Stallions and Bone....................

cruiseline

cruiseline

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While doing my entry for the Stallion Showcase GB one of the questions asked was the size of bone on my stallion, this got me thinking.

Is the size of bone on a breeding stallion as important today, as it was in the 'good olde days', as I don't see it mentioned very often now-a-days.

What size bone do your stallions have?
:D
 
I think it is relevant but only when taken into consideration against the size/type of stallion.

It is still important for me and I wouldn't use a stallion light of bone.
 
Spider, (Amour G), has 9.25".
Described by many, including Dr Eberhard Senkenberg of Germany, as being lightfooted and athletic, it is possible to have the best of both worlds.

In my experience it would seem that breeding, warmbloods in particular, have trends. My first memories of warmblood breeds were mainly big horses, often built like tanks, but with movement unlike that of the thoroughbreds and show ponies I was more used to.
Then more recently, more blood was bred into them to produce a finer boned horse for the modern market.
My preference is for something in the middle..... good bone and quality. :)
 
Ricco is 9.25 bone as he is 3/4 TB Blood enough to do most jobs from hunting to showjumping or Eventing bone is relevent if your breeding for a specific job IMO
 
As a mare owner, I like to see the amount of bone stated.

No stallion is going anywhere near my girls with less than 9 inches
 
I think it is vital! As I try and do eventing, and its so difficult to keep them sound enough for the job. So good quality, thick bone is everything. When stallion shopping, I would automatically discount anything that did not have a good amount of bone- must have around 8 3/4 inches...tho it does of course depend on what kind of mare you have, mine is a light TB so needs more bone to top her up anyway.
 
My little black short legged fat hairy TB stallion(G May I) has 8 7/8 inches of good quality bone with short cannon bones.
He is very old fashioned in his breeding though ie mother was born in the late 70's
My taller bay more flash looking mordern TB stallion (High Tension)has 8 5/8 inches of very good quality bone with very clean legs.
He is a product of the way breeding is these days when the generations move on much more quickly and even he can look outdated compared to some of the very spindley TB's bred today.
Our youngest TB resident here is very modern and is very much finer although does have very clean quality bone
 
S_N said:
I think this thread deserves the award for the best thread title of 2010 and these 2 replies will have fight it out for best response!!
Click to expand...

:D

My boy has 9.25 inches of good flat bone, I too believe that and a decent amount is a very important factor to consider when breeding, it seems to be a second though in producing 'modern' sports horses now-a-days.

:D
 
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Bone is very important to me when choosing stallions, I wouldn't use a stallion who is light in bone (or in girth for that matter) although there seems to be more and more 'lighter' WB's being bred.
 
I'm another vote for bone consideration. I don't use anything too light or too heavy- more than 8.5 and less than 10/9 and 3 quarters. Delicate stick and big galumping tree trunks are not for me!
 
I have taken the following text from a stallion listing at random. You can guess the horse if you like. I have used a thoroughbred as there is such a wide variation of type within this breed.

Breed: Thoroughbred Year of birth: 1998 Disciplines: Show,
Sport

Colour: Brown Height: 16.3hh (1.702m) Bone: 9.5`
Societies reg with: Wetherby`s

The inclusion of the bone in this advert helps me as a mare owner get a better idea of the type of horse I may see and how he will compliment my mare. The example sounds like a strong national hunt type horse and would be of interest to me whereas if he was 8 inch then he would be too light a frame for what I am looking for and I dont have to waste a journey. It just helps me visualise, although I do accept in the modern world pictures are available at the click of a mouse so not as important as it used to be.
 
well I think bones are very Important in horses else how do they stand up LOL I have never met a horse who wobbled like jelly haha snow maddness has set in along with hot choc and brandy to keep me warm just finished 7 foot trims with farrier and very very cold -10 here
 
Our boy Spyder ID is 4 on the 1st he has 9.25 in of bone he is 16h and like Amour G is very lightfooted and athletic. Bone is very important to us.

Ps Merry Christmas all. xxxxxxxxx
 
S_N said:
Clearly. Less of the dear TQ
Click to expand...

Yes dear, what ever you say,

but to return to the original question. I seems to me, that when we hear of horses with, perhaps less bone than the Irish Draft, then the advertiser will make the most of the fact that their horse has "quality" bone.

Just what is "quality bone"? Is there a system of testing bone structure? Is it the shape of the bone, by cross section? My understanding of "bone" measurement, is that it's taken just below the knee, and the measurement will include the tendons.

I've seen flat fronted bone, and that which isn't. So often that which seems almost elliptical, has a pronounced extensor tendon, and will give the impression of being oval. Am I wrong?

There will have been many tough and sound TB sires, and there may well still be, who could be considered lacking in bone. Some of these horses will have sired some remarkable, tough and able youngsters. I've often considered the OPs question, and thought to post, though failed to do so, because a reference to "bone" seems to be so rarely considered, these day.

Alec.
 
You really are a condescending asehole!! Go on report me, like it will hurt so much to be banned from here! I SO rarely come on this forum now and most of that reason can attributed to you. I know there are others who feel the same. Congratulations!
 
Alec

Quality bone is a cannon that is short, strong, flat and proportionate to the horses size, you wouldn't use a stallion that is light of bone and offers insufficient support for the horse and you wouldn't use a stallion with coarse bone as you could end up with a horse with a disproportionately large, clumsy cannon that would hinder agility and speed.

Hope this helps

Simon
 
SN
I took Alecs original post as a joke just like yours and Toasts (wrong end of the stick!!!!!), not meaning to be patronising but it is hard to convey joke of otherwise on a forum when you have no facial expressions or vocal tones, and so just have to take everything as if it is intended in a nice way not b*tchy. (Apart from those short, sharp people of course ;) )

Simon :)
 
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