Which stallion for an 'Opposition' mare

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Thistle

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Totally hypothetical at the moment, but never say never.

Floss is a TB x Trak mare, Sire Fleetwater Oppostion, Dam sire Sykes (TB). 15.2 or 3 dark brown

She has done some eventing up to Int/Nov, is somewhat opinionated and dare I say occasionall quirky. Has the typical Oppy traits, huge stag like jump, not a natural dressage diva and likes going fast! She has also inherited the big ears and slightly wonky but sound legs and feet.

She doesn't have a great deal of bone and her front end movement could definately be improved. She can appear very grumpy to those that don't know her but it's more down to issues with trust as I think she has been knocked around at some point. I find her quite affectionate and very easy to handle.

If I were to breed from her I would be looking to breed an eventer.

Stallion MUST throw stock with an easy calm trainable temperament, have excellent feet and legs and must move well.

Any suggestions?

I quite like Amour G
 
based on what you've said, i would not breed from her- but use the money to buy a weanling/yearling/youngster with potential.

you cant rely on a stallion to produce a level headed, straight legged foal. ;)

all that being said if you are breeding to keep then i guess that it depends on how much you feel like a gamble! ;)

good luck whatever happens! ;)

x
 
If you were breeding commercially, I'd definitely agree with W&W, but as I know you wouldn't be, I know it would be a calculated risk on your part, as I know you wouldn't enter into such a commitment half heartedly. As much as I adore Amour G, I wouldn't use him on her due to his sire - you've seen Matilda... That said, he'd certainly give you bone and a good, trainable brain! KC would pretty much guarantee you a correct horse! Never known one otherwise tbth. May I would be another one to consider.
 
Agree with above but if breeding also agree May I to be a good TB choice. A gd WB choice is El Thuder. Argentinus in the breeding and so bred to move and he certainly does plus fab jumper, etc. Was 3rd in Speed Derby at Hickstead last year at only 7yrs old. I know tonnes by him and all are complete darlings to handle. Have bred 2 (3rd on the way) by him and all trainable and easygoing with lots of dad's traits. One I know is out of a sharp mare and is soo laid back we joke he is stoned! I also have a granddaughter (rising 1 now) by one of my colts by him and out of a pure trakehner mare who is herself very sharp and she is a darling!
 
Agree with what you say W&W, I agree if you want a guarunteed type you're better off buying. However, as I said this is a hypothetical post.

Much as I like May I, I think he would be a little small, he is a touch smaller than the mare and I'm not sure about using a full TB on her, although I know he does pass on a great temperament.

I suppose I have been deliberately very negative about the mares points that need improving, made her sound like some sort of conformational wierdo, which she certainly isn't.

She needs a bit more bone as she has a decent body, good well sprung ribs, nice muscular quarters with an active hind leg, but her legs look quite 'spindly' in comparison. She has the fine strong TB legs and small neat hard feet

I hadn't considered El Thuder, but I do like him

Kings Composer is another who I like, he was on the short list for Willough. Does he throw good movement. Floss can be a little 'conservative' with her paces (apart from gallop!) She does have a decent med trot hidden in there too.
 
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The question really is how big a horse do you want to end up with that would help give an idea and presumably you are breeding for eventing.
A large majority of mine by May I have ended up between 16 hands and 16.3 from a group of mares that are 15.3.
Go figure that one out ,thats horses for you.
Best laid plans and all that i once put a 15.2TB mare to 16 hands TB stallion and got 17 hands.
Full sister ended up 15.2 and another at 16.2 so no pattern to it at all.
 
sallyf said:
The question really is how big a horse do you want to end up with that would help give an idea and presumably you are breeding for eventing.
A large majority of mine by May I have ended up between 16 hands and 16.3 from a group of mares that are 15.3.
Go figure that one out ,thats horses for you.
Best laid plans and all that i once put a 15.2TB mare to 16 hands TB stallion and got 17 hands.
Full sister ended up 15.2 and another at 16.2 so no pattern to it at all.
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Ideally around 16hh.

Thinking about it, when I met May I last year and decided he wasn't the 'one' for Willough, I did think then that he would suit Floss nicely
 
My May I foal, out of a 16hh mare, is standing at 16.2 at 18 months old. Someone on here put a FO mare to May I, I remember seeing the foal pics, was that last year?
 
Clodagh said:
My May I foal, out of a 16hh mare, is standing at 16.2 at 18 months old. Someone on here put a FO mare to May I, I remember seeing the foal pics, was that last year?
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Yes Touchwood stud had 2 foals out of there FO mare who is only 15.2 .
The first is 15.2 at 2 the second one was born bigger but dont know how big he is now.
The second one went to the futurity and got higher 1st premium at 4 weeks old.
The first one didnt go and was going through a growth spurt.
 
Stallion Showcase at Addington is on the 4th/5th Feb (Dressage and I think Natives on Sat - jumpers/eventers on Sun). Lots of lovely stallions to see.
 
Fleetwater Opposition, was some horse, of that there's no question, and it's surprising just how many FO mare owners, there are! It's also surprising just how many of those mares are, shall we say, testing?!!

By now there must have been some FO mares, who've foaled. They will, by now anyway, have grown youngsters, SO, what are they like? Who were those mares put too?

Your thoughts.

Alec.
 
On sporthorsedata there is a small group of progeny out of opposition mares with some pictures- sires used were Atchermann, Kings Composer, Weston Justice and May I.
 
The stud where he stood are using Mill Law and Chilli Morning on a lot of FO mares but also looking at Heraldik blood.

My 2 are typical Opposition beasties, I think a lot of people dont 'get' them and see all their flaws but when you know them you know the flaws don't matter because the one thing they do (if handled correctly!) is perform.

My little mare is going to King Cotton Gold to sweeten up her attitude, give a little more height (she's only 15.1hh) and hopefully give a really useful sort. My other mare won't be bred from for another couple of years but for her I like Brief Encounter, Billy Mexico, Wickstead Didgeridoo, Take It 2 The Limit, McGuigan and Veni Vidi Vici. Do have a cracking 6yr old out of an Opposition mare, by Weston Justice so he'd be another one high up on the list- she really jumps but is a little average in her movement in front too.
 
Thistle said:
Mule, I really like WJ but have been told Criminal Laws can be 'hot'

Would two hotheads together give something scary?
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Ok I really need to engage my brain before I type.

Future Illusion (the stallion I used to produce Opptikal Illusion, my foal out of a sports pony) is 1/2 FO and his dam grandsire is Criminal Law, he has a pleasant temperament, that's why I used him
 
Far too late for me and a head full of cold, hence why I've been on here yesterday not outside doing stuff.

Now just need to pin down my normally lovely farrier. Floss has been missing a shoe for over a week now and he still hasn't turned up. Another gentle text today methinks. I'll tell him I've made cake!
 
Our Weston Justice mare is pretty laid back- certainly never hot. She retains her mother's quirks though as she was a particularly quirky Opposition!

You could phone up John and have a chat with him- he has a good eye and knows what suits his mares
 
Not much knowledge of Fleetwood Opposition but I bred a stunning colt by Sykes (who was about 15h) out of a 15:1 TB x Irish mare. He grew to 16:3 and went PSG.
 
I've used Groomsbridge May I twice on a Fleetwater Opposition mare. The temperament is good on both colts, and May I has ironed out the conformational idiosyncronies you get with Opposition breeding. The younger colt looks small at the moment, but I am informed that the full brother is standing at 15.2hh as a 2 year old, so I don't think he is going to be small.
 
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