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Hi, Ann, I'm delurking on the bloodlines question also. As a breeder
what I look for are several things, first and foremost is a good temperament,
I simply won't breed to a stallion that isn't good tempered. It's tough
to check out temperaments but if you have access to a stud farm and make
frequent visits you may be able to discover the stallion's true temperament.
For myself the stallion I have chosen to use most often (Shalimar Jordie)
is one that the owner has ridden out on trail rides with me and my mares.
While expressing interest in the ladies with sweet nickers he has never made
an overtly aggressive move even when a mare in heat is right next to him.
On trail rides he is ridden on a loose rein, Western style. The second thing
I look for is absolutely correct conformation, by that I mean not what you
see in the show ring, I don't breed for that kind of idiocy, what I mean is
true functionally correct conformation. This is very very important to me,
I have an artist's eye and a biologist's knowledge so function is the most
important thing in the world. Most important for function are big sound
feet, legs, and joints, good bone, and no signifigant angular deviations.
After that comes length of back and smoothness of loin coupling. Then
shoulder and hip angles, then neck attachment, and finally a soft kind eye.
While that last may not seem important it is -- horses with smaller eyes
don't have the best vision and tend to be jumpier and spookier, horses with
large eyes tend to have better vision and therefore don't jump as much (my
vet says pig-eyed horses are "goofy").
The neat thing about all this for selection criteria is that it can
be consistently bred for and selected for and therefore can be found in
certain herds more often than in others. My horses are primarily derived
from CMK, Crabbet-Kellogg-Maynesboro stock, specifically they have a lot of
Shalimar breeding in them. Those Shalimar horses and other related lines
are the most consistent lineage for the qualities that I look for in a horse.
Apparently they are also qualities that the Rush Creek Land and Livestock
Co. has looked for too because for many many years they have had an ongoing
relationship with Dr. Bill Munson, DVM owner of of Shalimar, in which he
selected their breeding stock and used his stallions to improve their mares,
and in many cases they bought mares from him for use as breeding stock as
well. Look in a Rushcreek pedigree and you will find many Shalimar names.
This is not to say that they are the only consistent bloodline but what you
are seeing here is that as an endurance rider you can get great consistancy
from proper selection and therefore an increased chance that you will find
an endurance horse that won't break down over time due to fine bone or
bad hock angles or legs that aren't straight enough.
Now what's that got to do with my horses? I got to play host to
a Canadian endurance rider who came to visit my city recently and he and I
pulled my horses straight out of the pasture to go for a good 11 mile
fast trail ride in 92 degree heat and they would have been happy to oblige
us for longer, granted these are not endurance distances but when you consider
that my mares had not been out on a trail ride of any length in over two
months it was pretty good (I'm building a house so I don't have much time
to ride). He was impressed with their bone and feet and smooth muscular
loins, and he said that they were prime endurance material. And he was
especially complimentary on their quiet dispositions and training (they
are dressage trained) and good breathing rhythm at speed.
I am told that horses of these bloodlines don't tie up which is
another characteristic that can and should be selected for. I have never
seen an example of tying up with one of these horses.
The upshot is that proper selection of breeding stock can make a big
difference with what you get, otherwise you are just shooting in the dark.
Yes you may find a good horse anywhere but if you select well you can
increase your chances of finding a good horse right away rather than having
to go through several candidates.
AS to your comment about most of the male horses you saw being
inappropriate to geld, I question that. What makes them inappropriate to
geld? Are they stallion quality? If so then they will make one hell of a
a fine gelding!
Have fun!!!
Tracy and everybody
Tracy Scheinkman
Misty Mountain Arabian Sport Horses
Tucson, AZ
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