Stallions... which would you go for...

[PapaFrita]

Very simplistic and really just out of curiosity (I know which I, personally, went for) BUT all other things being equal (confo, temperament etc) in a stallion and you were looking to breed a performance horse to keep, would go for a stallion with very nice, proven, desirable pedigree but no competition record or a horse with a superb competition record but slightly unremarkable pedigree?

 

[Tempi]

No option for me!! - The one with the best conformation to compliment my mare, combined with a good temperment and trainabilty and pedigree.

 

[Bananaman]

It would depend on whether I was breeding to sell or to keep.

If to sell then the one with the fashionable pedigree would be a safer option but if to keep I'd probably go with the other as long as all other things, as you said, were equal.

 

[PapaFrita]

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No option for me!! - The one with the best conformation to compliment my mare, combined with a good temperment and trainabilty and pedigree.

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Ok, assuming 2 equally suitable stallions (in terms of confo, temp and trainability) turned up, which would it be (based on pedigree versus performance record only)
And you're breeding to keep

 

[PapaFrita]

Yes, you're breeding to keep and both stallys are equally suitable in terms of confo, temp, etc

Same choice as me then

 

[Tempi]

Personally then id go for the one with the better record if it was to keep for myself.

 

[magic104]

The stallion may have a good record, but not many pass it on. If that was important then I would choose a stallion who's offspring have shown ability.

 

[dieseldog]

I would go for option 2's dad.

 

[immybrookstud]

i would go for the stallion with a proven record

 

[PapaFrita]

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The stallion may have a good record, but not many pass it on. If that was important then I would choose a stallion who's offspring have shown ability.

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OK, well, just to be awkward, the one with the better pedigree has no offspring for you to see (or rather very young so you can't see them jump), but you know of a colt by the stallion with the performance record who jumps just like him

Breeding is always a bit of a gamble though, isn't it

 

[Anastasia]

Too simplistic for me I am afraid, need to take in the following:

* Pedigree
* Conformation, Temperament, movement etc
* Stallion Grading/Performance Test Results (would not use ANY stallion without this)
* Mare line (i.e. quality of the mares through the pedigree as well as stallions)
* If progeny then what they have achieved at gradings and in sport
* If they do have progeny then what traits they pass on
* Own performance (if any)
* Performance through pedigree

Once I knew all the above I would then I would then be looking at the mare and many of the same points as above, then see if the two would compliment each other.

 

[KenRehill]

Well, the Germans and the French may argue that point, with the Holsteiner and Selle Francais providing the basis of the vast majority of warm blood breeding and with them both regularly turning up in the top three SJ studbook, they would suggest that there is a touch of science mixed with a stack of experience, which has created their success.

On Saturday, I heard a well known showjumper say that breeding top horses was "freakery"!!!

Looking at the top ten stallions in the world, you'd have to say that the majority have competed at the top level (world's, Games, Europeans). Thus I agree with Anastasia, but would put personal performance higher on the list.

 

[The Voice]

"On Saturday, I heard a well known showjumper say that breeding top horses was "freakery"!!!"

............ever wonder why they are showjumpers? If it wasn't for people at that event putting the effort into trying to breed 'freaks' for people like him to ride, what would they be doing for a living? Muppet.