Re: RC: [Fwd: RC: Research at rides]

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 2/11/00 2:00:34 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
wsabg@t-online.de writes:

<< but Jerzy told me that the
 gelding could be better because he is smaller (?!?!). Jerzy said that they 
often
 see problems in bigger arabs caused by the legs. We didn't go deeper into 
that
 discussion but maybe some of our RC-breeders can say a word to this. >>

Wolfgang, that't the same thing that I hear over and over from folks who have 
been breeding for years, and it has also been my observation through years of 
ride vetting.  No matter what one says about physics favoring the bigger 
horse "if all else is equal," the truth remains that "all else" is almost 
never equal.  A great number of tall Arabs gain that height by sacrificing 
conformation and proportion--I have rarely seen an Arab over about 15:2 that 
did not have excessively long cannons, excessive pastern length, a long 
shoulder that is too upright, or usually a combination of those. traits.  One 
of the only tall Arabs I ever knew that retained correct proportions was 
Bezatal--and when you stood back from him he was sufficiently proportional 
that one did not get the illusion of height.  I believe he was not quite 16 
hh.  Nonetheless (and despite the fact that he sired some EXTREMELY tall 
offspring, including one that I've seen measured with my own eyes at 
16:3-3/4), most of his really athletic offspring were shorter than he was.  
There was another stallion named Daatez that lived here in central Oregon 
before my time here and was reputed to be 16 hh--I never saw him in the 
flesh, but I've seen photos, and he WAS very well proportioned.  He was not 
bred selectively for height, and again, most of his offspring were not as 
tall as he (they weren't SMALL--I saw several that were roughly 15:1 or so) 
but had many of his athletic qualities.

I've measured photos of literally scores of Arabs that are reputed to be 16 
hh or better (and I know some of them actually are) and virtually every one 
has at least some of the conformational flaws I mentioned above.  It is not 
height itself to which long-time breeders object, but the fact that in 
attaining that height, as Jerry in Poland stated, they DO tend to lose their 
quality.  (As Tom observed in a recent post--the medium sized horses with big 
hearts tend to make the best flat track horses--wouldn't be at all surprised 
if it is for the same reason, although I have not taken the time to study the 
proportions of TB's as they relate to size.)  Thanks for sharing the fact 
that this phenomenon is also observed by astute breeders in other parts of 
the world.

Heidi