The Stallion .....

Spiderman said:
Thank you, actually that means an awful lot to me. My young rider was under instruction to give him a nice time, and although he can move with a lot more lift and power, I just feel that he's too young to be pumped up as yet.
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I have a natural bias towards showjumpers and always find the pure dressage horses a bit stilted, due - I think - to the current fashion of prioritising flashy front footwork over back end action. So I prefered Spider (and also Zanzibar, who had the very last set on Sunday and I don't feel enough people saw) to some of the other horses shown on the Sunday, because his back end action is so nice and loose and "proportionate" to his front end action, if you see what I mean. I know he is technically a dual purpose stallion, but as he wasn't being shown jumping, his dressage set on Sunday was all I could judge him on and I was really quite impressed.

Simsar said:
Archie all the way. x
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And of course, you are not biased :D ;)
Archie WAS truly impressive, soooo balanced and forward, ridden in a snaffle and NO spurs.
I still go for the tall and elegant (and probably WB!) though - if I had to take just one away, that would have to be Don VHP Z. Amazing, amazing horse.
 
I'm gutted I couldn't make it. Everyone seems to have had a ball! Did anyone see Santana? I have a baby due by him this year (last years National Foaling Bank auction prize).
 
GinnieRedwings said:
And of course, you are not biased :D ;)
Archie WAS truly impressive, soooo balanced and forward, ridden in a snaffle and NO spurs.
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Unfortunately I couldn't get there - but from all I've heard it was an enormous success, very well organised, and JUST what British Breeding - and stallion owners - need!!

And Archie IS fantastic - he epitomises everything the TRUE RID stallion should be! I guess you could say I'm biased too - I have two divine 2 year old fillies by him, 2 yearling fillies and 2 yearling colts - and 6 mares (all daughters of my own stallion) in foal to him for this year!:D
 
JG - be biased all you want! He was amazing and truly gained a fan club there! Such an established, well schooled, rhythmic and consistent horse. I don't think his contact and frame moved once throughout his show and he was just soo easy and willing. The only thing he spooked at was at the end when everyone cheered him bless him it was like he suddenly noticed there was an audience and leped back and got a worried look on his face...but that was it...and then showed off a lovely extended trot to finish!
 
Didn't go but have seen the pics and for me first and for most I love Legrande but I am biased as I have loved him from the very first photo I ever saw of him. From the photos there are a couple I like, Don VHP Z, Amour G and Billy Mexico.

I hope you will be doing it again next year as I have told my OH that we are going!
 
I am home now and still buzzing from one of the best weekends I have had in a long long time.

Thank you all for your wonderful comments regarding Legrande. I have to admit to shedding a tear when he came in on Sunday with Claire in top hat and tails. I really need to say a big thank you to her for preparing him so well for the occasion, he looked like he was floating on air at times.
 
"Floating on air" just describes the amazing lightness and elevation that Legrande showed in his dressage on Sunday. You must have been a very, very proud mum (of both daughter and stallion! :) )

Having brewed for a couple of days on stallion choices for my TB mare, Challon Z seems to have risen to the top of the list, rather to my surprise, as he didn't start there! But the more that I saw of him, and the more that I thought about his wonderful temperament (an important one as far as she is concerned!) and his pedigree - Holstein x TB, with TB up close, (Irish Taxi) and the great Holstein lines of Caretino through Caridor Z - the clearer I became that he is probably the right stallion for her! I have to say that for total indecisives like me it was very valuable to get a second look at some of the stallions on Day Two of the SSGB.
 
no_no_nanette said:
Having brewed for a couple of days on stallion choices for my TB mare, Challon Z seems to have risen to the top of the list, rather to my surprise, as he didn't start there! But the more that I saw of him, and the more that I thought about his wonderful temperament.
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Funny isn't it? I feel exactly the same way about him. He didn't excite me a great deal on paper, looked like someone's nice RC pony in the stable (very correctly put together, but not very exciting) THEN looked $1,000,000 under saddle - perfect workmanlike paces with great back end action and ground cover, great jump, and getting on with the job quietly and obediently. Loved him. He has also made it onto my top-5.
 
GinnieRedwings said:
Funny isn't it? I feel exactly the same way about him. He didn't excite me a great deal on paper, looked like someone's nice RC pony in the stable (very correctly put together, but not very exciting) THEN looked $1,000,000 under saddle - perfect workmanlike paces with great back end action and ground cover, great jump, and getting on with the job quietly and obediently. Loved him. He has also made it onto my top-5.
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You're spot on GinnieRedwings! Another one for me who can be described as not necessarily having the "pizzazz" of some of the other stallions, but who looked incredibly rideable, totally efficient over jumps, lovely type, and who I have seen performing a foot-perfect dressage test at Tweseldown, is Billy Be Cool.
 
The SSGB helped me finally make my mind up too. After months of researching and going to see stallions and looking up their progeny records I've chosen Upton's Deli Circus. I loved him last year at the expo and loved him even more this year. It also helps that his son Upton's Who was placed 4th at Bramham and is going to do Badminton this year. :)

Revolution came a very close second. He is such a lovely stallion with manners to burn and his stallion son Sir Suave was incredible in his display, so calm for his age, very good looking and loads of ability.

Legrande stole the show though IMO. His movement is incredible. I would love to use him in the future on a dressage mare. Well done Lynn and Claire on producing him so well. He really is a credit to you both.
 
SS - so glad you finally chose a boy and Deli could not be a better choice...such a darling!!!

RE Challon Z - I have had my eye on him for ages but only got to see him for the first time at SSGB and loved his workmanlike easygoing attitude....definitely on my list for the future!
 
I managed to miss Challon Z completely! I think I was in the stable cuddling Legrande and Revolution when he was on. I think it's likely that there will be even more stallions at the SSGB next year which may mean fewer breaks in the programme. What a dilemma! How do you choose whether to watch the show, watch the warm up or go to the stables? :)
 
stolensilver said:
Legrande stole the show though IMO. His movement is incredible. I would love to use him in the future on a dressage mare. Well done Lynn and Claire on producing him so well. He really is a credit to you both.
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Thank you so much for your lovely comments :)

One that has not been mentioned, but really stood out to me as a lovely horse was KEPI D’ELLE he looked so uncomplicated and easy to ride. He made all the fences look like cross poles in the ease of which he jumped them.

I missed so many of the stallions in the ring, as the stable block was just so busy, which is a real shame as I would have loved to have seen

Upton Deli Circus
Asterix EZ
Primitive Star
Challon Z
More of the Billy horses
Valencio
Zilando (although I have seen him out at shows.....love him)
and MANY MANY more.

anyone with videos, please post links :D
 
stolensilver said:
The SSGB helped me finally make my mind up too. After months of researching and going to see stallions and looking up their progeny records I've chosen Upton's Deli Circus. I loved him last year at the expo and loved him even more this year. It also helps that his son Upton's Who was placed 4th at Bramham and is going to do Badminton this year. :)

Revolution came a very close second. He is such a lovely stallion with manners to burn and his stallion son Sir Suave was incredible in his display, so calm for his age, very good looking and loads of ability.

Legrande stole the show though IMO. His movement is incredible. I would love to use him in the future on a dressage mare. Well done Lynn and Claire on producing him so well. He really is a credit to you both.
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One of the real upsides to seeing the stallions in their stables was how very many of them were complete pussycats, loved their people, and had friendly and calm temperaments. I've seen Uptons Deli Cirucs several times now, once at Badminton when he was tied up to a lorry surrounded by admirers, with children patting him, and he was loving every minute of it!

I loved Revolution, (we were allowed a sneaky late night view and cuddle of him and his son at the SSGB) and would definitely consider using him on my ISH mare next year - his progeny's results are very impressive, and somehow have not attracted the attention that they deserve until very recently. There's going to be an article on him and Sir Suave in this month's online Horse Breeders Magazine.
 
cruiseline said:
Thank you so much for your lovely comments :)

One that has not been mentioned, but really stood out to me as a lovely horse was KEPI D’ELLE he looked so uncomplicated and easy to ride. He made all the fences look like cross poles in the ease of which he jumped them.
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CL, I have to add my voice to others. Legrande was simply breathtaking & Claire looked great on top, as well as being incredibly friendly and welcoming on the ground. Sorry I didn't get round to saying hello to you personally (although I did identify you as the very tanned lady in the midst of us who've had to winter here ;)), but I probably paid much more attention to your lovely stallion and Claire's GSD pups :rolleyes:

Re: Kepi d'Elle, I agree, what a fantastic boy (and built like a tank, he's simply huge, with plenty of bone and a leg in each corner). He was also VERY friendly when I went to bother him in his stable. Only small drawback... he is a bit long in the back. Looks like a hell of a job to keep his loin and backside muscled up. Would have to be put to a very short coupled lighter mare.
 
GinnieRedwings said:
Only small drawback... he is a bit long in the back. Looks like a hell of a job to keep his loin and backside muscled up. Would have to be put to a very short coupled lighter mare.
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Agreed :)

Thanks, it was really a delight to meet people in the stables, everyone was so friendly, we thoroughly enjoyed the interaction with you all.

Roll on 2012..........
 
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So how about 3 sets of stable times with a open and close time? That way everyone has time to go to stables and not miss stallions in arena and stallion owners get time to watch other stallions too?
 
millthyme said:
The only 2 I wanted to take home were Zanzibar and Maestro...but wait a minute I DID. Im so honored to groom from such stunning and gentle stallions. Shame not too many people got to check out Zanzibar as hes or hope for 2016! :)
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Lucky you!

I normally don't like Lussos. I don't like the roman nose so much and I generally find the Hispanic paces too high and not long enough, but Maestro was class... He covered ground beautifully and looked really smart. He was just a little tense in the ring. I caught him in the warm up and he moved magnificently.

And Zanzibar, well, he was my second "surprise" of the week-end (together with Challon Z). I would pick him in a heartbeat if I had a mare for him. Fabulous back end action. Also loved Amy Stovold laughing her head off as he was being a bit spooky during his set. I got to chat to her afterwards as I went to congratulate her and let her know how much I had liked the horse and she explained he had been with her (and in work) only 2 months, having spent the previous 4 years covering only in Holland. He is a class act and I am sure he will do extremely well.
 
GinnieRedwings said:
Lucky you!

I normally don't like Lussos. I don't like the roman nose so much and I generally find the Hispanic paces too high and not long enough, but Maestro was class... He covered ground beautifully and looked really smart. He was just a little tense in the ring. I caught him in the warm up and he moved magnificently.

And Zanzibar, well, he was my second "surprise" of the week-end (together with Challon Z). I would pick him in a heartbeat if I had a mare for him. Fabulous back end action. Also loved Amy Stovold laughing her head off as he was being a bit spooky during his set. I got to chat to her afterwards as I went to congratulate her and let her know how much I had liked the horse and she explained he had been with her (and in work) only 2 months, having spent the previous 4 years covering only in Holland. He is a class act and I am sure he will do extremely well.
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I missed him in the ring, but saw him in the stables, and sounds like he's another one we should definitely be watching out for :)
 
Spiderman said:
Amour G's stable name is Spider, so yes.:) (And not a numpty question, how would you know? :))
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Ah, thank you. If your website has about 800 hits over the past week - those have been me :)

Can I pm with some questions please? I don't want to waste anybodies time as I'm not sure if I'll be putting my mare in foal this year or not. It depends on how well my friend is doing and if she is happy to stop the competition season early. So it might be next year if they do well over the coming months.

It would only be a few questions - I promise :)
 
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