Let me be very clear. I have no vendetta against Stedinger. From what I have seen and heard, he makes fancy, elastic, big moving, athletic offspring – and from a wide variety of mares. And, from what I have seen and heard, he also makes offspring who can be a bit shy as foals, and who often tend to be somewhat sensitive and easily over-stimulated as young horses. I hear this time and again from experienced breeders and professionals in Germany, as well as from some very good trainers here who have tried Stedinger offspring. I applaud those of you who have used carefully chosen mares for him and who are committed to giving the foals and young horses the kind of careful upbringing they need to give them the best chance to succeed.
[QUOTE=ChocoMare;5554588]
Perhaps one should see how’s he done since the test? 
http://www.goldenventurefarm.com/1GVFNSSShowRecord.htm[/QUOTE]
Thank you for this link. It is very good to hear that he has conquered whatever demons he was dealing with at the 70DT. And also good to hear that his owner took the advice offered on TOB and put him out there competing to prove that he CAN go quietly around a jump course.
Hello,
I agree with Mary Lou on the reactive/sensitivity part. I would not consider either of mine “reactive” but they can be sensitive - the type that likes a soft ride. If you were to get after my gelding to agressively, crop, spur ect - he will remember the area were he got in trouble for days. So, no aggressive riding or he would loose confidence is repeated often. What is really important hear is that once they trust you they want to work for you and work with you. Not the type that will use their athleticism for “evil” but does require a sympithetic ride.
I have a Stedinger mare who is 4. She is about 17.1 1/2 hands, but the more “modern” build. ALL leg, shorter back, long neck. She is out of a mare with Don Primero and Einklang lines. The mare is hotter than Shanti is. I would not say Shanti is hot at all, but she is very observant of her surroundings (she loves to sniff EVERYTHING and watch airplanes go by in the sky.) She takes a LOT after Stedinger. The mare is longer through the back, shorter legs, but a gorgeous neck and only 16.1 or 2.
I am definitely an amateur (and young), and I am the only one that has ridden her besides my mother a handful of times. She has been incredibly easy to break out and is one of the most naturally balanced horses I have ever ridden (plus that stride is HUGE!)
I am planning on showing her in the hunter derbies, but she could definitely have a future in the dressage ring. I just put aluminums on her and it makes a world of a difference movement wise. With the steel shoes, she has gorgeous dressage movement. With the aluminums, she has more of the hunter “floatiness.” The reason I bought her as a hunter was because her jump is just fabulous. So much power and bascule, it is so fun to ride (although I have only jumped her 2’6", but you can really feel it.)
I take her on trails and trailer her to a different arena to ride and she is great. She rarely spooks and if she does, she stays in one spot and just stares. She loves to cuddle and get into everything (including wheelbarrows.)
Here is a pic:
http://tinypic.com/r/vew0ti/7
Indeed! :yes:
[QUOTE=DownYonder;5554804]
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.[/QUOTE]
Sorry, my bad. Everytime the S topic comes up, I get a negative impression from your posts so I was confused. 
I think there’s several lines that would fall into the overpopulation category. D for example… those are everywhere as well. And look at the super close linebreeding they’re doing with the D’s these days. That can’t be a healthy thing to do. :no: Personally I don’t think the S line is the one to be concerned about. People surely won’t do close breedings with the S.
Does Stedinger have a short back? My new filly has a much shorter back than I was expecting. Not disappointed, just surprised at the length.
Stedinger
I have had three full siblings. All colts. All very sensible and rideable. Statesman was the middle son…I have his full yearling brother here in the US and he is a doll! Easy going and a piece of cake to work with!
My new Stedinger filly is easy peasy. Loves people. Never met a stranger. Even with needing antibiotics 3x/day.
And I have video proof:
I have a Stedinger/Day Dream/Rubinstein I colt who is extremely friendly, bold and curious. He had a rough start with “dummy foal syndrome” for a few days at birth and had to have IV fluids, steroids, antibiotics, etc.–invasive things that would have made a lot of foals shy of humans.
He is an absolute love with good manners. He leads like a champ, stands for the farrier, gets haltered and unhaltered every day. He’s an embryo transfer foal but is the spitting image of his biological dam. Stedinger seemed to improve his dam’s canter which I hoped for. I also wanted to get some more height but I have no idea about that yet.
For what its worth, this is the first colt/future gelding I ever thought I could keep from my breeding program and only the second foal ever that wasn’t for sale immediately after birth. I will definitely repeat the breeding and hope for a filly next time!! Stedinger was a very nice cross on my mare!
I haven’t taken any pictures in a few weeks but here is his webpage:
http://www.goodnessridge.com/foals/shameless/
and his birth announcement:
http://www.goodnessridge.com/2011/04/welcome-baronessas-colt-by-stedinger/
