I need suggestions on TB stallions

[ktm2007]

Hi all!

I've started threads before about finding a stallion for my mare. I think I have decided that I want to find a nice tb stallion. My mare is holsteiner, and a bit on the large side, so I am looking to make a nice cross that would perhaps be a bit more refined than if I were to breed her to a warmblood! I showed her in the A/O hunters, good movement, great jump, VERY quiet.

As far as a hunter or jumper stallion, I am keeping my options open. I would love suggestions! Thank you in advance

[raffey1]

Coconut Grove would be a nice choice, as an international jumper talent. October Hill Farm in Texas just sold a three year old Coco x holsteiner to a leading jumper rider in Mexico and has the horse's picture available-- absolutely stunning. The baby could be registered AHHA if the mare has been inspected.

[baywithchrome2]

Hands down, Coconut Grove. :D Premium foals, site champions in every registry, European stallion prospects, approved stallion sons from his first foal crop, top competition mares (e.g., World Cup) being bred to him, Olympic riders buying his offspring and/or breeding to him. What more can a US-based stallion do with just 4 foal crops on the ground?

[HSGF]

How about the lovely stallion A Fine Romance? I also really like Coconut Grove as well.

Good Luck in your search! :)

[ponygirl]

Definitely Coconut Grove. I did put a bigger Holsteiner mare to him and am pleased as punch with the resulting foal.

[LongLeaf]

Noble Houston

http://www.noblehouston.com/

[ktm2007]

Definitely Coconut Grove. I did put a bigger Holsteiner mare to him and am pleased as punch with the resulting foal.

do you happen to have any pictures of the foal?

[GreyDun]

Does anyone know what Coconut Grove's stud fee is? I believe their website isn't up to date ... Thanks!:)

[baywithchrome2]

I believe its around $1650 but you'd need to talk to Tamara to confirm. To quote John Houseman in the old Smith-Barney commercials, she does "business the old-fashioned way." Definitely more of a people person than a techno person ;) Lovely woman with a ton of knowledge...you'll have a blast speaking with her.

[ponygirl]

I have pics but I am not a premium member. I could email them to you if you wanted.

[ponygirl]

bwc is going to post pics of my filly for me for you to see. Thanks bwc.

[baywithchrome2]

Here are pictures of ponygirl's Coconut Grove filly out of a Solid Silver-Calypso II-Aldato Holsteiner mare.

Sorry the second one is a little blurry, but the digital didn't exactly cooperate.

[omare]

I think A Fine Romance, in addtion to hunter and eventing children, has had his first GP jumper-so he may give you lots of options.

[Allyn M]

I will second Coconut Grove and say that working with Tamara is a pleasure. We bred him to our big ( 17 + ) Jus de Pomme mare who is out of an Ahorn by Nimmerdor mare and did embryo transfer . That foal is now up on our web site . I repeated the breeding this year ....still hoping for a filly.

[scubed]

How about Roanoke, the sire of Kim Severson's Tsunami III, although he has mostly race horses and eventers as offspring

[VirginiaBred]

I'll chime in on A Fine Romance also. Successful sire, lovely to look at, all desired qualities are there.

http://www.afineromance.ca/

[ktm2007]

I'll chime in on A Fine Romance also. Successful sire, lovely to look at, all desired qualities are there.

http://www.afineromance.ca/

does anyone know if A Fine Romance has been crossed with the corde lines? He seems very nice!

[headsortails]

I am breeding to Dr Caton this coming year- I;ve always loved him and I rode some of his babies when I worked at the track so I went and met him and talked to the owners, they said they would be happy to let me breed my jumper mare to him- it is live cover, which you may not be able to do by he is by Seattle Slew- he has the best blood and his babies were fancy and balanced

[fish]

Minister General, owned by Symmetry Ranch, produced a gorgeous colt last year (winner on the line at Upperville, if I remember correctly) from a WB mare. I believe he's also produced an IHF champion.

[camohn]

How about Roanoke, the sire of Kim Severson's Tsunami III, although he has mostly race horses and eventers as offspring

He was here in PA. He is a lovely sporthorse sire....was the grandsire of the stallion we had. He moved to the midwest this year with a significant stud fee drop. He throws HUGE foals though. He is 16.3H and it is not uncommon for them to hit 16.3 easily. Bred to a big WB mare you will probably get a tank. The biggest foal I ever saw in my life was by Roanoke out of a DWB mare. That foal must have made 18H at the rate it was growing! If her mare is on the large size and the OP wants to scale down the size he won't do that.

[Silly Mommy]

I have had both "A Fine Romance", and "Minister General" babies. All out of the same TB mare, and all exceptional.. Tall, beautiful, and FABULOUS temperaments. AFR has crossed well with WB mares as has MG --- MG hasn't done as much breeding.

On the note of "hasn't done as much breeding", take a look at Mandate and his get on my website (linked below). I am doing my first WB cross with him this coming spring, but am very pleased with his full TB and TB/Paint crosses.

[llsc]

Aaron's Gold is quite a hunk.
http://mortgagehallfarm.com/breeding.htm

I also like Jones Hall
http://www.jones-hall.com/

And Viscount
http://www.wariotofarminc.com/viscount.html

[dadedt]

I second "NOBLE HOUSTON"
Very nice TB Stallion you will be very pleased

[higgs]

Innkeeper is another one to check out
http://www.enavantstud.com/index.html

[ktm2007]

He was here in PA. He is a lovely sporthorse sire....was the grandsire of the stallion we had. He moved to the midwest this year with a significant stud fee drop. He throws HUGE foals though. He is 16.3H and it is not uncommon for them to hit 16.3 easily. Bred to a big WB mare you will probably get a tank. The biggest foal I ever saw in my life was by Roanoke out of a DWB mare. That foal must have made 18H at the rate it was growing! If her mare is on the large size and the OP wants to scale down the size he won't do that.

AHH!! No 18 hand babies for me! :lol: yes, I do want to downscale! My mare is right over 17'2, and although pretty refined for a warmblood, she was a bit too big for me when I was showing her, and I am not short by any means! thanks for the info!

[Ladybug Hill]

You have gotten great suggestions here.

I do the webpages for both Aaron's Gold and Fun and Fancy Free, both nice. Both have great personalities. I was brushing Aaron's back legs in his stall within 5 minutes of meeting him.

Webpages:
http://mortgagehallfarm.com/
http://myfoxfarm.com/

I have had 3 Fun and Fancy Free fillies--all very laid back. Pictures on my webpage.

Musing and Jones Hall are nice also and both a bit smaller I believe.

[carolprudm]

Hi all!

I've started threads before about finding a stallion for my mare. I think I have decided that I want to find a nice tb stallion. My mare is holsteiner, and a bit on the large side, so I am looking to make a nice cross that would perhaps be a bit more refined than if I were to breed her to a warmblood! I showed her in the A/O hunters, good movement, great jump, VERY quiet.

As far as a hunter or jumper stallion, I am keeping my options open. I would love suggestions! Thank you in advance
How about Triple Twist? I love his pedigree but offspring are unknown

[Cinnybren]

A Fine Romance!

I bred my Holsteiner mare, Cinnabar, to him and the resulting colt is outstanding! He was a Premium foal at the Old NA inspections. My mare is big girl and I wanted some refinement, added length of leg and a better hip. I got all that and more from this cross. My mare was successful in the jumper ring but not the prettiest of movers...this cross has produced a LOVELY moving boy. He may have to go show in the hunters with that trot and canter. ;)

Here is her pedigree:

http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/cinnabar8

A Fine Romance's owner is wonderful to work with and I cannot say enough good things about how nice this cross has turned out. I am thinking hard about breeding her back next season. (Though I'm not sure I REALLY need another baby...!) lol

Another fine TB stallion is Mandate. His owner posts here. Nice boy!

[bornfreenowexpensive]

You have gotten lots of good suggestions (and many I like as well). For a smaller TB, I like this guy

http://www.teamwindchase.com/OrujoStallionPage.htm

I watched him go at several events and he is a lovely mover and very good jumper....plus seemed to have a great temperment (you'd never know he was a stallion). I don't know too much about his offspring but if I had a larger mare WB mare, he is the type I would consider.

[talloaks]

:DI bred to A Fine Romance last year, and couldn't be happier with my filly, Amelia, out of Hana Floria. Amelia was Champion of her ISR/Old NA (17 or 18 foals)inspection with scores 8.7 for type and conformation, 8.5 for movement and 8.7 for overall impression for a total score of 8.6. She is tied as the top scoring foal in NA.

A Fine Romance does indeed have a winning GP jumper son, a full TB, as well as a winner at Devon this year, and the highest scoring foal in NA!

This photograph was taken by Izabela Jedral at the inspection.

[ktm2007]

:DI bred to A Fine Romance last year, and couldn't be happier with my filly, Amelia, out of Hana Floria. Amelia was Champion of her ISR/Old NA (17 or 18 foals)inspection with scores 8.7 for type and conformation, 8.5 for movement and 8.7 for overall impression for a total score of 8.6. She is tied as the top scoring foal in NA.

A Fine Romance does indeed have a winning GP jumper son, a full TB, as well as a winner at Devon this year, and the highest scoring foal in NA!

This photograph was taken by Izabela Jedral at the inspection.

lovely filly! Looks like a Fine Romance is at the top of a lot of people's lists!
Do you have pictures of the mare that you would be willing to post?

[TWF]

Minister General, owned by Symmetry Ranch, produced a gorgeous colt last year (winner on the line at Upperville, if I remember correctly) from a WB mare. I believe he's also produced an IHF champion.
You are correct..Fish...

This Is It was that colt...winner of Upperville out of four time Upperville Mare Champion - Grand Affair (Grande Diva) by Grande Saber. Jill sent a note to me after Upperville...

"Diva delivered the nicest foal, I have ever laid eyes on in Feb. He is simply stunning in every way. Won the foal class at Upperville. Had people follow him every where. He is so nice I named him This Is It. He is it. He and Diva are on the front of my website. www.jannofarm.com (http://www.jannofarm.com/) and his page is http://www.jannofarm.com/thisisit.html (http://www.jannofarm.com/thisisit.html) . I think he will look very familiar to you. "

She's right...the lovely colt is a spitting image of his late grandsire Grande Saber.

"This it It" was named Grand Champion of the 2007 Weanling Pennsylvania Weanling Futurity

[Silly Mommy]

WOW!!! I can say that Minister General (Mickey) does put a beautiful head on his babies (not that you ride that part, and both my mare and Grand Affair are pretty as well) as my filly has a very refined head and a big powerful booty! My only complaint with her is that she has the wrong plumbing and not enough chrome:lol::lol::lol:! She is a STUNNING mover and an absolute doll to work with!

Here she is at 2 mos: http://www.wolfdenfarm.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/clatenw.jpg.w300h240.jpg

I tragically lost my AFR baby this year, but he was third in a tough 3yo class at Devon.

http://www.wolfdenfarm.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/woodypro.jpg.w560h369.jpg

[Dressage-ryder]

WOW! Those AFR babies are beautiful!!!

[talloaks]

lovely filly! Looks like a Fine Romance is at the top of a lot of people's lists!
Do you have pictures of the mare that you would be willing to post?


Yes I do have photos, but I also have a problem with my computer in that I can't seem to down load pictures to the place I usually do so I can link to various sites. Therefore I will post a picture from 2005 of Hana Floria and her Sandro Hit filly. Hopefully you can get an idea what she looks like.

I will add that Hana Floria is elite Selle Francais and is out of a TB mare who traces close to the great English Hyperion and Hana Floria is by a son of the world's great Furioso II, hence the sport horse breeding. Adding TB to a breeding program is a super bonus I believe!!

[jparkes]

The Allen's at Allen Stock Farm ( http://www.oditech.com/~allenstockfarm/ ) have a couple of lovely TB stallions that come from a line of proven show hunters.

I have a son of Apollo's Fire that I use on my personal mares. Wonderful disposition and offspring are winning in the showring.

[jmjhp]

What is the name of the imported TB stallion up in Canada, maybe Australian, he is older and did show at the grand prix level? I can't remember his name, it is driving me crazy.

[Forte]

Yavari?

[sporthorsefilly]

check out TB Fun and Fancy Free http://www.myfoxfarm.com/

[ktm2007]

The Allen's at Allen Stock Farm ( http://www.oditech.com/~allenstockfarm/ ) have a couple of lovely TB stallions that come from a line of proven show hunters.

I have a son of Apollo's Fire that I use on my personal mares. Wonderful disposition and offspring are winning in the showring.

I have a son of your stallion ;) (I ride with Gary) And he is fabulous!

[allanglos]

What is the name of the imported TB stallion up in Canada, maybe Australian, he is older and did show at the grand prix level? I can't remember his name, it is driving me crazy.

Final Pool? Not Australian, but was quite the jumper.

[ponygirl]

Final Pool is a great sire. Baywithchrome has a Final Pool mare she bred to Coconut Grove. That foal did extremely well in the BWP tour. I was so impressed with what her mare has produced and the fact her dam line has produced the stallion Agincourt, I leased her and put her to Van Gogh B for a foal this year.

[Ride'emCO]

I really like A Fine Romance and Jones Hall - another favorite of mine is Rock Point. Is he still standing? Does he have a website?

[Edgewood]

I know that Team Nihof imports semen to the US and maybe this TB stallion is available (and hopefully freezes well). He certainly has the jump in him.

http://www.team-nijhof.nl/site/html_uk/hengsten/rovenxx.html

This site has an offspring of Roven xx listed as Walter Ohara
http://www.sunnybrookfarm.net/salehorses.php

[baywithchrome2]

Final Pool is a great sire. Baywithchrome has a Final Pool mare she bred to Coconut Grove. That foal did extremely well in the BWP tour. I was so impressed with what her mare has produced and the fact her dam line has produced the stallion Agincourt, I leased her and put her to Van Gogh B for a foal this year.

I love my Final Pool mare! She definitely quiets the nay-sayers with respect to the consistent production of sporthorses by Thoroughbred mares. And she puts an amazing temperament on her kids... her Coco filly was born broke and has remained that way. Does anybody know if that is a Final Pool trait?

Here's a pic of Final Pool.

[baywithchrome2]

I know that Team Nihof imports semen to the US and maybe this TB stallion is available (and hopefully freezes well). He certainly has the jump in him.

http://www.team-nijhof.nl/site/html_uk/hengsten/rovenxx.html

This site has an offspring of Roven xx listed as Walter Ohara
http://www.sunnybrookfarm.net/salehorses.php


Roven is gorgeous, but I've heard his frozen does not work well at all. :(

[talloaks]

I know that Team Nihof imports semen to the US and maybe this TB stallion is available (and hopefully freezes well). He certainly has the jump in him.

http://www.team-nijhof.nl/site/html_uk/hengsten/rovenxx.html

This site has an offspring of Roven xx listed as Walter Ohara
http://www.sunnybrookfarm.net/salehorses.php


Edgewood, was this stallion foaled in the US and then exported to the Netherlands??? It would seen bizarre to import frozen semen of an American TB!!! WE have wonderful TBs here in the US and Canada!!

[Dressage-ryder]

I also have a Final Pool mare that is super! Great mind, easy going and a wonderful mom. She scored a 75 on the BWP tour and tied for the highest scoring mare in 2006 aged 7 and older :)
Her foal from this year ( this is her first baby for us) was really easy and sweet. No fuss and did everything asked of her. I will say I think that Final Pool can throw some size ( I have seen some up to 17.2,although most seem to be between 16.2-17 hands) so if you don't want to tall horse, that might be something to consider.

[Edgewood]

Edgewood, was this stallion foaled in the US and then exported to the Netherlands??? It would seen bizarre to import frozen semen of an American TB!!! WE have wonderful TBs here in the US and Canada!!
Talloaks, the Nihof web site link says that he was born in Chile and imported to the US and then the Netherlands. So he was not US born. And the OP asked for stallions that can jump well (and obviously he can) and as a bonus, he is approved by the highly demanding KWPN. But alas, it sounds like he doesn't freeze well.

[jmjhp]

Yavari?

Thank you!

[jmjhp]

What about this boy?

http://www.warmblood.com/yavari.htm

[fish]

Edgewood, was this stallion foaled in the US and then exported to the Netherlands??? It would seen bizarre to import frozen semen of an American TB!!! WE have wonderful TBs here in the US and Canada!!

Nothing new at all. Mytens, Prince Thatch-- a lot of the TB's standing in Europe are from families readily available here. The best TB blood has been international for ages. What's sad is that we've been so far behind the Europeans when it's come to studying and effectively marketing their usefulness for sport. First the Europeans sold us their TB crosses (aka WB's), now we buy TB semen from them, too-- all because they've gone through the selection processes for us and recorded the results.

[fish]

What about this boy?

http://www.warmblood.com/yavari.htm

Gorgeous photos!! And did you notice that he's by the same sire (Lefty) as Roven???

Obviously, we need to add Argentina (and a few other countries, too) to the US and Canada when it comes to producing great TB's, including great ones for sport (e.g. Forli is in back of Prince Thatch).

[ktm2007]

What about this boy?

http://www.warmblood.com/yavari.htm

he's awesome!!

[GotSpots]

I'm a huge A Fine Romance fan: we have three of his in the barn right now (a 5 year old, a 6 year old, and a seven year old). Strikingly consistent personalities: they are all calm and super confident. All three have a tremendous jump as well, with a particularly good hind end. We've also closely looked at four others of his as event horses and found them very consistently fabulous horses. He does seem to throw a pretty consistent and distinctive eye: it's not a big WB eye, but you'll pick it out a ring away. I would say that in some of his the neck comes out of his withers a bit more like a hunter than a jumper, though that hasn't stopped anything we've seen from having easy access to the scope button, and is, in fact, something some folks are looking for. I would say, based on the ones I've seen, that they tend to be horses that have minds easy enough for the amateur, but enough talent for the professional.

I really like Denny Emerson's stallion Reputed Testamony for a jumping horse: tough, strong, and very athletic. He's getting up there in age but I've been quite impressed with some of his offspring. There are still a couple of the Bonne Nuit line stallions out there - if you can find one, those pretty much all can jump beautifully - some of them have slightly, er, stronger personalities. Many of them tend to be a little smaller, too, which might balance out your mare.

[ktm2007]

I'm a huge A Fine Romance fan: we have three of his in the barn right now (a 5 year old, a 6 year old, and a seven year old). Strikingly consistent personalities: they are all calm and super confident. All three have a tremendous jump as well, with a particularly good hind end. We've also closely looked at four others of his as event horses and found them very consistently fabulous horses. He does seem to throw a pretty consistent and distinctive eye: it's not a big WB eye, but you'll pick it out a ring away. I would say that in some of his the neck comes out of his withers a bit more like a hunter than a jumper, though that hasn't stopped anything we've seen from having easy access to the scope button, and is, in fact, something some folks are looking for. I would say, based on the ones I've seen, that they tend to be horses that have minds easy enough for the amateur, but enough talent for the professional.

I really like Denny Emerson's stallion Reputed Testamony for a jumping horse: tough, strong, and very athletic. He's getting up there in age but I've been quite impressed with some of his offspring. There are still a couple of the Bonne Nuit line stallions out there - if you can find one, those pretty much all can jump beautifully - some of them have slightly, er, stronger personalities. Many of them tend to be a little smaller, too, which might balance out your mare.

thank you so much for your information on a Fine Romance. It's nice to know that the ones you have in your barn have consistant attitudes! I think I am leaning towards him! Ultimately, I would love a fancy hunter baby, but I would be happy with anything I get!

[talloaks]

thank you so much for your information on a Fine Romance. It's nice to know that the ones you have in your barn have consistant attitudes! I think I am leaning towards him! Ultimately, I would love a fancy hunter baby, but I would be happy with anything I get!

I think I failed to mention the wonderful calm attitude of my A Fine Romance filly. She is out of a Furioso II bred mare who can be a little hot, or was in her younger days, but her filly this year is so calm and so reasonable and such a pleasure to handle. You won't go wrong breeding to A Fine Romance. As a matter of fact we are going to repeat the breeding!! It was that good!!;)

[mbj]

I have A Fine Romance 2 year old I adore. Great mind, lovely gaits and easy. Very balanced and agile for a big boy. A canter to die for right from the start, and a very nice trot. Very easy to break. We rode him 4 times xc and stopped because he was perfect.

I also have a Harry the Hat 4 year old who is really nice. Brave and loves to jump and work. He has had winners on line at Devon, as well as show hunters and stakes winners. He is very mellow and puts a really cute face on his babies. Hunter movement.

[ktm2007]

do you know a website for HArry the Hat?

[Foxtrot's]

I'm so glad dear old Final Pool has not been forgotten. He is 30 now. He throws such a good mind, is a beautiful mover and has successful babies in the H/J world. He is alive and well and Nick Trensky still has some frozen semen. I have a mare by him, she was top of all her inspections and top (and only) TB in her Westphalian mare performance test. Anybody remember the stallion Special Event or the hunters Special Occasion and Showboat who went to the east coast? Pool was a Grand Prix jumper with his amateur owner and made it to the World Cup qualifiers at Spruce meadows
and jumped with the best. Love our thoroughbreds!

[Kenike]

I saw right away that Coconut Grove and A Fine Romance were mentioned..... Those two are fantastic.

I'll add to that list Mandate. He's at Wolfden Farm, and seems to be a really nice sire. Has anyone else mentioned him? (I haven't read through...bad me)

[Jaegermonster]

I have a coming 5 yo Reputed Testamony filly that ROCKS! I also really like Twist of Fate, who is out of the Good Twist line, and Salute the Truth. Sea Accounts is also verrrry nice.

[Erin Pittman]

I have a coming 5 yo Reputed Testamony filly that ROCKS! I also really like Twist of Fate, who is out of the Good Twist line, and Salute the Truth. Sea Accounts is also verrrry nice.

Salute The Truth has some VERY big babies, though. When it comes to warmblood crosses, he seems to produce big offspring - at Dodon he's got a 4-year old Anglo Trakehner son who is at least 18 hands (out of a 17.2 hand mare), and a 5-year old Swedish WB son who's 17.1 (don't know how big the mare was for that one). I will say they are pretty horses, though - they aren't massive; tall but in proportion. I'm not sure what his outside WB-cross foals are like in terms of size. I really like the look of Sea Accounts - he's a handsome boy. There's also a young Canadian Thoroughbred stallion out in the Eventing world, named Rather Well, that looks like he might be nice (http://www.darwood.net/users/bystorm/ratherwell/whats_new.html).

[omare]

Does anyone have any contact information for him-Thanks!

[mbj]

Castle Rock Farm. P.O. Box 567, Unionville, PA 19375 Phone: (610) 793-9887 Fax: (610) 793-0438 Email: crffarm@aol.com. Stallions: Harry the Hat,$1000 ($750 for PA bred qualifying TBs). He is by Seattle Slew out of an Affirmed mare, a very polite stallion to the mares he covers, and seems fertile and able to improve the mare quite a bit (according to the racehorse statistical analysis). He also will throw color if there are spots on mom's side.

[Breeder]

NOBLE HOUSTON hands down!!! His 2 y/o full TB filly was 3rd on the line at the KY Nationals. It is likely she would have won as the filly (stunning) bumped her eye the night before the show - it was swollen and tearing when I saw her and the judges still used her 3rd out of 16 or so in the class. Nice Stallion - Super offspring just not afforded the "advertising campaign" others have been. Don't know if anything transpired but I know Brownie inquired about the filly.

[TQ]

I have not read the whole thread so I don't know which stallions have been mentioned, but if a great full TB is what you want, you should certainly take a look at A Fine Romance.

[ktm2007]

Thanks so much for all the replies! They are MUCH appreciated to the breeding greenie! :)

[Linny]

If you plan on raising and training the baby for yourself, A Fine Romance has to be a finalist. By all accounts his babies are kind and willing from day 1 and have "ammy ready" tempraments. He seems to refine a heavier WB while adding some scope and range to smaller QH type mares. He's done it all from racing to hunters to jumpers and I think even eventing.

[allanglos]

Hi all!

I am looking to make a nice cross that would perhaps be a bit more refined than if I were to breed her to a warmblood! I showed her in the A/O hunters, good movement, great jump, VERY quiet.


I had an idea for you. How about an imported French Anglo Arabian sire? Baladin d'Oc stands at VA Tech. He is approved in many WB registries. I am not up to speed on all their symbols (on his home page) but I believe they are Hannovarian, Oldenburg, and Selle Francais. He has siblings in France winning over fences. I have a black filly by him that is VERY quiet and an excellent mover. He is also a top dressage horse.

Here is a pic of Baladin and my filly:

[ktm2007]

If you plan on raising and training the baby for yourself, A Fine Romance has to be a finalist. By all accounts his babies are kind and willing from day 1 and have "ammy ready" tempraments. He seems to refine a heavier WB while adding some scope and range to smaller QH type mares. He's done it all from racing to hunters to jumpers and I think even eventing.

My trainer would be involved with the training, but the baby would be at home with me. ammy Temperment is a HUGE plus for me, as I would love to be involved in the process as much as possible. Thanks!

[Kyzteke]

Yes I do have photos, but I also have a problem with my computer in that I can't seem to down load pictures to the place I usually do so I can link to various sites. Therefore I will post a picture from 2005 of Hana Floria and her Sandro Hit filly. Hopefully you can get an idea what she looks like.

I will add that Hana Floria is elite Selle Francais and is out of a TB mare who traces close to the great English Hyperion and Hana Floria is by a son of the world's great Furioso II, hence the sport horse breeding. Adding TB to a breeding program is a super bonus I believe!!

Wow, TallOaks -- what a GORGEOUS mare!!! Not to take anything away from the various stallions you've bred her to, but I bet you could breed her to a monkey and still get a stunning foal!

Very, very nice!

[BelladonnaLily]

He's virtually unknown but I have a Default filly and I adore her. She is exactly what I wanted (except that I wanted a colt ;) ). http://www.littlehawkfarm.com/defaultdetail.ivnu

[fish]

He's virtually unknown but I have a Default filly and I adore her. She is exactly what I wanted (except that I wanted a colt ;) ). http://www.littlehawkfarm.com/defaultdetail.ivnu

Those are lovely pictures. Does this stallion have a show record? How did you happen to choose him?

[BelladonnaLily]

fish, you have a PT :)

[camohn]

:) If there are spots on mom's side, the sire has nothing at all to do with the foal being spotted, or not.

Huh? If the spots are sabino (as is the case with almost all TBs) then the influence of both parents is indeed a factor.

[Hocus Focus]

Salute The Truth has some VERY big babies, though. When it comes to warmblood crosses, he seems to produce big offspring - at Dodon he's got a 4-year old Anglo Trakehner son who is at least 18 hands (out of a 17.2 hand mare), and a 5-year old Swedish WB son who's 17.1 (don't know how big the mare was for that one). I will say they are pretty horses, though - they aren't massive; tall but in proportion. I'm not sure what his outside WB-cross foals are like in terms of size. I really like the look of Sea Accounts - he's a handsome boy. There's also a young Canadian Thoroughbred stallion out in the Eventing world, named Rather Well, that looks like he might be nice (http://www.darwood.net/users/bystorm/ratherwell/whats_new.html).

Rather Well .... never heard of him. I did a search and up came a site with a conformation photo from the Royal. Not sure I would have used that shot ...for me it doesn't say all the things I would like it to say, but I also know that conformation shots can be difficult but otherwise in performance achievement he is a stand out and carries impressive bloodlines...interesting horse really.

Quite a few horses appearing on this thread I am not familiar with and some very good ones. I believe A Fine Romance (quality) and Cocunut Grove (achievement) stand in a league of their own.

[luvmyguinnypiggy]

I just had my first foal this year, by A Fine Romance.. and she is just a doll. My plan is to breed to Special Memories next. You may also want to consider him .. He is a grey 1/2 TB, 1/2 TK stallion who competed in jumpers. I have only seen the pictures on his website, but i want a horse who jumps like that!

http://www.touchstonevalleyfarm.com/

[Fred]

:DI bred to A Fine Romance last year, and couldn't be happier with my filly, Amelia, out of Hana Floria. Amelia was Champion of her ISR/Old NA (17 or 18 foals)inspection with scores 8.7 for type and conformation, 8.5 for movement and 8.7 for overall impression for a total score of 8.6. She is tied as the top scoring foal in NA.

A Fine Romance does indeed have a winning GP jumper son, a full TB, as well as a winner at Devon this year, and the highest scoring foal in NA!

This photograph was taken by Izabela Jedral at the inspection.


I just wanted to thank everyone who had such kind words to say about A Fine Romance:
TQ, Linny, Hocus Focus, luvmyguinnypiggy, HSGF, Omare, VirginiaBred, Silly Mommy, BNH, Talloaks, Dressage-ryder, Ride'em Va, Got Spots and mbj.

Without bragging too much, I think I can say definitely say that the A Fine Romance babies are beautiful athletes - great minds, wonderful canters, and excellent jumpers.
As GotSpots said, they have "minds easy enough for amateurs, and talent enough for a professional".

The highest praise are the comments I get back from the mare owners who bred to him, or who have bought youngsters, and they uniformly praise their AFR baby's great temperament, willing work ethic, intelligence and level heads. Their happiness is definitely my greatest reward.

It has been a very good year for AFR:
One of my homebreds, (from only his second small crop) My Romance, who was a winner on the line as a 2 and 3 yr old, and went on to be an Advanced level eventer (at a very young age) is now a winning Grand Prix Jumper, now named South Bound. If he had been sold to a hunter home, I believe he easily could have been a quality hunter.

Talloaks beautiful filly Amelia was Champion of her inspection and is tied for high point foal in North America at the 2007 ISR OldNA inspections.

At Devon this year a 2 yr old Cdn-bred TB filly - Romantic Pursuit - won her class, handled by Junior Johnson. This filly was already end of year CSHA Ontario Grand Champion Weanling, and Grand Champion Yearling, as well as Junior Champion at the Royal Winter Fair.
She is definitely headed for a career in the hunter ring.
Silly Mommy's beautiful Woody placed a very good 3rd in his tough class, and he too had all the makings of a top-class hunter.

GotSpots' Tiamo (Tiamo Romance) has been doing splendidly, ridden by both his amateur owner (GotSpots) and a pro, Allison Springer, with many wins under his 5 yr old belt.

Three A Fine Romance offspring were in the Top Five of the Young Event Horse Championships in the US and Canada.

There are many others out competing successfully, often with child or amateur riders, in the hunters, in the jumper ring, and in eventing.


Bred to be a racehorse, A Fine Romance started his performance career in eventing, and then became a Champion A Circuit Working Hunter.

When he stood at Hilltop, they said he had everything it took to be "the TB Foundation Sire for North American Sport Horse breeding". Then breeding manager Suzanne Hassler recommended him in particular for WB mares not only because of adding refinement, but also because of his prepotency for adding length of leg, very strong topline, and deep hip, as well as his remarkable temperament.

He has been bred a number of times to Holsteiner mares, such as BNH's lovely Cinnabar, with great success, and I believe he is a particularly good match for Holsteiners. Not only has he been bred to Holsteiners, but I have repeatedly bred his sisters to Holsteiners with beautiful results. One example is my 4yr old homebred filly "Bittersweet", by Landslide out of AFR's full sister, Devon Girl. Pictures of her can be seen at www.braecreststables.com where she is in training.
I have a gorgeous young mare here, Oohlala (registered Holsteiner) out of another AFR sister, by Cabaret (a Corde son) who I love. Oohlala's dam was MMB Holsteiner, and reserve Champion of her Inspection.

A Fine Romance also has one of the strongest TB sport horse pedigrees.

I wish I knew how to post links to pedigrees, or pictures, but I can't. :(


Thanks again to everyone for your kind words about Fred.

I would like to echo the suggestions to have a look at the beautiful Mandate, bred and owned by Silly Mommy.
He is well bred, beautiful and talented, and already producing lovely babies.

Good luck in your search, ktm. ;), all the best!

[talloaks]

Thanks for all the updates Fred on your boy A Fine Romance. I just wanted to add that A Fine Romance can sure put the powerful hindquarters on the rear end of his offspring!! We love what he did with our 2007 foal and can hardly wait to try again for a full sibling!!! We LOVE AFR!! Besides Fred is the BEST to work with!! Where's the hug icon???:winkgrin:

[AppJumpr08]

Here's A Fine Romance's Pedigree (http://www.pedigreequery.com/a+fine+romance) ;):)

I love the looks of Coconut Grove and AFR - I'm hoping to breed mares to them both in the next year or two :)

I had a LOVELY perfect and correct colt born this spring by Reputed Testamony. Unfortunately we lost him at 36 hours old, but rebred the mare and we are expecting this foal in May. I met Rep in Southern Pines this summer, and he is a truely impressive horse in person, even in his later years. My vet has worked with several of his foals over the years, and has been impressed with all of their temperements.

Good luck - let us know who you decide on! :)

[denny]

Jessica, did you know that Reputed Testamony`s son, The Patriot, was Adult Hunter Champion last month at the Washington International Horse Show? his photo is on our website.
In additition to being the sire of a whole raft of up and coming young event horses.
For a multiple stakes winner of $460,000., and an iron warrior who ran in 55 stakes and allowances, his gentle demeanor and amateur friendly brain is quite remarkable.

[AppJumpr08]

Hi Denny,

No I haven't been on your website recently - congratulations!!!

We have high hopes for this little one we're expecting in the spring.. and I'm hoping to rebreed the mare after she has this foal (the baby due this year is already spoken for by my vet, and I want one too!!! :winkgrin:)


He was so kind when I saw him in So. Pines - and I have to tell you, the foal we lost this spring had his father's eyes! I'm hoping we get that lucky with the next one :)



Jessica, did you know that Reputed Testamony`s son, The Patriot, was Adult Hunter Champion last month at the Washington International Horse Show? his photo is on our website.
In additition to being the sire of a whole raft of up and coming young event horses.
For a multiple stakes winner of $460,000., and an iron warrior who ran in 55 stakes and allowances, his gentle demeanor and amateur friendly brain is quite remarkable.

[Fred]

App Jumper, thank you for posting the link and for the kind words.
I am so sorry about the loss of your baby this year, and am keeping my fingers crossed for you that all goes well this coming year.

[Janet]

I got to see A Fine Romance ("Fred", or "Dad") in person this weekend. (Thanks to Fred/Gail for letting us visit!)

In addition to his excellent temperament, the things I noticed most about him were-

- The good angles and dimensions of his hind end. So many horse only have "good" hind ends when carefully stood up. But his looked impressive no matter how he stood.

- His withers. At an age when many horses (esp TBS) are starting to get "shark withers", his are "well laid back", and blend smothly into both his back and his neck. None of that "dip in front of the withers" of which TBs are often asccused.

- Great shoulder- both angles and proportions.

- Everything fit together in a balanced way.

I've only seen one of his offspring (Tiamo) performing in person, but they seem to be able to do it all - win on the line and go on to win in performance classes in hunters, jumpers, and eventing. I do not know of any that have focused on dressage, but Tiamo's dressage was/is certainly well up to par.

[talloaks]

Janet, I am so jealous that you were in Ontario visiting with AFR and Fred/Gail!! Nice report you gave, and happy to hear you think he is as great as I have found him to be, particularily in production.!!:D:D:D

[Janet]

It was thanks to my huband having relatives (whom we visited for Thankigiving) in Buffalo.

[not again]

If you are still undecided, Dr. Bonnie LaMonte VMD has the tb stallion Lyracist (Sultry Song-Watercolors) at her farm in Pa. He has foals from tbs and warmbloods.
www.mousehousefarm.com

[Fred]

I got to see A Fine Romance ("Fred", or "Dad") in person this weekend. (Thanks to Fred/Gail for letting us visit!)

In addition to his excellent temperament, the things I noticed most about him were-

- The good angles and dimensions of his hind end. So many horse only have "good" hind ends when carefully stood up. But his looked impressive no matter how he stood.

- His withers. At an age when many horses (esp TBS) are starting to get "shark withers", his are "well laid back", and blend smothly into both his back and his neck. None of that "dip in front of the withers" of which TBs are often asccused.

- Great shoulder- both angles and proportions.

- Everything fit together in a balanced way.

I've only seen one of his offspring (Tiamo) performing in person, but they seem to be able to do it all - win on the line and go on to win in performance classes in hunters, jumpers, and eventing. I do not know of any that have focused on dressage, but Tiamo's dressage was/is certainly well up to par.

Thank you Janet. Thank you for the kind comments about AFR and for taking the time to come to visit.
It was great to meet you and your DH! (What a lovely guy - he listened to us nattering on ad nauseum about horses with the greatest good humour).
It is always fun to finally put a face to a name we have got to know over the years.
I wish I could have been a bit more *sparkling*, but pneumonia isn't as much fun as it's cracked up to be. ;)

Although not many people have bred to AFR specifically for dressage, a few of the offspring have gone in that direction.
It certainly isn't the Olympics, but one of my homebreds, a 4 yr old full brother to My Romance/Southbound (and full TB) True Romance was just named W/T end of year Champion in the local dressage group! :)

and now I <finally> know, after all these years, that "Brain" is not a typo!!!

thank you again for your visit.

[AppJumpr08]

Fred - my pleasure :)

I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed that this baby is a healthy one. Those fluke problems are so devastating.

It's so much fun to think about the possibilities all these crosses could produce.. I guess that's what keeps us coming back for more as breeders :)

[Janet]

Here are some pictures of Fred and his offspring.

First is Fred (A Fine Romance) when he was at Hilltop (trotting in hand).

Then Romantic Pursuit, 2 yr old TB filly, winning at Devon this year.

Jumping we have the filly One Fine Day (showing in the AA hunters).

And finally the full TB who competed under the name My Romance as an Advanced eventer, and is now a GP winning jumper under the name Southbound - shown this spring in WPB.

[Blue Moon]

Speaking of TB stallion recommendations. A friend of mine is looking for one. She specifically wants to breed for a hunter. Her mare is a nice hunter type, nothing that stands out as needing improvement. I'm a big fan of Fred, but she won't ship all the way to Canada. Hoping for something in the midatlantic area. I've been looking at some ads and have suggested Castle Cove and Fun And Fancy Free. Anyone have experience with either of those? I can see they are both hunter sires (Castle Cove probably more proven) but are they known for throwing anything specific as far as size, temperament, etc.? Anyone sent a mare to either farm, if so did it go smoothly? Any other suggestions for proven hunter sires that are pure TB and in that general geographical area? Thanx!

[Regina DiNovi]

Hi Bluemoon

I know www.ladybughillfarm.com has a wonderful F& FF mare. I also think she does their web site. She also knows the owners of the Tb. stallion Aaron's Gold who is producing some winning hunters. Hope this helps.


Gina

[ktm2007]

Here are some pictures of Fred and his offspring.

First is Fred (A Fine Romance) when he was at Hilltop (trotting in hand).

Then Romantic Pursuit, 2 yr old TB filly, winning at Devon this year.

Jumping we have the filly One Fine Day (showing in the AA hunters).

And finally the full TB who competed under the name My Romance as an Advanced eventer, and is now a GP winning jumper under the name Southbound - shown this spring in WPB.


I love the filly One Fine Day! Gorgeous! Is her mom TB? WB? A Fine Romance is at the top of my list, so I am wondering what a baby by him out of a wb mare would be like! Thanks for sharing pictures!

[imapepper]

PM BNH and see if she will post pictures of her colt by AFR out of her Holstiener mare. He is exactly what she was breeding for out of that mare and quite a handsome colt.

[ktm2007]

PM BNH and see if she will post pictures of her colt by AFR out of her Holstiener mare. He is exactly what she was breeding for out of that mare and quite a handsome colt.

will do, thanks! :)