Stedinger?

[YankeeLawyer]

[QUOTE=Perfect Pony;5436217]
Simba is one of my favorite horses, he is the one that made me really notice Stedinger and re-evaluate the Sandro Hit line (which I really did not like from some of the offspring I had seen). I dream about owning a horse like him but know I could never do him justice. I cannot believe someone has not snapped him up at that price, but I would imagine you are also picky about where he goes. Congratulations again.

How big do you expect him to be? Do the Stedinger offspring tend to be large?[/QUOTE]

Thank you for the kind words regarding Simba :). He may be the sweetest horse I have ever had.

The most important thing to me is to make the right match. As I said, I was working with one person who would be awesome but she has a lot of other commitments so the timing is not great for her. I wanted to give her a chance so I have not actively marketed him, and I love having him around so not in a hurry.

Re Stedinger - he tends to add a bit of height to the offspring. I anticipate the Simba will finish a medium size, 16.1 or 16.2, but he was his mom’s first foal (she is 16.1 and a ladies’ horse in build - feminine, not heavy). He does not have a particularly big barrel. He moves very uphill which can make him seem taller, but he in fact is not that big.

Simba is one youngster that I would not worry about placing with an amateur because he has such a willing and laid back temperament; nothing seems to faze him. I wish all my youngsters were like him because it is so much more fun when they are easy like that! The others are good but have the usual baby moments. Schu, his little brother, went to his new home last fall but I am getting similar good reports about him.

[Bats79]

My Stedinger has the same markings as the stallion I think - though he got a grey gene from his mother. He has the most white of any of her foals - 4 tiny white pasterns and a star and snip. He also got the height 8.5 inches of bone and 17.2hh at 4 years.

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/33710_118130344912730_100001472949113_119269_3047346_n.jpg

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=119292&id=100001472949113

[back_in_the_saddle]

Saint Sandro looks to be a saint of a horse. And he’s a stallion out of a arab mare (nice tempered arab). Maybe Stedinger lets the foals take the mare’s temperment???

[YankeeLawyer]

[QUOTE=back in the saddle;5553171]
Saint Sandro looks to be a saint of a horse. And he’s a stallion out of a arab mare (nice tempered arab). Maybe Stedinger lets the foals take the mare’s temperment???[/QUOTE]

Or maybe Stedinger is misunderstood by breeders who lack firsthand experience with his offspring

[back_in_the_saddle]

[QUOTE=YankeeLawyer;5553506]
Or maybe Stedinger is misunderstood by breeders who lack firsthand experience with his offspring ;)[/QUOTE]

:lol:
I’ll report back on my first hand experience when my foal gets here. (always thinking positive thoughts) :yes:

[HFSH]

My Stedinger mare is a love bug, something she most certainly did not get from her mother :lol:

[Home_Again_Farm]

Both of my older Stedingers went under saddle beautifully. The 2nd one is a 17h gelding owned by a friend. She recently told me that like his mom (my mare Wintermaske) he seems to learn everything on the first try and then have it down solidly.

We have a new Stedinger - a black colt who is an ET from my mare Wolkenstanza. He is one of her best foals, with a powerful, but very loose and elastic movement. He’s the most outgoing Stedinger we have had to date. Some can be timid foals, but they have all come around quickly. I’ll be repeating Stedinger with both Wolkenstanza and Wintermaske.

[DownYonder]

[QUOTE=back in the saddle;5553171]
Saint Sandro looks to be a saint of a horse. And he’s a stallion out of a arab mare (nice tempered arab). Maybe Stedinger lets the foals take the mare’s temperment???[/QUOTE]

Most who watched the jumping under saddle portion of his 70DT would probably disagree about the “saint” part.

[DownYonder]

Just wondering - has anyone sold a Stedinger offspring to an amateur rider? How are they doing?

I still believe from everything I have heard from experienced breeders and trainers in Germany that they are generally considered to be professional horses - at least as young horses. “Love bugs” they may be, but I have been repeatedly told that they are “too much horse” for most amateurs because of their sensitivity, reactivity, and athleticism, and that they have to be started carefully by very good Y/H professionals. Many professionals do seem to love them, though - seems a lot of them have high hopes these horses will dazzle the judges in the Y/H divisions.

I will add that some of the trainers I have talked to believe the Stedingers will “eventually” settle enough as they mature to become good mounts for GOOD amateurs, but they do not recommend the youngsters for amateurs at this point. I think his oldest foal crop is now 7 y/o, so it will be interesting to see how many actually do end up successful with amateur riders.

I also find it interesting that of the many Stedinger colts presented at the OL pre-selections each year, VERY few have been selected for the main licensing event. There is in fact only one Stedinger son on the OL stallion roster - Statesman.

[ChocoMare]

@DownYonder;5554504

Most who watched the jumping under saddle portion of his 70DT would probably disagree about the “saint” part.

Perhaps one should see how’s he done since the test?

http://www.goldenventurefarm.com/1GVFNSSShowRecord.htm

[YankeeLawyer]

DY, one of my colts was purchased by an amateur, though a very good amateur. I do not breed for the amateur market but like anyone else - pros included - I appreciate a willing and uncomplicated horse and have no interest in putting myself or anyone who works with me at risk. I like easy and my horses tend to be easy.

Regarding sensitivity and the amateur rider - as discussed many times, rider ability and preferences vary a lot and I suspect we would not even be able to get people to agree regarding a definition of sensitive. Sensitive to some people may mean reactive, spooky, hot, and tense. To others it might simply mean that the horse does exactly what is asked with fingertip control, like a sportscar. As a breeder, rider, and owner I don’t want the former but strive for the latter.

I would not put a poor rider or an uneducated rider on any of my horses because that is not what I want for them. My goal is to avoid ever subjecting them to a bad experience in terms of handling or riding, and they are raised by competent people. Given that, we have no issues with Stedingers.

[system]

look at his website his conformation is flawless and has very nice movement that is a kind of horse u pay lots of money for.

[Callaway]

It’s so funny that this conversation seems to pop up everywhere, haha, right YankeeLawyer? I have been wanting to breed to Stedinger, and it seems like so many people have something to say about his own interior qualities. Has anyone seen his own supposed interior qualities in his offspring? I’ve only heard of and seen very nice offspring, in terms of size and temperament (among other things).

[back_in_the_saddle]

I think DY wants to banish the entire S line.

[Serendipity_Farm_Spo]

Stedinger offspring and amateurs

I have had two Stedinger offspring to date and absolutely love them…they are athletic, bright, inquisitive and willing.

My oldest is a coming six year old that I started myself and have ridden since with the occasional oversight of a professional. I am not a pro rider but have quite a bit of young horse experience as I raise and start my own. I found this gelding very easy to start - no problems what so ever. He IS a big mover with a huge canter and is very “catlike” in his abilities so I wouldn’t put someone on him that is not accustomed to riding a big moving horse - but other than that, I feel I could trust him with almost anyone up on him. He is not “hot” or spooky and has only offered to buck once in his riding career. He is an exceptional jumper and since my jumper rider is laid up I have taken on the task of jumping (although I haven’t jumped seriously for 10 years). He was incredibly easy and willing with a “rusty” rider aboard.

I really don’t like generalizations of a bloodline as it often becomes “gospel” even by those who have not had any personal experience with the offspring.

I would agree that as “young” horses that these youngsters will need more handling and potientially patience. Perhaps they are not well suited for a raising system that often leaves young stock out to pasture and minimally handled until they are started undersaddle. If this were the case I could see that the handler could possibly be faced with difficulties when starting that could have been resolved with earlier handling and groundwork. But, as DY stated, they often settle.

I would not hesitate to use Stedinger again in my breeding program.

Http://www.serendipitysporthorses.com

[DownYonder]

[QUOTE=YankeeLawyer;5554593]
DY, one of my colts was purchased by an amateur, though a very good amateur. I do not breed for the amateur market but like anyone else - pros included - I appreciate a willing and uncomplicated horse and have no interest in putting myself or anyone who works with me at risk. I like easy and my horses tend to be easy.

Regarding sensitivity and the amateur rider - as discussed many times, rider ability and preferences vary a lot and I suspect we would not even be able to get people to agree regarding a definition of sensitive. Sensitive to some people may mean reactive, spooky, hot, and tense. To others it might simply mean that the horse does exactly what is asked with fingertip control, like a sportscar. As a breeder, rider, and owner I don’t want the former but strive for the latter.

I would not put a poor rider or an uneducated rider on any of my horses because that is not what I want for them. My goal is to avoid ever subjecting them to a bad experience in terms of handling or riding, and they are raised by competent people. Given that, we have no issues with Stedingers.[/QUOTE]

Very good comments. I think the key - as has been stressed - is that they are raised/handled/started/ridden by competent people who are not intimidated or scared by highly reactive horses. As a German trainer said to me - they are proving to be much like the Jazz offspring. Responsible breeders/sellers will take extra care to get these horses into the right hands.

[DownYonder]

[QUOTE=back in the saddle;5554728]
I think DY wants to banish the entire S line.[/QUOTE]

LOL, not hardly. Many of them are quite amazing horses.

I do think there is a real risk, though, of certain breeding populations becoming oversaturated with Sandro Hit blood.

And - FWIW - I have for several years suggested Stedinger to several friends. These are experienced breeders and foal raisers, and they have very well-bred and good minded mares who could use a little spark and sizzle. Both breeders have declined to use him based on things they have heard from GERMAN breeders.

[YankeeLawyer]

[QUOTE=DownYonder;5554799]
Very good comments. I think the key - as has been stressed - is that they are raised/handled/started/ridden by competent people who are not intimidated or scared by highly reactive horses. As a German trainer said to me - they are proving to be much like the Jazz offspring. Responsible breeders/sellers will take extra care to get these horses into the right hands.[/QUOTE]

I would agree with this. Also, Serendipity raises an interesting point regarding different approaches to raising youngsters as I suspect that some of them do much better with more attentive and regular handling at an early age that typically is seen only at smaller “boutique” type farms.

[Home_Again_Farm]

One of mine is with a young woman who is new to dressage. She does start young horses professionally, but she is pretty new to it. The other is owned by an adult ammy. Both are good riders, but neither are the sort that wanted tremendously challenging rides. They have both raved about the try and the willingness of their Stedinger youngsters.

[Home_Again_Farm]

DY, I would not call any of my Stedingers “highly reactive.” I’d call them sensitive (using YL’s definition - a the horse that does exactly what is asked with fingertip control, like a sportscar), smart, forward, athletic. Like YL, I really try to place my horses with good riders who will not shut down their forward tendency or make the gaits that the horse was born with deteriorate. That is true for the Stedingers, but also for the rest of what I breed.

In my experience, two of mine were born a bit shy and timid (despite having a very bold mama). However, by the time they were weanlings they were absolutely normal in behavior and easy to handle. Our newest Stedinger is not at all shy, despite being from an ET mare that is not as well handled as my own mares. I think that it is way too easy to generalize and brand a group of horses. If your experts are saying they would not recommend putting Stedingers with bad riders, I’ll concur. But, I think most will do just fine with any competent AA who is not afraid of a forward moving, athletic horse.