Depending on what discipline you compete in, I would suggest you look at the Breeder rankings on the USEF site for that discipline. Those are certainly the ones that have bred horses that have been successful in performance.
You might want to take a look at the FB group for Oldenburg/GOV horses:
www.facebook.com/groups/OldenburgGOVHorses/?fref=nf
Lots of nice horses listed there.
Agree the USEF rankings can give you some idea of breeders producing good competition horses, but as ISE well knows, the USEF database is full of errors and omissions regarding bloodlines, breeder info, etc., so the rankings have to be taken with a grain of salt.
How do the USEF rankings work? I ask because I know that often big breeders end up topping the lists. This is, of course, because they produce quality horses. However, it must also ultimately be something of a numbers game - breeders producing 20+ foals a year have a much greater chance of producing winning horses than those who breed 2-3 a year (speaking both in terms of statistical outliers and also the brand recognition of the large breeder which increases the likelihood that these horses will end up in the hands of BNRs and trainers).
[QUOTE=Tradewind;7829184]
How do the USEF rankings work? I ask because I know that often big breeders end up topping the lists. This is, of course, because they produce quality horses. However, it must also ultimately be something of a numbers game - breeders producing 20+ foals a year have a much greater chance of producing winning horses than those who breed 2-3 a year (speaking both in terms of statistical outliers and also the brand recognition of the large breeder which increases the likelihood that these horses will end up in the hands of BNRs and trainers).[/QUOTE]
Rankings are based on how many points a horse earns in that discipline at USEF sanctioned shows (for that awards year, and assuming the breeder name is on file with USEF). While “big breeders” have the numbers advantage as far as dominating the rankings, smaller breeders who have consistently produced good horses THROUGH THE YEARS can also appear in the top rankings, as long as horses they have bred are out there competing in that discipline.
The rankings can be manipulated somewhat by a breeder hanging onto and showing many of the horses they have bred. Yes, this gets very expensive, but the Dressage Breeding rankings in particular have more than a few of these breeders in the top spots. In many cases, these are breeders with their own stallions who are using their place in the rankings to help promote their breeding program, and their stallion. Their standing as “top breeder” brings in buyers, who show the horses, which continually puts the breeders (and/or their stallions) in the standings. Also, some of these breeders have become very adept at picking shows and judges where they know their horses will be successful.
I am not sure if this holds true for the Hunter Breeding rankings - haven’t checked breeder/owner connections on those, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the case there also.
Bear in mind there are fallacies in the system. For one thing, breeder info sometimes doesn’t ever get recorded with USEF. This is often true for smaller breeders who don’t “pre-record” their horses before selling them. They may have quite a few horses out there competing successfully, but if the breeder name isn’t part of the horse’s record with USEF, that horse’s competition results will not count toward the breeder.
Another issue is that horses often end up in a different discipline than what they were “bred for”, and breeders many have multiple good horses competing successfully in several different disciplines. They may be very good breeders, but they also may not show up in the top rankings for any particular discipline because their horses are “scattered” throughout the sport horse disciplines.
The United States Sport Horse Breeders Association (USSHBA) has a directory where you will find breeders from small scale to large operation, throughout the USA and of multiple disciplines.
You need to check out Anissa Cottongim she owns Emerald Acres and has some beautiful youngsters! Not sure what they are priced at right now but ask her about Legs(barn name) he’s got to be one of my favorites!
In addition many breeders both large and small offer raising options: you can leave the horse there until of an age to back for a very reasonable fee…as long as you insure the horse.
Sadly the usef rankings are not accurate. I can tell you that I have bred several floating around there… And you won’t find me listed as the breeder anywhere. All the horses are showing under a different name with no breeder listed. Sigh.
It is strange that a breeder can receive points for a horse of unknown breeding.
I find it strange that a breeder can receive points for a horse recorded with an unknown sire and dam.
Friend Sandi Lieb on Facebook. She is a small KWPN NA breeder geared mostly towards dressage, and some jumpers. All of her youngsters are top quality. She may have something you are interested in.
Located in Ocala, FL.
The world of event horse breeders is fairly small. There are only a handful that breed specifically for eventing. There are some facebook pages out there. OP can also look at the FEH and YEH class results. Most breeders have had a few of their off spring in those clases. Don’t just look at the finals…but look at the other classes as many don’t bother going all the way to the championships with their young stock.
Honestly though, <10K for a 2 year old + is going to be a bit hard to find. There are some out there. But from a breeders perspective, most of mine have been priced higher than that as I have more into them by that point and I can start them myself so I typically resigned myself to holding on to them for another year of two and see what they are undersaddle. I might sell them for less if the right person comes around but honestly, I’m not going to waste my time marketing them at that age.
[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;7831232]
Honestly though, <10K for a 2 year old + is going to be a bit hard to find. There are some out there. But from a breeders perspective, most of mine have been priced higher than that as I have more into them by that point and I can start them myself so I typically resigned myself to holding on to them for another year of two and see what they are undersaddle. I might sell them for less if the right person comes around but honestly, I’m not going to waste my time marketing them at that age.[/QUOTE]
Pretty much this ^ We will sell weanlings and yearlings fairly “cheaply” but once they are two year olds, they aren’t far from being under saddle and therefor (usually) worth more.
I am a small breeder who started out breeding to produce quality horses for myself and daughter starting with a lovely French mare by Voltaire. Her oldest offspring is a 9 yo gelding by Ciceras Icewater competing Intermediate with my daughter. I never intended to own a stallion again, but when I was offered the chance to buy Concerto Grosso (who crosses well with Icewater daughters) I jumped at the chance even though the current economic climate does not favor the small stallion owner. Because I have an in house trainer (my daughter) and a large property, I’m not forced to sell my youngsters and try to get them under saddle before making the big push to sell. I would like to sell them as foals, but buyers in the jumping horse market would rather purchase horses going under saddle. I do get my fillies registered and later inspected into the Main Mare Book of the AHHA as I do believe it increases their value. As for marketing Concerto Grosso, it’s finding the niche breeders. About half of the mares coming to him are Holsteiners and the rest, breeders looking to upgrade their performance mares. He is approved AHHA, ISR and now RSPI.
look for foals and young horses
We will have them advertised on the sale sites and possible on the breed societies web sites. We have foals listed, not trained adult horses as much, though all our foals are not getting listed because people call us when they see one advertised but they buy another. PatO
[QUOTE=eventerchick517;7824551]
Where do I find breeders like this? I’ve been doing some googling but that hasn’t quite turned up what I’m looking for. Any suggestions?[/QUOTE]
US Sport Horse Breeders Association
http://www.usshba.org
Take a look at their “Find a Breeder” page.
