Felt the need to share some eye candy.
Secret, three-year-old stallion by Sezuan. What a powerful mover (the canter!) and beautiful, athletic rider. Love the braids. Excellent video quality, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlJegOQVskQ&t=126s
Drool…
Agree ^^ Lovely horse. Also liked the rider reassuring him with little pats. I find it hard, when I see these European videos to believe that the horses look this “together” at only 3.
I’ve seen American horses who are there, too. I strongly dislike the emphasis on looking at horses so young for approvals, because it means we’re naturally selecting for horses who mature early rather than for horses who move up the levels - and I suspect studies will eventually show that’s not necessarily a positive for long term soundness. However - this horse looks like some high quality horses I’ve seen here in that it naturally carries itself and is mostly being allowed to move as it does naturally. That’s a highly talented canter (for which I don’t have strong enough core to hold myself and would not want to ride) but also a green one. I’m glad it’s very green on a young horse - that croup high bounce will go away with time, strength and training. But at 3 it should be allowed to move even green, rather than trying to force it into looking more mature.
Agree netg. Also, some of these young guys that come out all grown-up looking and flashy, do not end up doing much in the show ring, nor do they necessarily produce similar offspring. 3 is awfully young. (Anybody remember Quaterback? He was a sensation in 2006! His get are nice, but not quite the movers he was at this age and he hasn’t done much in competition.)
Discussions at my horse’s inspection centered around monetizing investments early - bigger bone, precocity, etc.
And what a beautiful braiding job!
Lovely horse most normal people have no earthly chance of ever learning to ride!
Good Golly that was lovely! Thanks for sharing. Now back to my humble fat Pone and barely rideable TB! We alllllllmost look like that in our dreams, lol.
Yes, he is only three years old. And while looking so mature, is still very much a baby, and things can happen. It is hard to believe he is so young!
But…Secret’s sire and grandsire are proving themselves as successful competitors. His sire Sezuan (now eight years old) at the same age was the subject of discussion here about his “presentation of all gaits” video. Going by memory, which could be off, but I seem to recall comments about how he was being pushed too hard as a young horse and may not hold up.
I don’t know what Sezuan is up to now, but he last competed in the 7-year-old championships and cleaned house:
https://data.fei.org/Horse/Performance.aspx?p=5BD2452D9AC8EE430139DC9272370E13
Secret’s grand sire Blue Hors Zack (also sire of Glock’s Zonik) is competing very successfully at Grand Prix at age 13:
https://data.fei.org/Horse/Performance.aspx?p=B99144C297D6D57727E21464F162C614
I am by no means an expert on breeding and longevity. Just sharing videos. And drooling.
He is a very, very handsome horse. :yes:
The horse is beautiful but it’s green. The rider is likely a very talented young horse rider who knows how to push a young horse while keeping confidence. The editing is superlative. Hardly any trot. I suspect this horse doesn’t look so “together” on a regular basis, and likely not so much under a different rider…he’s only 3!
There is a proven market for the big “auction movers”, especially if they are intact and can breed. And a proven market for breeding to unproven but flashy young stallions because the stud fees are generally lower and the foal can be turned around quite quickly based on pedigree. Sure makes for a number of horses without the mental of physical capacity to collect and move up the levels.
I find I’m less and less impressed with the young horse programs on any continent. They are too monetized and focused on breeding young sales horses, as opposed to sound and sane dressage horses. I understand there is a demand that opened up this market, but I still don’t think it is in the best interest of the young horse. So few are star 3-4 year olds and star 8-year olds and star 14 year olds.
I saw that one too. A tight and stressful venue requiring a much more controlled ride, though also an opportunity to show off the horse’s wonderful temperament.
This sounds a bit like horse racing. Breed them to be fast, early developers. I know a small breeder; her husband told her not be breed any more WB/TB crosses; they stay around too long before selling. Breed only TBs and sell 'em quick. Maximize return on investment.
Definite riding ability goals there! And he is a lovely horse - made more so by riding which allows him an outlet for the energy that type of venue will build in a youngster, without restricting him too much.
As an aside, was Sezuan the one hwo they thought was Romanov, then discovered was a Zack baby when they DNA tested? I remember thinking whoever that was had a way nicer hind leg than I expected for a Romanov offspring, but Zack is one of my favorites.
My former instructor has a filly by Sezuan. Very precocious and yes, the same very active hind leg. She is 4 this year. Instructor recently moved so now I won’t get to see her in the flesh:(.
Sezuan is a very nice sire.
Susan
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