pony blood for improvement. It was titled “does size matter” I think and I tried to copy the link for you. Some really fantastic points made.
http://eventingnation.com/william-micklem-does-size-matter-in-praise-of-smaller-horses/
The second it hit the Internet I shared it with the friend who bred my young mare’s G line dam to Belafonte. I also shared it with another friend who breeds Irish Sport horses. She has this unique broodmare who is an Irish Draught x Polish Arab… and around 15.1. I COVET that mare… she is SPECIAL. My friend loves her, but says it isn’t easy to sell babies from that mare… such a shame! Anyway, I just loved this article - it made boatloads of sense to me as a rider
Maybe some strong Holstiner jumping blood? Look into Conway at Karen Reids barn. Maybe something at Wild Turkey Farms? Can not really go wrong with Selle Francais blood either to improve jump and power.
Thank you! I was actually trying to come up with a Connemara stallion to add to the possibilities. We have quite a bit of half-Connemaras around here, but I hadn’t found a stallion that I like as well as yours. Is his son out of a TB mare?
You have to remember when breeding that there is a very serious genetic hoof flaw that only expresses in ponies that are homozygous for it. It’s a recessive. However, a heterozygous pony WILL BE A CARRIER, and there is a 50-50 chance that the “bad” gene will be found in each foal. Breeding to a TB will almost certainly mean that the resulting foal will not express the disease, but then there is still a chance that the foal will be a carrier and, if bred to other than a Connemara, could pass on the gene into the wider horse population.
With these known genetic diseases that are limited to one breed, it seems to me VERY important to understand the genetic consequences of breeding to carriers; and, it also seems to me, that the responsible thing is not to breed to a carrier unless the resulting foals are tested for the disease and never bred if a carrier. Males can be gelded, but fillies must be in a situation where there is no chance they will ever be bred.
The Connemara breeding societies worldwide are very aware of the genetic flaw and have been proactive in their response to it, unlike the AQHA and HYYP. If you are planning on a Connemara breeding, please get in touch with the
American Connemare breed society and discuss the disease, its prevalence, and whether the stallion you are considering is a carrier.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoof_wall_separation_disease
Off my soapbox now.
Those are some very nice babies! I think I remember the pinto from Tate’s FB page. Is Ehrentanz standing at Aquafarms? on their facebook page, I only found mention of his sire, but he seems to still be overseas?
I’ve got a couple Holsteiners on the list, Limoncello from Wild Turkey being one. Do you know of any offspring from Conway that are eventing? Thanks!
Viney - is this specific to Connemaras only, or something to dig into when considering riding pony stallions as well (many of whom carry Welsh lines)?
To add to the confusion… I believe Ard Celtic Art is approved by most of the GRP registries.
One more thought… Welsh Cob? For a nice cross? Goldhill’s Brandysnap is a LOVELY boy. His owner posts regularly and maybe has good info to share if he has babies from TB mares and what they have turned out like in terms of size, temperament and talent for specific disciplines.
Thank you so much for telling me this- I had absolutely no idea. Do you happen to know if they keep a running list of who is a carrier?
good questions…why breed, why breed to that stallion, why not just buy? Well if no one breeds, there is nothing to buy. I am in a good position to breed and raise young horses. I live in a place with a low cost of living, very reasonable costs for horse raising and vet care, and big pastures. I love Trakehner horses, and want there to be more of them! I also love bringing babies along. As far as picking stallions, I look at the mare, pick her apart, and then think about the goal I have for the foal, think about any foals she has had in the past, analyze my choices, and then go with my gut! Which I know isn’t the most helpful answer.
I thought KD Sporthorses went out of business a year or so ago. Didn’t someone important die? They certainly had a dispersal sale of many of their mares and young horses.
Just what I was looking for, thank you!
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