Good crosses for TB mare

T

toomanyhorses26

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 October 2007
Messages
2,652
Visit site
I have a 16hh TB mare who I have been asked if I would consider letting her have a foal for someone else to purchase when the foal is born /weaned etc (obv massive massive minefied so still a 50/50 in my head) so I am beginning to look tentively at possible options.

She is a very compact mare (only takes a 5'9''/6ft rug),absolute angel on the ground,difficult and fiesty when ridden but shows occasional moments of gorgeousness :) She has a well set on neck,pretty head,quite a high action all round(not your typical tb movement) good shoulder,very short in the back and a little weak through her hind quaters although has a reasonable hock action,fab fab feet and is generally quite a tough mare in terms of health.

She has done a little competing at low level and basically the potential owner is looking for their next horse to keep,break,bring on and compete.

The potential owner in question currently has a welsh x tb which she loves and I generally quite like as a cross but wondered what other options are out there. I guess in my mind areas that need improving are rideabilty (although I am fairly sure this is a human caused issue) , hindquarters/hind leg and to refine her movement (have just made her sound awful she isnt - honest !)

It is a little pie in the sky at the moment but would like a few opinions if possible :)
 
I'd breed an anglo-arab. There are some fantastic performance arabian stallions out there and that's where I'd start looking if I was thinking about putting a TB mare in foal.

I am biased towards arabs though. :)
 
AdorableAlice said:
Irish Draught - best pleasure/all rounder possible.
Click to expand...

See, I personally don't like riding anything over 15.2hh, so I wouldn't do this cross although it is a tried, tested and very successful cross with a TB.

There are so many breeds that cross very well with a TB, but you have to know what you want (more bone, more height? etc...).

I'm also wondering what you would do if the potential owner backed out or there was a problem and you were left with a large bill and possibly no mare or foal?

Why doesn't the potential owner buy a youngster from a stud?
 
like I said very very much a maybe at the moment - obv look into contracts etc to nail the fine details of what could/couldnt happen and where we would be left if things went wrong.

The potential owner loves the mare even though she has her witch like moments and wants something absolutely from scratch - she is a real one person one horse until retirement type lady.

She is quite a well built tb - no pipecleaner legs here so ideally to keep a similar build and again a similar height possibly go an inch or two bigger but no desire for any 17hh potentials.Owners current horse is 16.1hh who is out of a point to point mare (cant remember specifics ) by a welsh sec d and is quite typical of welsh x tb that I hve seen. They do a little of everything - xc,sj up to disco,novice dressge etc

My gut was something for the movement and to correct her slightly weak hindquarter but like you have said sooo many options.
 
I do love Connemara x TB as a mixture. I used to know a very, very lovely dun connie x TB gelding that I would have given anything to own. He had the best bits from both breeds, was taller than a normal connie (think he was about 15hh), more compact than most TBs and was such a brilliant jumper. I often wonder what happened to him!
 
I've never done a breeding loan, but the breeder that I bought my gelding from was thinking about putting the gelding's dam on breeding loan. She is a wonderful mare and his (the owner's) health isn't up to breeding another foal himself. I believe that the loaner would pay the stud fee, vets fees, and the care of the mare from the start of the loan up until the foal is weaned.
 
Although there are many good crosses my favourite it the Quarter Horse - we have had several and find they make super versatile horses that are capable of doing a lot of jobs whilst remaining very easy to deal with with and make great family friends!

My instructor described my last one as a chunky TB with brains.
 
i have a tres sangres stallion, andalusian cross anglo-arab, i have used him on tb mares and for me it is the best horse ever, i would like to get another 2tb mares, i think you have a chance here to breed something special not just the old id x tb or wb x tb, so use your imagination!!
 
My tb mare sounds quite similar- quite sharp, good movement but needs more 'oomph' and she is beautifully put together with great limbs but a little short over the loins and I would like her a little more uphill.

I am putting her to Carousel this year as he is a proven stallion and is very strong in all of the areas I want to improve.
 
Having watched the Videos of Legrande If you want movement hes your man! colour the bonus the other I really like is Amour G hes coloured and again really nice, if size and movement is what you want, plus colour.
 
My first choice would be an Irish draught (of course). There are some lovely compact stallions out there, not all have to be 17hh monsters.

If not an ID, I would personally sway towards a Cleveland bay or a Connie.
 
I think Amour G is quite big now lol.....
Legrande is lovely, definite soft spot but if not going over big is an issue then I would look through the sports pony stud book society stallion list as there are some ponies in their that will do everything and more for your mare and in terms of value for money and a chance to look through a variety that'd be my recommendation.
LE Chiffre is one I am watching to see what he produces, I just think he is lovely, Land Star I reeeeaaally enjoyed watching at the Grading so composed and genuine and a very smart stamp, not the flashiest but looks like he will produce some really good quality stock. There are some others with really lovely bloodlines, Bathley Hills have several smart stallions in all sizes on their books....Brokat just does the business on all sorts of mares then does it again and again.....In terms of wanting to improve the back end of your mare I would avoid the Iberians as they are designed a certain way for a certain reason and it works but if the back end is your worry and possibly sensitivity/hotness under saddle then this is one I'd be careful with and I say that after personal involvement, I love them but not every ones cup of tea so do a lot of homework if you go that way.
 
I think the 'old' ID and CB's make great crosses for the TB, hense why they are commonly made. Generally you get something a little bit sportier than an ID or CB but with some sanity and more solid conformation. Neither have to be huge heffalumps. There ARE smaller examples of each breed.

Think about what you (or your friend) want the foal for though...
 
Another vote for Connemara. Absolutely stunning cross, my favourite. Any I have seen at shows are gorgeous and always excel. They just have the prettiest faces too!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top