I was thinking of what Tom said. He has a dream and has put so much work into achieving his dream but does Ireland cooperate…there is really not a base there to produce riders and trainers of upper level horses. The Irish don’t DO dressage even if their horses do so they end up being way behind the times in their ability to develop modern day jumpers. So even the Irish go elsewhere to buy horses brought up to top level. There are too few people who understand that the best horses are lost in the absence of quality training of the basics. And America is far far worse. Bummed. PatO
[QUOTE=Kyzteke;6571548]
That’s interesting, because I was just told the opposite by the inspector from another German registry. He said the stallion rearers will often buy prospects when they are only afew days old and they have a fairly good rate of success.
Of course, much of their choices have to do with pedigree, especially the mother-line.
I remember reading somewhere that Rubinstein was a real “ehh” as a foal, and even as a young stallion, so I’m not sure where I stand on this.
Personally, I don’t think I am astute enough to pick out a stallion prospect as a foal, but (I’m told) some folks are very successful at it.[/QUOTE]
Stallion rearers buy hundreds of foals and hope a few turn out. You can of course over time start to see prospects more clearly due to the type , gaits, elasticity and the predictability of the motherline.
there is a 1-2 % chance any colt born will be an approved stallion in Holstein. Like I said…it’s nearly impossible to pick them pout as foals.
You should see the stallion fields in Germany. they are quite impressive.
^ so over the years do they weed out the ones that are nice but not stallion nice and market them as nice geldings?
For some good foal entertainment take a look at www.belgian-horses-
auction.be which has videos of their foal collection (click on Collectie). Particularly little Mendel has an outrageous jump. Its very helpful as the pedigrees are on the same page as the videos.
[QUOTE=JB;6568631]
I think this exercise is best worked the other way. Look at top horses and their baby pics/videos and see how they looked back then. That way you’re starting with the known entity - performance for example - and looking back in time to see what they looked like starting out.
If you can start to see correlations between confo and movement then vs now, you get a better handle on forecasting future performance of foals, regardless of what happens in the 10 minutes of an inspection :)[/QUOTE]
This. I’d LOVE to see video of some of the greats as foals. Rubinstein, Donnerhall, Totilas, Gribaldi, Jazz, Ferro, Blue Hors Matinee and also some of the more athletic approved Friesian stallions as foals.
Totally agree that everything hinges on who buys these youngsters. I’ve seen one or two amazingly talented horses owned by over-horsed DQ’s (who can’t ride them and won’t let anyone else either) have their talent completely wasted. 
Here is our stallion as a foal and then this year. He is five now…we collected him the first time this last spring.
Photo of the great Sapphire as a foal (bottom of page)
http://galsandhorses.blogspot.fr/2012/05/thoughts-on-sapphires-retirement.html
I don’t think she would be rated “premium” foal.
Diarado looks athletic in his foal video. Would love to see a video of Sapphire as a foal.
The inspection business is not the same as the performance business…oddly enough most are not breeding for a beauty pageant but you would never know that at most sport horse inspections.:no:
Nutmeg, I can’t get your link to work…
[QUOTE=columbus;6572017]
I was thinking of what Tom said. He has a dream and has put so much work into achieving his dream but does Ireland cooperate…there is really not a base there to produce riders and trainers of upper level horses. The Irish don’t DO dressage even if their horses do so they end up being way behind the times in their ability to develop modern day jumpers. So even the Irish go elsewhere to buy horses brought up to top level. There are too few people who understand that the best horses are lost in the absence of quality training of the basics. And America is far far worse. Bummed. PatO[/QUOTE]
Thanks, Pat. Yes, on so many levels Ireland is not easy. But what it has is good grass that can be rented at affordable prices and a climate that allows me to have all my mares and youngsters outdoors 24 x 365. Other than that…I will get back to you if I can think of anything!
[QUOTE=Noms;6574586]
Diarado as a foal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNKZTjGYngY[/QUOTE]
His mom is one nice-looking mare!
[QUOTE=grayarabpony;6576042]
His mom is one nice-looking mare![/QUOTE]
Yes she is.
Diarado’s mother,
[QUOTE=andy.smaga;6574035]
Photo of the great Sapphire as a foal (bottom of page)
http://galsandhorses.blogspot.fr/2012/05/thoughts-on-sapphires-retirement.html
I don’t think she would be rated “premium” foal.[/QUOTE]
That’s for sure Andy!!! Thanks for that link - not that it is a conformation shot but that head looks - well - huge :lol:and the joints big and a bit over at the knee - LOL - just my quick browse - ahh, the wonders of talent hidden in a wee baby form so hard to evaluate - it takes so MANY attributes to make them great!!!
[QUOTE=Samotis;6571601]
Here is a link to Secretariat as a foal…
http://fannymanson.blogspot.com/2006/12/secretariat.html[/QUOTE]
Beautiful! He looks a tad straight behind as a foal AND an adult, but I guess that didn’t stop him! Lol!
wow, Diarado’s mother is a beautiful mare. Looks a little spicy to ride…
[QUOTE=Samotis;6571601]
Here is a link to Secretariat as a foal…
http://fannymanson.blogspot.com/2006/12/secretariat.html[/QUOTE]
Such a beautiful colt!
Sorry about the link! Should be www.belgian-horses-auction.be with no space between horses- and auction. My bad. It took place a week or so ago.
Nutmeg those babies can JUMP!
