I have the option between two young horses this spring. One is in utero still, due in May. One is a yearling who I’ve already spent some time with. This will not be my first young horse (this is my only way of affording quality horses lol) All other considerations aside, which would you choose off their bloodlines alone? They are similar in a lot of ways, but curious to what others see in pros and cons.
You have nothing attached.
I know, I’m trying to get it figured out
fixed i think!
You haven’t said what you want this young horse for. That would help get you some responses. Do you want it for eventing? Hunting? Dressage? Reining? What?
You have said it isn’t your first young horse. How many other young horses do you have? You say you can’t afford an older horse – what are you doing with your young ones? You don’t sound like a dealer.
I would vote for the one you have spent time with. You know his/her conformation and temperament. If those are pleasing to you, then go for it. If not, can you wait til the other one is on the ground and see? I don’t think many are sold in utero - but I could be wrong.
I assume you are buying a jumper? Correct? Is the yearling a colt or filly? Any idea on the in utero foal? Is the yearling registered? Are sire and dam of both fully approved?
If it’s not your first young horse, and you are able to do all training yourself… I guess I get the affordability angle. Relative to the purchase price of a sound, correct, decently bred 3 or 4 yr old warmblood who has been started undersaddle. But honestly, If either of the two youngsters have a major soundness issue, or other veterinary problem either before, or right when they get started under saddle… can you afford a lifelong walking trail horse or pasture puff? That costs you the same each month whether it’s a beautifully bred warmblood or a kill pen rescue.
All other things equal… I’d go with the yearling. If neither the yearling nor the in utero are from two fully registered and approved parents… I wouldn’t buy either. But that’s just me 
Plenty of other people disagree on that. But there are more than a few people who seem to want to sell unregisterable youngsters or in utero options with some decent breeding… and I find that problematic.
Oh, said horse will ideally be for jumpers, though I’m not opposed to dabbling in other disciplines according to what the horse excels in.
My current horse was purchased as a yearling and is now 9 and he will stay with me forever no matter what happens to him. He is also a half sibling to the dam of the in utero/grand dam of the yearling. I just sold a 5 year old that I had bred. She just wasn’t quite my “type”, and would always be a 4 faulter, and I didn’t actually have her for sale when the perfect home just happened to come along.
I have fully trained both horses myself, with clinics and lessons along the way. I know the risks and challenges that arise with purchasing babies.
The yearling is a colt, yet to be but will be gelded. The in utero is sexed as a filly. Forgot to include I will not be making a decision until it is born. Both parents of both are registered Canadian Warmblood, as is the yearling, and as will the one coming.
I’m looking for opinions strictly on bloodlines. I’m not worried about time spent with them before decision is made as I have multiple years ahead to get that time in.
Gotcha - thanks for clarifying Sounds like you are going into the young horse journey with eyes open.
So a question on the pedigrees and bloodlines shared… In the first link, Bravada is the dam of the potential foal.
In the second, Bravada is apparently the broodmare sire?
It seems like something is amiss with the way the pedigree information is laid out in the photos you linked to.
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Oh good, I didn’t check my work eye roll lol
On Azantys, Bravada is the dam, Dammar is the Sire
Gotcha! I think I found the breeders website…
Based on pedigree alone… I like the in utero option better. Based on the limited information and photos on the breeders website… I still like in utero option better. I don’t love Dammar.
Based on risk… knowing nothing about the price of each? The yearling on the ground is probably a better way to go. If you know and like the dam line though based on your experience with your own 5 yr old, and the in utero foal has been sexed as a filly, and you are reasonably confident that is accurate… that’s a neat thing. I’m a mare person though
Good luck. The young stallion, Atlas, looks nice in the photos on their site.
