Stallion Advice Please

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xcfreak

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I am looking at Irish Draught stallions to use on my WBx mare this season please can anyone tell me the difference between a Elite Irish Draught Stallion and A RID grade one Stallion, Thanks.
 
I dont know im a tad confused by this as a few stallions have this elite status mentioned but i cant find any info on it!
 
No such thing as 'elite' it is just clever advertising wording to make him seem more attractive to potential mare owners.

Classification of the ID goes from Class 1-4 with class 1 being recommended for breeding(passes ALL the inspection process) and the others not recommended for breeding (failed part of the inspection, not been presented).

CLASS 1 = RID

There is also now a merit system Bronze, Silver and Gold but that is long winded so you can find it on the HSI website but still no Elite!

Hope this helps :)
 
Totally agree with the above; I looked into it thoroughly as a first time breeder a couple of years ago and there is no 'Elite' for RID stallions. Does seem unfair that some stallion owners are making false claims and using clever semantics to try and pull the wool over the eyes of some mare owners who might not know this.

NB As it was the first time for me (and my mare) I went and saw the stallion I intended to use (Avanti Amorous Archie RID) beforehand and would heartily recommend this is done. This stallion is Grade 1/Class 1, whatever you wish to call it, and the best I found after all my research. In seeing him on a number of occasions I soon found out he is so much more than just the best grading though; the correct way he moves, the way he is put together, his temperament is to die for, and his owner Rita is just so helpful and really guided me so well and made everything so easy. I saw Archie ridden at home and out at competitions, relaxing in the field and stable, at a stallion parade and even chilling in his lorry. He was impressive in every situation and in my opinion if anyone should be claiming their stallion is 'elite' as in the 'crème de la crème' then the guys at Avanti should about Archie!

(Probably did ought to add that I did choose him and now have a corker of a filly by him. I will try and post a piccie!)
 
Picture as promised!

picture.php
 
Another vote for Archie, he is lovely in everyway (conf, movement, temperament) and Rita is an angel. :D

I also agree that it is always a good idea to go see any stallions you like as pictures can only show so much!
 
Thanks , I have Amorous Archie on my short list but I was really interested in the stallion Skip and Sea as I want to breed a jumper , he is being advertised as Elite. So all Irish Draughts stallions on the RID list are Grade one , no elite, thought maybe it had something to do with performance testing.
 
xcfreak said:
Thanks , I have Amorous Archie on my short list but I was really interested in the stallion Skip and Sea as I want to breed a jumper , he is being advertised as Elite. So all Irish Draughts stallions on the RID list are Grade one , no elite, thought maybe it had something to do with performance testing.
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I've answered this on the IDHS(GB) forum so will copy here for the benefit of others who might not frequent that forum.

There is no such thing (except in marketing speak) as an 'Elite' Irish Draught stallion - and Balinmore Stud's stud card for Skip & Sea does not refer to him as an 'Elite' stallion.

The terminology became a little more complicated this year as we move to get parity for our stallions with Ireland.

Up until this year, a Grade 1 RID stallion was successfully inspected and vetted and his progeny were eligible RID (if from an RID mare) or as Grade 1 Sport Horse Register (if the dam met the criteria.)

As of this year, stallions must also be x-rayed and endoscoped to be CLASS 1 - or Class 2. Only progeny of Class 1 and Class 2 stallions will be eligible for Class 1 (or 2) on inspection.

IDHS(GB) is still in negotiation with Ireland about whether older stallions will have to be x-rayed and endoscoped to get Class 1 status - but TBH - this is really only of concern to pure-bred breeders.

No decision has yet been made regarding the Sport Horse Register, which does not come under Ireland.

If you're aiming to breed a performance horse - and are not interested in showing in classes for horses on the IDHS(GCool SHR - then it doesn't really matter if that foal is only eligible for Grade 2 - or 3. What matters is that the sire IS a performance horse whose conformation complements that of your mare.

Skip and Sea certainly has the bloodlines for a top class 'performance horse' (with Skippy and Sea Crest on the 2nd line) and is currently competing under BSJA Rules in British Novice and Discovery Classes.

As it was the first time for me (and my mare) I went and saw the stallion I intended to use (Avanti Amorous Archie RID) beforehand and would heartily recommend this is done. This stallion is Grade 1/Class 1,
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Archie is Grade 1. If Rita chooses to have him x-rayed and endoscoped, then he might become Class 1 (i.e. recognised in Ireland, which UK RID Grade 1 stallions have NOT been in the past.) The difference is only really relevent to pure-bred breeders.
 
Thanks janetgeorge its all a bit new to me but on the Balinmore Stud facebook page Skip and Sea is listed as elite irish draught stallion.
 
I see what you mean, dianchi and xcfreak. Just looked on FB and it says on the Balinmore page for 16th March "Elite Grade 1 Irish Draft" for Rebelara and "Elite Grade 1 Irish Draught" for Skip and Sea.

Seems the stud claim both to be elite stallions, when there is no such term, and one of the posts below says this ISN'T on the marketing.... er, yes it is. Does seem rather misleading, whatever changes are afoot with Ireland/IDHS (GB), to adopt a terminology that has not been approved and could be misleading.

Can anyone tell me the difference between an Irish Draft and an Irish Draught too? Is there a difference? The pony club child in me says maybe one has excess wind, or ones likes a decent pint of beer, or is not stabled over the winter when the other one has a luxurious cosy stable!!

Joking aside, I think the mare owner looking for a stallion this year more than ever can afford to be choosy and go with the best they see, with the best recommendations from those who have used that stallion and stud. I looked carefully at my mare and how she was put together and could only see positives in the stallion I chose that would enhance her. It really is a minefield, but also a fun process to be enjoyed by anyone breeding whether their 1st or 20th foalie. Good luck everyone 'stallion shopping' this year! I wish I was :-)
 
Might I also remind people about my own stallion as well, as people seem to forget when talking about "athletic" stallions that he exists - although why is beyond me.

Balinmore Irish Rebel is a grade 1 stallion. He also has a temperament to die for and is out regularly competing BSJA. He is jumping BN, Disc, Newcomers and is easily training over Foxhunter size tracks at home and already has winnings/points in few outings.

He has 5 Grade A showjumpers in his lineage, two of which were Internationals.

He is BSJA approved through the full Loose and Ridden Assessment procedure and had to more than prove his ability by jumping for his Ridden Assessment last year in a snow storm.

He also has some rarer bloodlines.

Anyone is always welcome to come and see him, although he is going to Equine Reproductions Ltd in Farley Hill, Reading at the weekend for approx 7 wks.
 
julieleach9 said:
Totally agree with the above; I looked into it thoroughly as a first time breeder a couple of years ago and there is no 'Elite' for RID stallions. Does seem unfair that some stallion owners are making false claims and using clever semantics to try and pull the wool over the eyes of some mare owners who might not know this.

NB As it was the first time for me (and my mare) I went and saw the stallion I intended to use (Avanti Amorous Archie RID) beforehand and would heartily recommend this is done. This stallion is Grade 1/Class 1, whatever you wish to call it, and the best I found after all my research. In seeing him on a number of occasions I soon found out he is so much more than just the best grading though; the correct way he moves, the way he is put together, his temperament is to die for, and his owner Rita is just so helpful and really guided me so well and made everything so easy. I saw Archie ridden at home and out at competitions, relaxing in the field and stable, at a stallion parade and even chilling in his lorry. He was impressive in every situation and in my opinion if anyone should be claiming their stallion is 'elite' as in the 'crème de la crème' then the guys at Avanti should about Archie!

(Probably did ought to add that I did choose him and now have a corker of a filly by him. I will try and post a piccie!)
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Another vote for Archie - magnificent, very athletic stallion, and his owner Rita is super-nice!

Love your filly julieleach!
 
Thanks htobago, just got in from a lovely in-hand session with her. She is fab, such a nice girl. Am wondering if I need a pair of those bungee type stilts for showing in hand this Summer as a 2yr old though; she has a MASSIVE stride for me to keep up with!!!
 
xcfreak said:
Thanks janetgeorge its all a bit new to me but on the Balinmore Stud facebook page Skip and Sea is listed as elite irish draught stallion.
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Ah - hadn't seen the Facebook page.

I guess anyone can ad any adjective they like to their stallion - elite, gorgeous, sexy, or in the case of my boy, huge! But Elite might certainly be considered somewhat misleading as some stud books do have an 'Elite' grading.
 
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