Dressage stallion suggestions please!

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nelliefinellie

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I'm thinking of putting my 5 yr old KWPN mare in foal. She has been going slightly irregular in trot, very intermittently. Physio thinks her joints are immature. She is going to vets on Friday for lameness work up, not sure how conclusive this will be as she is only v slightly lame after flexion and if lunged on the hard. I have decided that if there is a problem that needs rest to put her in foal and give her a year off. Obviously its late in the year to be doing this so need to be pdq in finding stallion. She is quite small, and light limbed, so looking for bigger type with good bone. Her only other conformational fault is being a little short in the neck . Budget is limited - under 1k. I am thinking of Nibley Union Jack as I saw him in a Shearwater class and liked him. Any other ideas?
 
What area are you from?

Look on the sport horse gb website, there is all the graded stallions on there!

My suggestion is talk to bbmat he has some very nice Dressage stallions
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Just my opinion, but i would have thought that putting her in foal would be putting her joints under strain because of the extra weight she would have to carry. I would check with your vet, who will probably tell you I'm talking b*ll*cks!
 
Thanks - that's great! I am in Warwickshire. Been looking at imported semen (well not actually at the semen obviously!) but all a bit out of price range unless for single frozen dose which seems a bit of a gamble.
 
Yes I did think of that, but it will be over 6 months by the time the foal is causing any extra weight. Her joints are not that bad, she is just ever so slightly toed in, and beacuse she moves quite extravagantly her fetlocks do flex quite a lot. I'm hoping they just need to strengthen up, but obviously will take vet's advice.
 
Just a word of caution - firstly you'll put extra strain on her 'immature' body by making it produce a foal. Secondly, you run the risk of producing a foal who becomes 'irregular' as a 5yo too....I presume you don't want this?
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Thanks for all the veterinary advice but really I am looking for stallion advice! The mare is fabulous, just a little immature and I would rather give her some time off now than keep working her and exacerbate a slight weakness. She won her third ever dressage test last weekend with 70% getting 8 for her paces (affiliated), and there is no reason whatsoever to suppose that she will produce an 'irregular' foal.
 
There are some really nice stallions about in the UK, so I would think about some of those first before you start going to the expense of importing some semen... it can work out quite pricey, at least it did when I was working out costs.

How about this stallion... quite young but has good bone and was one of the ones I went to have a look at. I decided not to use him because he had a bit too much bone for my mare, therefore went with Pro-Set instead
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http://hooze-dressage.co.uk/tyson.htm

There are also some nice ones at Meadow Stud and High Offley Stud too.
 
Hi, have you thought that maybe it would be a good idea to try to produce a slightly smaller foal to start with, to reduce stress/strain on the mare, and to concentrate on a stallion with perfect straight limbs etc rather than one that is just bigger with more bone. Larger horses are just as likely to go lame as smaller finer ones. I would be especially worried about using a stallion that is big and chunky as from what you have said it sounds as though your mare has almost outgrown her joints, so to speak? If the foal ends up having the same problem, but with added weight it could become more lame and quicker than your mare.

My advice would be to go and see some stallions in the flesh so you can assess their limbs for yourself to give your girl the best chance of producing a foal who will not suffer problems later on in life.

Good luck!
 
Hi
Thanks for your useful comments - she is not really outgown her limbs - she is just a small lightweight horse. She did put on a lot of weight this spring which did make her look over topped and probably wasnt good for her joints - now on diet! She is just under 16hh, though all the stallions and mares on her papers are over 16.2 so she must be a throw back! I am looking at stallions around the 16.2 marks, partly as I don't know if I will keep or sell the foal and thought a bigger one would be marketable - do you have any suggestions?
 
Union Jack is nice as you said, but I think that he is possibly not a good choice for a horse with weak limbs..

Pro set stock are easy to sell.. Showmaker and Millenium are both nice stallions too!

My little stallion Raubritter would deifnitely improve your chances of getting you a foal with strong straight limbs, but only stands at 16.1

We have a young KWPN stallion Zigeuneknabe that is bigger and has good straight limbs, but it is his first season so he is unproven.

There is a lot more choice if you look on the continent, but prices for transport etc can be more expensive and you may be limited to frozen semen, which is risky for a maiden mare.
 
Thanks bbmat - do you have a website?

Showmaker is fabulous, but I thought I should stick to Dutch stallions as the mare is KWPN or is it ok to mix and match?

Of course I need to go and look round, but as I work full time only have week ends to do this so trying to draw up a sensible shortlist (would love a black foal, but straight legs probably more important!)
 
We also have a lovely young stallion, he is KWPN bred by Flemmingh out of a Ferro mare, pictures of some of his foals can be found on the gallery. Website - www.morayfirthstud.co.uk

Downside is the fact we are based in Scotland. Would also say that you would really need to start looking round your selection soon as the breeding season is getting on now....
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Good luck in your search.
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I think if you mare has joint problems i wouldnt be breeding with her as it will put more strain on her. Personally id back off the hard work, do some light hacking a few times a week over the summer and just leave her out to grass for a while.
 
try Treliver Decanter www.treliverstud.co.uk - he will definitely add bone to her but I also would wait and see what the results of the vets examination is before proceeding

ask vets advice on whether you should merely rest her or whether having a foal is OK and if he thinks there is anything that could be passed down to the foal

work on the vets advice in this case
 
Hi,

Keep me updated on who makes your short list, as i am also gonna be putting my mare in foal next year. At the moment im edging towards Painted Black!
 
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Budget is limited - under 1k

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Don't think you can do it for less than £1.5k all in really.......
 
Thanks for info - don't know about registration - I just thought that as the mare is v well bred, it might be better to stick to the same breed?
 
Wow! I also thought of Painted Black - my mare is a Krack C so could sell foal for mega bucks to an Anky fan if no good for me! However I have been told he is quite small so looking for something just a bit more chunky.
 
Have a look at Medoc. He is a super chap with a lovely temperament. He is a dressage stallion but he also has winnings at BSJA so more duel purpose. He is a Hanovarian so a little more chunky.

I know others have said it but just check with your vet that your girlie will be fine with breeding. Our mare, Millie, ruptured a hind tendon and is now permanently lame but copes just fine with being preggers. We just live her out and make sure she keeps moving to keep the leg from seizing.

Good luck.
 
dont know if you have a specific type you want your mare to go to but my mare has been sent to the followin stallion http://www.countryfarmstud.co.uk/default.asp?page=viewstallion&horse=Country+Top+Dollar he is only young but doin very well in the dressage.he is lovely in the flesh and has a lovely temprement, i was in stable with him and he was nicer than my mare!!!!! the stud is really nice and friendly they have loads of space for the mares and try to keep them in small groups of 6 or 7 per field. my mare is that settled there that she didnt want to know me after an hour and a bit drive to see her!!!!
 
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