Actually, from a *genetics* point of view your Angalo-Arab may
be the best choice of all. Your 2 yo has what is known as
"Hybred-Vigor" which simply means that on the whole an
animal which results from a cross of breeds will be hardier
and healthier and thriftier than an animal of purebred background.
This results from the crossing of 2 completely different sets
of genes. If there is a deficiency in one parent, it will most
likely be "fixed" by the gene from the other parent.
This phenomenon happens within purebreds too, but to a lessor
degree. Secretariat was a purebred TB, but he was an
"outcross" of two different TB lines... sort of like having
a "Crabbett" Arab crossed with a more "American" line.
(I don't know my Arabs *that* well...) The good part about
having a "linebred" foal is you are more likely to know
what you are going to get. The good part about having
an "outcross" is the resulting foal will have a more diverse
set of genes and therefore have a better chance of being
healthy, hardy and thrifty. Secretariat was great...
exactly what you'd want from the cross of two excellent
TB lines, but he could not "reproduce himself" in his foals.
(However, he does seem to be a good "broodmare" sire where
his grandfoals are picking up his traits from their dams.)
And your boy's personality came just as much from his TB
background as from his Arab background! Have fun with
this boy... I hope to hear all about his adventures as he comes
along.
:) - kat
... and Magnum-the-TB-outcross...
"Princequillo" line X "Nasrullah" line