Pondering breeds... for an eventer?

[milz88]

So what I thought was my ideal breed for an event horse would be an Irish Thoroughbred or a Thoroughbred with a bit of ISH or Warmblood.........but I am opening my eyes a little!

So what about an Oldenburg.. I had always thought of these as your typical big dressage horse....but this one has exceptional jumping bloodlines and on its sire side has Holstein BUT it didn't look like either......so does anyone have any experiences of these types of breed making event horses?

I have noticed alot more of the continental types making it onto the eventing circuit, but the pure bred ones, the Belgian/German/Dutch warmbloods but I always thought they'd need a bit of TB blood in them for the XC side of things.

I am simply curious, what breed is your event horse?

 

[Ali16]

Morris is a real mix... Daddy was a WB elite jumping stallion (Animo lines) and Mummy was a TB x Welsh cob

Baby Cosmo is Irish x KWPN and Cimmy is a mix of WB'y breeds.

I always used to go more TB, but since having Morris is has swayed me a little more towards the chunkier, more continental types.

Don't forget now though that even the 'WB breeds' (Trak, Hanno etc) are being bred finer with more TB in them. As long as they have strong legs, deep girth and broad chest I'm pretty much happy! Oh, and a good brain always helps

Good luck with your search

 

[ClassicG&T]

I haven't got a horse, just a pony.
But if I were to get one it would be TBxID or a well built pure TB.
But I too am seeing a wider range of breed at lower levels, loads of Connies!

 

[Bustalot]

My new boy has mostly lines of ISH and has a very TB look about him. But his gran daddy was a WB. But they are getting more TB bred into them anyway. Plan on eventing him (one day! Lol)

 

[ellie_e]

I have a KWPN but has a lot of TB, depending on the level you want to be competing, he has super paces, scopey jump but im not sure he would be any good with the fast work/stamina. If you want to event have a decent amount of TB with some bone, a good ISH are my personal fav (we have one and is a super eventer!)

 

[rhino]

Branded BWP (Belgian WB) but he's actually near 3/4tb. Rides and jumps like a WB, gallops like a TB

 

[Matafleur]

I have a modern type KWPN, she has a fab jump and excellent paces but wouldn't be a natural galloper. She is a very good XC horse in that she is straight and pretty bold, she'll jump anything if you're confident and finds it very easy.

We had started to dip a toe in at Novice before I got pregnant and I would have said she would have gone Intermediate.

The main thing I notice is that it takes more work to get her as fit as my friend's TB and she is never as motivated in her fast work. I'm very happy with my mare and would have another KWPN again without hesitation BUT I don't have any aspirations beyond Novice. If I did I may consider how much more wear and tear the extra fittening work causes.

As said above most of the continental studbooks are breeding lighter, sharper horses to keep up with the requirements of the modern sports inc dressage and SJ.

 

[TheoryX1]

My daughters eventer is KWPN/TB. She is from a Samber sire and has all the presence, looks, movement and his colouring. Mum was off the race track and as a consequence our mare has lovely movement, jumps well and is very fast xc.

Have to say she is on 15.1 hh so a bit of a pocket rocket, but boy can she shift.

 

[ecrozier]

Not that I am overly focused on eventing him, but my younger one is Irish x kwpn. To look at I would say he would tick most boxes for an eventing 'stamp' however as matafleur describes above, fast work doesn't come naturally. He's got great paces and a ridiculously scopey jump, and a lovely comfortable rhythmical ground covering canter, but I think even with the best will in the world and a more talented jockey than me, the galloping element above say novice level would be tricky for him. You would have to work very hard to keep him super fit. I'm comparing him to my older hot blooded horse, who seems to keep himself nigh on eventing fit on very average workload, and would gallop all day given the choice. Roo is definately built for comfort not speed and whilt his stride length and ability to jump without too much setting up would see him through the levels I would ever dream of doing, I think he would need more tb blood to be a real eventer!

 

[Doncella]

Mine is 7/8Tb, 1/8 AQH. Not overly tall but very bold and a relentless galloper xc. Lovely big paces for the dressage and a very careful showjumper.

 

[Vanha12]

Registered Belgian Warmblood but sire was Selle Francais. She used to struggle a bit with time but now we are a better partnership she has no problems. I try and make sure she is super fit as well as galloping is not her natural gait! We only do 90s though so she would might struggle if she moved up. Would probably want to go a bit finer next time round but love her to bits.

 

[millitiger]

Personally I still like the 'old fashioned' eventing lines and like full tb or tb with a dash of ID or similar.

I had a 1/2 tb who loved the job and was super bold but topped out at Novice and I am sure it was due, in part, to his lack of blood- he looked more like a middleweight hunter, even when super fit.

 

[kirstyhen]

Mally is an ISH, pretty even between ID and TB. Shes not the quickest across country, but a lot of that is down to me wasting time.
Personally I would always go for an ISH but I just love the type and I seem to get on with the breed. But I wouldn't rule out something purely on its breeding.

 

[Princess Jess]

Branded BWP (Belgian WB) but he's actually near 3/4tb. Rides and jumps like a WB, gallops like a TB

Sounds perfect!

 

[riaseed007]

I have tried (and failed) to event an Oldenburg. All the talent in the world but just not the brain for the job unfortunately. His evasion technique was to plant which I found immensely frustrating... It's a great shame as he would jump anything and found it all so easy physically, would have had the scope and gallop for advanced however when it came to it he just didn't want to do the job and I couldn't make him do it. My personal preference is ISH but my first horse was clydesdale tb x who was fab he went DC at 1* with me and would have gone int/2* I think. It's a shame he wasn't a mare as putting a bit more tb into his mix would have made a mega event horse!

 

[milz88]

Wow loads of food for thought, thanks everyone! It is so interesting!

Morris is a real mix... Daddy was a WB elite jumping stallion (Animo lines) and Mummy was a TB x Welsh cob

Baby Cosmo is Irish x KWPN and Cimmy is a mix of WB'y breeds.

I always used to go more TB, but since having Morris is has swayed me a little more towards the chunkier, more continental types.

Don't forget now though that even the 'WB breeds' (Trak, Hanno etc) are being bred finer with more TB in them. As long as they have strong legs, deep girth and broad chest I'm pretty much happy! Oh, and a good brain always helps

Good luck with your search

I agree Ali I think even the continental breeds that you'd normally consider your big, fancy dressage and jumping types are now being bred (somehow?) finer and making their way into eventing. I went to a friends eventing yard recently and had to ask what breed a couple of them that I liked were, to my surprise, all Belgian Warmbloods!!

I have a KWPN but has a lot of TB, depending on the level you want to be competing, he has super paces, scopey jump but im not sure he would be any good with the fast work/stamina. If you want to event have a decent amount of TB with some bone, a good ISH are my personal fav (we have one and is a super eventer!)

I'm rather fond of a KWPN I think they are quite a nice stamp, but as you say, my largest consern is their stamina/speed across country, of course, they would always do well in the dressage and jumping rings hopefully.

Branded BWP (Belgian WB) but he's actually near 3/4tb. Rides and jumps like a WB, gallops like a TB

Umm- can I have your horses please? Sounds perfect

So much to think about, I still can't get my head round a horse I saw that was a registered Oldenburg but looked more like a TB with a bit if Irish in it, although I know it had a little growing and muscling to do which would make a difference.

Oh...and if you want to, post a pic

 

[riaseed007]

So much to think about, I still can't get my head round a horse I saw that was a registered Oldenburg but looked more like a TB with a bit if Irish in it, although I know it had a little growing and muscling to do which would make a difference.

Oh...and if you want to, post a pic

My Oldenburg was very TB, I thought they were supposed to be the heavy ones! Don't get me wrong he was a lovely horse and sure he would go up the grades sj and dressage with no problem but just not event unfortunately Was possibly a lot to do with his life before he came to me unfortunately but how can you know?!

 

[milz88]

My Oldenburg was very TB, I thought they were supposed to be the heavy ones! Don't get me wrong he was a lovely horse and sure he would go up the grades sj and dressage with no problem but just not event unfortunately Was possibly a lot to do with his life before he came to me unfortunately but how can you know?!

Thank you for your input, was that Rubix? I saw his pics if it was he had loads of scope! Certainly lots to consdier, but as you say, how on earth do you know if they'll make it as an event horse until you try, especially when you look at them and can see they can seriously move and jump! Tough call. As it seems hard to come by a nice TB x at the moment.

 

[only_me]

Billy's TBxID - but just over 3/4 tb and 1/4 ID. (and tiny bit hippo)
Tbh if you colour in his white bits he would look like a national hunt TB! He gets fit quite quickly but is very sane!

If you are small I would go for a connie x tb, otherwise would stick with a TBxID. They tend to be a bit more level headed than the WBs but there are the usual exceptions

 

[only_me]

I also add, billy gallops on really well - in fact he is too fast on a prenovice time - nearly minute and 3/4 under without really pushing him on a galloping course but his size of stride and ability to jump out of his rhythm also plays a part. He gets for quickly as finished barely sweating.

 

[madeleine1]

anything can be a good eventer just some breeds are more likely to be good at it. i have a 16 sport horse and she cant do more then novice eventing but can jump 1:30 corse, granted not with me but she can and do medium dressage.

but i know someone with a shire who can do really good dressage and loves big xc jumps but cant do a show jumping corse.

 

[riaseed007]

Thank you for your input, was that Rubix? I saw his pics if it was he had loads of scope! Certainly lots to consdier, but as you say, how on earth do you know if they'll make it as an event horse until you try, especially when you look at them and can see they can seriously move and jump! Tough call. As it seems hard to come by a nice TB x at the moment.

Yeh. He certainly does, that's why I was so gutted that he wasn't game for the xc lark! Tbh I wouldn't get a WB again unless it was an extreme exception! In my experience they can be less 'on side' but of course it depends on the horse. Have to say though it is very nice to have a horse which is a joy to ride due to big lovely floaty paces!

 

[seabsicuit2]

I could never touch a KWPN or continential warmblood like Oldenburg, Hannoverian etc even if they do have a high % of TB blood- they just dont make it to the top level and filter out at two star level. They dont have the balls for the XC, or they dont have the soundness and toughness.

You look at the breeding of the horses at four star events and at Olympic/world/Euro champs- and it will mostly all be full TB's, Trakehners,Irish and Selle Francias.

For me the ultimate event horse is the French thoroughbred/selle francias and Anglo Arab mixture. They look just incredible going cross country, and are fantastic in the other phases.

 

[popsdosh]

To be honest ISH could have WB breeding in there as they are using more continental stallions.The IHB have several approved warmblood stallions now and I would say they are more popular than the traditional cross for ISH.
The TB has been used a lot more in WB breeding of late and some of the German stallions in particular are carrying a high percentage of TB blood ,there is a graded Han that is 80% TB.
So you need to have your wits about you when buying on pedigree only.I only use NH type well bred foundation mares for breeding as with these I can almost choose any stallion I want to produce an event horse without diluting the TB to much .I will never use a Trekehner on a TB though as the offspring will be to explosive for the average rider (dont be taken in by the looks).
I always say to people look at the horse first and its conformation and the last thing to really tick the box is the breeding. In other words dont be sucked into buying a horse because of its pedigree!!!

 

[rhino]

they just dont make it to the top level and filter out at two star level. They dont have the balls for the XC, or they dont have the soundness and toughness.

Nonsense, there are plenty competing both now and in the recent past at 3* and 4* level

 

[Golden_Match_II]

I'm not sure that there's a specific breed though I'd say they need a good amount of TB for galloping, and I'd want a bit of pony in there somewhere(though not too much - Tam's half Welsh and just won't make the times above Novice) as I don't think as a rider I could deal with a horse through and through - I've never really moved off of ponies! Hence Tam being a giant one.

 

[milz88]

So much debate and different opinions. This is really interesting I will have to read back over some of the replies later on... I am out with friends but can't drag myself away from this thread as it is all so informative and I like to hear different opinions an reasonings.

 

[ttt]

Very interesting question.
I was lucky enough to be invited to the World Class Development for Team GB Eventing recently. There were a number of Warmbloods over the two days training. I see them becoming more and more popular with Eventers.

 

[TheMule]

I like them with a dash of pony in as that's what I enjoy riding. I've had 2 with strong pony influence go intermediate quite comfortably, both super fun rides who make it all easy and for me, thats what it's all about

 

[kerilli]

oooh, one of my chosen specialised subjects, how long have you got?!?!?
firstly, it depends what you're looking for. there's eventers and eventers. do you want something fun and reliable to do lower-level stuff on, or something with a lot more scope, pace and possibly movement, to aim for big stuff?
Okay, big generalisations (so, the usual caveats) but based on my experience:
top of my list (ideally aiming for big stuff, still dreaming!) would be TB x ID-type BUT with the knowledge that a lot of 'Irish' now has continental WB in it. (also, allegedly, some continental WB has Irish in it but that's based on an arguable anecdote...)
Irish, true Irish, x TB are generally GREAT. ime they are quick-thinking, generous, clever (in the right way), not ridiculously sharp or spooky, happy to use their athleticism FOR you rather than against you. The shortish neck with, often, slightly high head-carriage makes for lovely horses to ride xc ime. they don't usually have a hugely long stride which means, bluntly, that it's harder to 'miss' hugely to a fence. they're bold, straightforward and ime can 'take a joke' (won't have a confidence crisis if you miss). that little bit of knee action means the knees snap up quicker. always good, that.
WBs... well, you get the awesome athleticism. this is great when it's working for you, less so when it's being used against you if they decide they don't fancy playing the game, or they've thought of a better one...! I've found WBs to be more likely to look for things to spook at (alongside arena, in judge's box, in ditch, etc), Irish more likely to just get on with it.
I've had WBxTBs and TBs who had a lovely long elegant well-set-on neck. beautiful for dressage, BUT it means they have a LOT of front to come up xc... hard to explain. short-fronted IDs (still plenty there but more compact) seem to be quicker to snap up the knees and come up off the floor through the shoulders. Long elegant WBs and pure TBs are a lot more horse to get together and less forgiving if you get them to a fence a bit wrong, unbalanced or whatever. Irish will 'pat the ground' and come up great off a not-great distance, WBs more likely to go "errrr what" ime.
TBs have been bred for generations to fast across the ground. A lot of them have a flat natural jumping style. Not all, admittedly, I had a super little mare in to back a couple of years ago who was by a TB and had THE most perfect natural style and bascule from the very start (by Groomsbridge May I, fact fans) but, it's something to bear in mind.
This is really technical and hard to explain, but it's a big difference. A proper nagsman who I know, had thousands of horses through his yard, told me that he preferred the Irish x because when they back off a fence they put themselves in a balanced position so that you can still kick them in and get a good safe jump, whereas WB spook/look and sort of put themselves more off balance, or into a more crouching position or something (sorry, really hard to explain!) and from there you can't just kick them on to jump. I know what he means and I bear it in mind...
(in summary, having read through it: compact horses, possibly rather irrespective of breed, are easier!)
hope all those meanderings help a little!