Recommendations of Trakenher stallions for eventing/ show jumping

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Hi all,
I am new posting on these boards, but do read them quite a bit and there seems to be a lot of good knowledge so I am hoping to tap into that!
I have a harlequin du Carel mare which I want to breed from for myself to event. She has a cracking jump- great back end action, and is straight moving but she is a bit flat footed so I am looking to improve that and have been told that trakenhers have good feet! I am looking for something that is bold as she is a little cautious xc at times, but very honest.
As it is for me, trainability is important, and a nice character. She is very chilled out and sweet natured.
Thanks for reading x
 
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I saw Craig at SSGB. He is a super lad with a cracking jump. Really worth a look if you are looking to breed an event horse
 
Craig has a bit to prove jump wise, record not too good SJsmart horse so one to watch rather than use to produce event stock. Goddington Hannibal is a proven event Trakenher with a good rep. for trainabilty. If feet are a weakness you need to improve go and look at the stallions but also research their bloodlines.
 
Grafenstolz and Godington Hannibal both evented 3 * level but GH is rumoured to have had problems with feet which may well just be rumours and completely wrong so as Maestro says i would go and see for yourself .
Craig looks lovely and he is on my watch list for future but his showjumping will have to improve for me ,which it may well do as he only started competing last year.
 
I hope it is ok for me to say this but Craig is actually owned by a friend and so I have had ample opportunity to see him. He indeed has something to prove in his SJ record but that said he has only done 4 events and his owner is an amateur who till him had only ever competed in 3 PN events so she is a true amateur and producing him totally herself. His jump really is very good naturally but he had never jumped till she got him and she has struggled affording the lessons and the help he has needed and so everything with him has been done completely by herself which to me actually shows he is very trainable. He actually performs far better over bigger fences and i have rarely seen him touch a pile once jumping over 1.10 but sadly when starting eventing she must start at the bottom and so he has to get on with jumping smaller. Cross country wise he is a machine - a fact backed up by his record this far and she is excitedly looking at learning with him and moving up the levels. For the record he has excellent feet lol. There are of course a lot more older proven Trakehners out there and it is very early days for him as he has only just started competing.
 
Would back up going to have a look at Craig, I have been watching him for a while and eager to see how he gets on this year. He has been produced slowly, for whatever reason, which has purely been to his benefit I think.

I have seen some fantastic pictures of him jumping, with great technique and scope. I would certainly be happy to put him over a good jumping mare for an event type foal.

In fact, he is a definate future hubby for my very good TB event mare as his conformation is excellent and his temperament is second to none. I have met him at the Stallion Showcase and there isnt a more laid back, happy and loving boy.

Yes, I agree that his record is lacking results at the moment but as he has been taken slowly and hasnt done masses so you wouldnt expect to see a BE or BS record as long as your arm yet!!!

Im afraid I dont know much about other Trakenhner stallions. I dont tend to look at actual breed first, I look for temperament, conformation and what matches the mare I am looking to breed from.

Have you any conformation pictures you could post of your mare as this would give a better indication of what may suit her? There are some fabulous event stallions standing and maybe restricting to breed only is limiting your choice?
 
Sorry hoofing out as many as 4 fences is not a careful SJ even with an amatuer on board where they should be even more careful. I know a stack of horses that can look good over a fence but cannot jump a round and that is a trait often passed on by a stallion. So until Craig jumps consistantly it is unfair to promot him as an event stallion.
 
Craig has superb conformation, almost impossible to fault, and there's some good evidence that he certainly stamps his stock (at the SSGB there was a picture of one of his few foals on the ground which was out of a heavy mare, and it was very elegant and correct)

For me, he has an eventer's jump at the moment, really stretching out over a jump with a great bascule but maybe needs to get a bit more respectful of light poles/small jumps. A typical eventer, in fact! The basics are all very much there, just (as eventrider suggests above) needs more practice and experience. We will be using him this year on our Cavalier Royale x Clover Hill mare and think that the combination will breed a cracking foal. Finally, you have to accept that you take a risk with a younger or less well-tried and tested stallion - but if your choice works out, you will have been amongst the fore-runners, and can congratulate yourself on gaining a lovely foal at a very reasonable stud fee! Judging by the cluster of people around Craig's stable at the SSGB, there were a lot of people who were interested in using him

I'm a bit more wary of judging a young horse on its jump now after having used the young Zangersheide half-blood stallion Amiro Z on my mare five years ago, and having seen him loose jump and under saddle thinking that his jump was OK with but not overly impressive. Possibly immature, possibly slower to develop his technique because of his TB sire? But I've just seen a couple of recent videos of him jumping in international competitions, and his jump is transformed, and very impressive.
 
I have to say re Craig is, he can jump, sadly last year was a wet outing everytime, and i am guilty for his slow productionas i used to own him,with building a new yard he was 18 months behind, not because of any injury, Mel has produced him fabulously and yes taken her time, but at just shy of 17hh he needed time to mature, he recently graded and had to jump a decent course so i wouldnt rule him out, i had two cracking foals from him last year and one has been bought by a showjumping yard, the other although sold is still with me and he shows how bold he can be, all have amazing temperaments and all move very well.
This bay colt is out of a lord rb mare
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...5955035.-2207520000.1362487227&type=3&theater
and this is out of a cruising bred mare who has been sold to a jumping yard!!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...5955035.-2207520000.1362487390&type=3&theater
 
no_no_nanette said:
Craig has superb conformation, almost impossible to fault, and there's some good evidence that he certainly stamps his stock (at the SSGB there was a picture of one of his few foals on the ground which was out of a heavy mare, and it was very elegant and correct)

For me, he has an eventer's jump at the moment, really stretching out over a jump with a great bascule but maybe needs to get a bit more respectful of light poles/small jumps. A typical eventer, in fact! The basics are all very much there, just (as eventrider suggests above) needs more practice and experience. We will be using him this year on our Cavalier Royale x Clover Hill mare and think that the combination will breed a cracking foal. Finally, you have to accept that you take a risk with a younger or less well-tried and tested stallion - but if your choice works out, you will have been amongst the fore-runners, and can congratulate yourself on gaining a lovely foal at a very reasonable stud fee! Judging by the cluster of people around Craig's stable at the SSGB, there were a lot of people who were interested in using him

I'm a bit more wary of judging a young horse on its jump now after having used the young Zangersheide half-blood stallion Amiro Z on my mare five years ago, and having seen him loose jump and under saddle thinking that his jump was OK with but not overly impressive. Possibly immature, possibly slower to develop his technique because of his TB sire? But I've just seen a couple of recent videos of him jumping in international competitions, and his jump is transformed, and very impressive.
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This!

It does seem a wee bit harsh to judge an inexperienced horse and amateur rider on their first few outings, and I'm sure plenty of top-class eventers have had a bit of trouble in their early days showing due respect for very small SJ fences.

If I remember correctly, this stallion got some truly glowing comments at his recent grading, where they were very excited about the contribution he could make to British breeding.

Plus the OP is specifically looking for boldness cc, and from what I've seen Craig certainly ticks that box!
 
Thank you everyone for your thoughts. If someone can tell me how I will upload some pics of my mare- the confirmation ones are a bit old and she has filled out but you'll be able to see her basic build. I liked the look of Craig and it is interesting to hear about him- he sounds like a lovely chap. I was also interested in Utopian Opposition - has anyone got any experience of him?
 
Just as a general point: there will always be breeders who prefer to wait until a stallion is thoroughly proven and established in every way before using him, and others who are more willing to trust their own judgement and take a chance on a younger or less well-proven stallion.

Seems to me that there are merits in both approaches, and probably best to 'live and let live'?
 
Grafenstolz certainly has the Tshirt competing, and his youngstock are doing well at the Futurity. Re G Hannibal, I started and rode his sire in his grading, so know the family. You might want to PM me if thinking of using him.
 
Are trakehners supposed to have good feet? Never thought or noticed that, I suppose as with any breed , you will get variations!
The opposition line is renown for producing odd feet.
I'm not especially keen on the stamp of foal that Grafenstolz produces , they look very long and ordinary, but then that is just my opinion!

Apart from the opposition line I do think there is a real lack of decent Trakehner event stallions in Europe, or if they are , they are not well publicised.
 
I saw Craig at SSGB and he was very laidback and lovely in the stable, couldn't question his temperament at all.
Lovely, elegant model as well with lovely conformation.
I did think he was a little flat in the main arena and didn't show as much scope in his paces and jump as I was expecting.

Hannibal is a lovely stallion and I was down the road from Dag a few years ago and he had such a lovely, easy temperament- he was used to nanny my horse on her first go xc and was an absolute sweetheart.
Haven't seen much progeny though?

What about something like Axis?
He competes in dressage but had very good jumping scores when he graded and has some lovely progeny out competing.
 
I also agree with Axis! He is a gorgeous stallion with proven eventing bloodlines and he is British owned. Or even his sire, the elite stallion Sixtus sire of Windfall, although he must be getting on a bit now.
 
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seabsicuit2 said:
Are trakehners supposed to have good feet? Never thought or noticed that, I suppose as with any breed , you will get variations!
The opposition line is renown for producing odd feet.

Some lines also have "narrow" or what we would term boxy feet.

>>>Apart from the opposition line I do think there is a real lack of decent Trakehner event stallions in Europe, or if they are , they are not well publicised.
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There are a few that have been very good - Windfall (world class) , El Greco, Grand Prix, Kasparow, TZIGANE, Starway.

Sky Walker / Sky Dancer, Laurel, Exclusiv, Camaro, Semper LT would be worth a look based on progeny / breeding lines or what they've done. Second Sixtus or his descendants or other Habicht blood such as TABALUGA, Vivus.
 
What level has your mare competed at and what level would you ideally like to aim the foal at?

Looking at your pictures, I would be much more inclined to use a tb on her instead of trakehner as she looks like she needs more blood to produce a real eventer type.

I'd want something quite uphill for your mare.
Primitive Proposal has some really classy horses out eventing now which really move and jupm, Sula Blue caught my eye at the SSGB and looked a really good event model for warmblood mares (and has a proven record) etc.

Just my opinion but I personally would want some real blood on your mare to produce an eventer which means I would be looking for a scopey tb stallion.- a lot of tbs have very good feet too :)
 
For eventing Wish upon a star and chilli morning? Not sure about their feet though. Think oh have trak blood.

Don't know of any trak show jumpers in UK.

Lucky you having a harlequin mare to breed from.
 
seabsicuit2 said:
I hear you- but most of the stallions you've mentioned are standing in the USA or died years ago?
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Windfall is in US but frozen semen is available in Germany from Landgestüt Redefin @ 900 euros which is a good deal for a stallion of his caliber imo. Tzigane is in Germany - not sure when going back to US, but frozen is available from Gestüt Majenfelderhof. Grand Prix is dead, but FS available from Horstein. Rest are still alive unless you've heard something I haven't.
 
sallyf said:
GH is rumoured to have had problems with feet which may well just be rumours and completely wrong
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I have had Hannibal stock myself and have known very many more - none of them have had particular problems with their feet. I think any top-level eventer would have to be a pretty sound horse, and not many horses would be able to compete at that level with bad feet.

I am sure many eventers do suffer some wear and tear, but I don't think it is necessarily fair to condemn a horse on heresay and rumours.
 
If you want Trakehner proven in competition at a high level, then you have been given some excellent names there.
Axis has produced some superb jumpers such as his Trakehner son Hirtentanz (who i would also recommend), and we had one by him that was both a superb mare in type and conformation (major champion in hand) but also was Elite at the Futurity and was a loose jumping champion. she comes out under saddle this year i believe.

Windfall is avaialble frozen and has a superb record plus a lot of TB blood. Special memories by the great Abduallah is also available frozen (very fertile I understand) and again offers you proven performance at the highest level.

Der dante I think it is (black ridden by Micheal Jung) is another from a solid motherline who is jumping successfully in Germany
 
ashbank said:
I have had Hannibal stock myself and have known very many more - none of them have had particular problems with their feet. I think any top-level eventer would have to be a pretty sound horse, and not many horses would be able to compete at that level with bad feet.

I am sure many eventers do suffer some wear and tear, but I don't think it is necessarily fair to condemn a horse on heresay and rumours.
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Lets get one thing straight here ,i actually recommended the stallion to the OP but have mentioned that there is a rumour about his feet.
One of my clients has a GH horse and it does indeed not have great feet so i think suggesting she goes and looks at the horse as he has competed 3* which is what she was looking for but checking his feet is not condeming a horse.
I would have said far from it.
 
sallyf said:
Lets get one thing straight here ,i actually recommended the stallion to the OP but have mentioned that there is a rumour about his feet.

One of my clients has a GH horse and it does indeed not have great feet so i think suggesting she goes and looks at the horse as he has competed 3* which is what she was looking for but checking his feet is not condeming a horse. I would have said far from it.
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I'm not arguing with you Sally, just making a point. :) We hear time and time again about people "blaming" stallions for any fault in the offspring, when of course there are other factors at work as well as the paternal gene input!

I just wanted to say that any horse competing at that level must be pretty sound to get there. As I know the horse and many of his offspring, I thought I was placed to comment. His full brother is also competing at 4*, and he has an elite performance tested daughter at the stud who competes at a high level too.
 
I would recommend Wish upon a Star for eventing. Lovely stallion, great jumper and good competition record. And i have a lovely rising 2 year old by him out of my TB event mare.
 
seabsicuit2 said:
Are trakehners supposed to have good feet? Never thought or noticed that, I suppose as with any breed , you will get variations!
The opposition line is renown for producing odd feet.
I'm not especially keen on the stamp of foal that Grafenstolz produces , they look very long and ordinary, but then that is just my opinion!

Apart from the opposition line I do think there is a real lack of decent Trakehner event stallions in Europe, or if they are , they are not well publicised.
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Yes, traditionally the book has produced great emphasis on good feet and lauded it as one of the aspects of the breed emphasised by "The Trek". Certainly many of the older ones I've known had exceptional feet.

That said, I don't know what people have done since. Good feet are quite an easy thing to breed out.
 
What about Woodlander's new stallion Latin King? Not seen him in the flesh, but he is trakehner & being promoted as an eventing stallion. I'm sure Lynne can tell you much more about him, but thought I'd throw him in the mix as another UK based stallion.
 
Thank you everyone for all your input- lots and lots to think about. I am busy researching all the one's suggested. I am struggling to get information on the bluewood stud as the website does not seem to work- is there another site?
 
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