Ethics of using a stallion unseen?

[ColouredFan]

I wouldnt go for an ungraded stallion personally unless they had proven themselves in competition, maybe this stallion had improved while in traning during 2007 but his 2006 resuts with BE would def put me off of using him. Try and find somethign closer to home so you can view the stallion. My mare had her foal 12 days ago the stallion is graded and has competed to a decent level BSJA and been well placed at HOYS many times, results are important in my opinion, you want a stallion that has proved itself at least to a level you want to eventually compete your foal at. Good luck x

 

[Gingernags]

I've seen the DVD and he's gorgeous, I just didn't want to travel that far.

Have to admit, temperament was one of my main things, having seen Ivy taking after her Welsh D Daddy that for all he's stunning and proven (national driving horse) and seen his progeny - she's got a nasty streak off him.

So I had my short list of what to see locally, and LV was the first I actually met - and I wasn't 100% about his colouring but when I actually saw him - he's just so cheeky but friendly - not at all nasty and he just had that something. There is somthing there that reminds me of her as a youngster too and I made my mind up in seconds!

It helps that he is graded and is competing and I've seen the babies though, I really wanted to take them home too, they are really sweet and friendly, have never known youngsters so chilled!

Just need the baggage to come into season now grrrrrrrr!

I think you need to have a road trip day and go see some. Please drool over Decanter for me if you see him in the flesh!

 

[AmyMay]

I believe a stallion only needs to be graded to show jump BSJA though - so again don't see it's particular relevance.

 

[Thistle]

The one i meant is Med Night Mahout and he stand in Bucks so not too far from you. By Jumbo x SJ pony mare.

 

[htobago]

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Mednight Mahood (or whatever it is called) is a Jumbo eventing stallion i believe.

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His name is Med Night Mahout and he stands at the same stud as my stallion - Cliveden Stud in Berkshire. He is an excellent stallion, an intermediate eventer (just 2 points off being advanced) and has the loveliest temperament you could ever imagine. 'Hootie' is truly a super horse, and Cliveden's mare-care is excellent as well. I can give you contact details for the stud if you PM me.

 

[Laur]

I'd go for the TB High Tension. He is very typical of a horse out of Sadlers wells - also you cant get much better breeding than that! He's really really lovely.

 

[buddly]

how about looking at west kington stud in whiltshire they have nice event stallion up with the lark he has good record already and our mare is due this week so if u wanted to see foal photo's

 

[mat]

[ QUOTE ]
I do think though that too much emphasis can be put on gradings to be honest. I know of at least two absolutely tip top stallions that have been refused gradings twice by a certain affiliation. Their grounds were - no good reason - just didn't think they were stallion material. Horses outperformed some who were graded, move nicely and have wonderful temperaments. And that's where the problem can lie. If a stallion is too quite, some grading organisations simply won't grade them regardless of ability, movement etc.

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Maybe the stallion in question didnt meet the conformational criteria? You wouldn't want to use a stallion that had twisted limbs, a dipped back or different sized feet!?

There is a very big difference between a good breeding stallion and a good competition stallion!

I would agree with some of the other peole that have said it is a bonus if you can see some of the stallions offspring, and meet them in the flesh.

I have met a lot of stallions that are horrid in person and completely changed my mind when I was thinking of using them!

 

[htobago]

[ QUOTE ]
Would/have any of you used a stallion for your mare without viewing it first? I'm talking average horses here, not those that have been competing on the world stage for all to see!
I think that for me the answer would definitely be no.


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Quite a lot of breeders are sending mares to my stallion without actually coming to view him. But most have seen him at the big Arab shows, and he has won in-hand championships at international level (don't know if that counts as 'competing on the world stage' lol!). A few breeders had only seen photos, but they also went on his show record and pedigree - also he belonged to some international judges and show trainers before I managed to buy him, so I suppose people trusted their judgement as well!

One breeder saw him for the first time when she came to pick her mare up - already scanned in foal to him, so it would have been a bit late to change her mind! Fortunately, she loved him.

This is my boy's first season at stud, and I've just had the first order for his frozen semen from overseas - I think these Belgian breeders have seen him at a show, but with so much breeding done by AI nowadays, and so many people breeding their mares to stallions who are not even in the same country, it must be difficult for everyone to view the stallions before using them!

 

[druid]

Another vote here for Decanter - my yearling by him (bred by Gill) is just a lovely person all round and stunning to boot!

 

[MillionDollar]

Oh i agree with you AmyMay, it doesn't have to graded hence why i put- graded/proven, but graded is a plus.

If a stallion has a good comp record then yes I'd definitely use him. I would use Lostock Huntsman, definitely, he not has a great comp record but also has excellent progeny too.

 

[AmyMay]

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Maybe the stallion in question didnt meet the conformational criteria

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Nothing wrong with it's conformation........

 

[Bounty]

Thanks for all the input guys...I'm torn!!
Will probably take a couple of days sightseeing, firstly down to Devon to see the Jumbo boys, and probably High Tension too if SallyF is ok with that!
The reviews for Med Night Mahout seem positive, so am looking into viewing him and perhaps Derek if I take a slight detour.
Googled 'Up with the Lark' but nice as he is he seems to lack the Wow factor.

 

[Fahrenheit]

Ive always viewed all the stallions i've used, I went to see quite a well known stallion and nearly lost my ear, his temperament was dire, I saw another stallion that didn't look much in the stable but his record and his offspring were very impressive. I have found that horses look quite different in person to their pictures. Always best to view then you can satisfy yourself that its the stallion for you.

 

[sallyf]

Happy to have visitors just give me a shout to make sure im about.

 

[htobago]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for all the input guys...The reviews for Med Night Mahout seem positive, so am looking into viewing him.

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I hope you like Med Night Mahout! I know him quite well cos he stands at the same stud as my stallion. 'Hootie' is gorgeous, and he is the sweetest horse - such a lovely temperament. And Cliveden Stud's mare-care is excellent.

PS - mine's two boxes along from Hootie - you can't miss him, he's the noisy orange Arab (not what you're looking for at all lol)!

 

[burtie]

I used Luidam via Frozen AI, he was in America at the time. However I had seen him the previous summer jumping at the New Forest Show, that was when he caught my eye. I was a bit wary as I had never seen him up close but non of the other stallions I loooked had that wow facotr or something was not quite what I wanted for my mare.

I am very pleased with the results!