Spin-Off: breeding for longer neck-Added Pics!

[Equino]

After reading the thread on whether necks are heritable, I was interested in learning what hunter stallions you would turn to if you wanted to improve-in my case, lengthen-the neck on your mare? I am interested in breeding my mare one day, if/when the right situation is presented, so in the meantime, I love reading these threads and learning from/living through all of you breeders! My mare is a WB, on the small side, a tad over 16 hands, compact build, medium bone. She does the A/A's now, wonderful temperament, jumps and moves well, but IMO, could use a better topline, longer neck.

I know it's hard to suggest stallions for a specific mare w/o seeing them, but just curious if anyone has suggestions, or has bred to certain stallions specifically with lengthening a neck/topline in mind! I am in love with Apiro and Roc USA!

[savvy9]

My mare has a very nicely shaped but short neck - I bred her to Shine for a hunter type prospect, and the resulting 3 year old has a MUCH nicer, longer neck! Then, I bred her to Westporte, and this foal seems to have a better, longer neck also. Both stallions helped!

Check out www.oldwhitehillfarm.com for pics - the mare is Savoir Faire......

I really love the look of Apiro - he is on my short list for next time!

[Samotis]

That is one thing I looked for when I bred my mare last year. She is a TB and about 15.3. She has a short neck and is short bodied. Little tight in the hind end as well.

I picked Roc USA and had a fab colt in Feb. Roc did improve on her hind end as well as length of neck.

Can't say how he trots yet, as he prefers the canter, but his canter is phenomenal. (one thing I noticed about Roc babies is they all have great canters)

I am very happy with my cross. He will be much bigger then Gracie as well.

I do like Westporte, his babies are all still pretty young though. Apiro is nice, but he does seem a little stocky to me.

Here is my mare, and her colt Rocafeller(Ace)

[Samotis]

Do you have pics of your mare? How does she move? I would assume you want a hunter?

Someone mentioned Shine. I like him, but isn't he 15.3? I wouldn't mind if I had a bigger mare, but it all depends on how big you want the baby to end up.

[Rienzi]

I'm going way outside the box here, (prepare to be shocked!) but if you want long necks, you might want to consider a Saddlebred stud. Not all Saddlebreds just dance around a ring... some are very athletic.

[Rienzi]

Also, depending on what direction you'd like to go with your topline, consider a Morgan sporthorse. Some of these have a really nice neck. (As a bonus, they tend to be easy keepers and have good feet/legs.) Don't be put off if they are not 17 hands. A 15.2 Morgan is a LOT of horse!

[L&L]

Probably havent bred enough foals to be post a conclusive statement but so far have found that the dam influences the foals much more than the sire and perhaps more with her fillies than her colts.

We have used Gribaldi on a Goodtimes mare but the filly does not have the length of neck of Gribaldi.

We have used Special D on our Samber mare but she has a good length of neck as does the filly.

We have used our own stallion on many of our mares but had the advantage of purchasing the mares to suit his shorter neck of length, such as a Scandic mares a very long necked Goodtimes mare, A Contender Grand daughter.

We also purchased a nairobi mare in foal to VDL Tenerif and again would say the filly has the length of meck of her dam......

I understand that many mare owners select stallions to compliment their mares but fundementally im starting to see the tendancy that they often do but primarily with their sons rather than theior daughters.

Would love to hear other peoples thoughts on this subject.

[Equino]

Yes, I would be breeding for a hunter, aimed for the Amateurs. She hacks well-she has flat knees, big strides, but could use slower movement, she's a bit quick-legged.

I'm going to attempt to post some pics...hope they work!

http://photos-098.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v248/134/95/1251447098/n1251447098_30030550_5323.jpg

http://photos-098.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v248/134/95/1251447098/n1251447098_30030548_2602.jpg

http://photos-098.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v248/134/95/1251447098/n1251447098_30030549_4236.jpg (she's stretching out her neck a bit here so looks longer)

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v248/134/95/1251447098/n1251447098_30028019_2436.jpg

http://photos-098.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v248/134/95/1251447098/n1251447098_30030557_8641.jpg the only trotting pic I have, and it came just as we finished our trot circle and I'm about to pet her neck...so looks kinda awkward!

Samotis-I have been following your posts-LOVE your mare and baby!

Please let me know if the links work!

[lauriep]

Every Alla 'Czar I've seen and been involved with has had a beautiful neck, well set on.

[EqTrainer]

Seriously... I have been eyeballing Amorex's babies for years now and never seen a neck I did not love. You couldn't get a better deal and if you watch his video, he can jump. If you are breeding for yourself and want to think out of the box, have a look at him and his babies. Gorgeous, every single one of them.

[Samotis]

She is a beautiful mare. Yes, I see the neck thing. It is pretty thick as well. But on the good side, she jumps great and is a good mover!

My mare is very petite, which I wouldn't say yours is!;)

I would look for something with a lot of TB in it.

I think she is a beautiful mare and I would just like to see her lighten up a bit. Roc did add a lot of bone to mine, so I would make sure to look at some of his babies out of WB mares to see if it may be too much bone for you.

I have to say, Chaleon is lighter boned and has a super chiseled head, most of his babies are absolutly stunning. (except for the few that were bred to draft mares!:eek:)


I do also like Pablo, I saw a really fancy yearling in March by Pablo. Loved him. Super calm and a fab mover.

Good luck on your search. Big thing that helped me pick was seeing the offspring up close on schooling day! I did also look at a few stallions at their farms and that does help to narrow the search as well.

[Equino]

I was wondering about looking for a stud with more blood to lighten her up, but at the same time, she really isn't that big boned compared to many of the WBs out there. Most definitely NOT petite though! And she hasn't missed too many meals...Here's another picture of her from last year when she was slimmer: http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v248/134/95/1251447098/n1251447098_30028025_7090.jpg

I do love Chaleon. A friend was *this* close to breeding to him last year before she decided she wants out of horses, so I did see his video. Really lovely. Just don't want a gray!

I do like a horse with substance Vs more bloody, but I definitely don't want a clunky horse for the hunters! From his video, Roc's babies definitely look like they are big boned. And they are all so pretty!

[Samotis]

Well you do have a chance of getting grey with Chaleon:)

Rocs babies are very pretty, but I think most I have seen have had TB moms. He isn't huge boned himself, but it added plenty to my mare! You could always e-mail Natalie for pics of foals by WB moms.:winkgrin:

[goodmorning]

For a neck, I would seriously suggest Navarone.....absolutely stunning with a jump & canter to match. I had the pleasure of meeting him in person -he really is lovely, and has a lot of blood as well.

[luvtojump]

I have a trakehner mare and I chose a stallion to improve her quality of gait and also wanted to try and improve neck length. I bred her to a young stallion, G Walkabout. My mare has been shown dressage and on the Hunter Circuit. I was breeding for a Hunter type prospect. My filly was just born last week and I think he gave her a nice neck... here are pictures of mare and foal... let me know if you can't see them, the foal picture isn't great because of how dark it was.

http://community.webshots.com/album/563692340KfgGHO

[GGStables]

Have you checked out COROMINO?

I cannot say enough good things about that stallion. Seriously. Not only is his sire the fabulous Corofino, but I can say first hand that Coromino passes on a wonderful top line, plus temperament and movement.

For a refining stallion he's a BIG boy yet he certainly gave a great neck and headset, excellent bone and substance in the cross with my own TB mare - which is why I opted to go with him in the breeding - especially as her neck is possibly even shorter than your mare's! Holly's a typically dainty TB barely 16hh and short coupled too, but our yearling colt she foaled out is truly outstanding in every way: Tall, tall, tall, (he'll definitely finish around 17h) good bone, the barn favourite - he's such a ham! - a gorgeous canter and respectable trot, brave, sweet and trustful temperament, and yep, went Premium at his GOV inspection - the only H/J foal in a roomfull of dressage "poodles" :yes::yes::yes:

I guess the real indicator is probably that we bred for resale and all I can tell you about that, is this foal will not be leaving this farm!:D

[Equino]

Thanks for all the suggestions! Will have to check them out. What do you guys think of Argosy? He was one suggested to me for refining WB mares, and the pics of him are impressive.

[Glorybee]

wow! some good suggestions... I'd have to second the Roc Usa rec. And, I LOVE Apiro.. What do the professional breeders out there think of the combo of this mare with Apiro ( I know he has few, if any,babies out there right now)? Would you have a hunter that is too thick? He is solid, and although not a typical WB, this mare seems to have some meat on her. I've seen this mare at local shows and she definetly does not strike me as the older style warmblood. She carries herself like a really big pony: which I love!:D
I'd love to hear more about Shine... how tall is he? What other suggestions would people make?

[Equino]

^^^Thanks! She rides like a big pony too, especially when I attempt to ride out in the field without spurs! Where there's grass, we will be stopping for a bite!

Shine is lovely, but on the small side, I think 15.3, so may be a good match for you mare when she's looking for a date!

[Hunter_Rider]

Nob Hill!! Here is a pic of my yearling that I took at Devon this year, (Oak Hill) he is by Nob Hill out of an Alla C'zar mare. More pics on my webshots. You will get the whole package: Movement, temperment, conformation and jumping ability.

[Rubs Not Pats]

I am with LaurieP, Alla'Czar puts a giraffe neck on some of them. They also do tend to be well set on. Movement varies, some are better than average, some are well better suited towards dressage, it just depends. All have been good to work with. (I think I have had 7 so far). Most will stand up in good company some have won at SBW and IHF both in hand and U/S One was reserve Naional Champ HB and went on to do the 3'6 successfully. Do not breed him to a clunky or heavy mare, You will get a monster! I would only breed if my mare was at minimum half warmblood and had a good head. He also puts a set of ears on a horse.

Roc USA, did improve the neck but Oh Dear G-D that head. The movement also was not suited to hunters. Big, athletic as all get up ended up having OCD so bad they suggested euthanasia on the table. WE fixed her and now she is doing lower level dressage.

Cabalito, my trainer has a two year old Cabalito who is the real thing. Beautiful, correct. If I would pick I would say a touch long in the back. Amazing mover, easy on the eyes. I expect good things. Look for her this year at IHF, her name is Cabella. If frozen was an option, I would try. Reasonable stud fee and good mover. Long neck, pretty head. Good choice for a TB ir part TB. Did add size.

[Samotis]

Hunter Rider,

I do like Nob Hill, but they don't tell you too much on his website. How big he is? What he showed in? Any details seem to be left out. I did see that he has a lot of TB in him which I love, but no video to see movement or jump?

Any Nob Hills out there showing besides HB? I do like him a lot, just wish they gave more info!:)

Equino, this one could be an idea? Like that he has a lot of TB.

Also, what about the new craze about Silvio I? I did see pics of him and he is gorgeous, just not sure how bulky he is. Hard to tell from pics that far away. He is beautiful. He is in Virginia I think? Where do you live?

[SteeleRdr]

Thanks for all the suggestions! Will have to check them out. What do you guys think of Argosy? He was one suggested to me for refining WB mares, and the pics of him are impressive.

I like him! Though I'm biased...I have a lovely filly on the ground by him and my mare is going back to him on her 30 day heat! Susan is wonderful to work with and she posts on here as well!

Here are pictures from a few hours and one day old (hopefully the link works):

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2243702&l=835d1&id=6202477

[goodmorning]

Argosy is lovely, great stallion owner as well :)

[Equino]

Hunter Rider,

I do like Nob Hill, but they don't tell you too much on his website. How big he is? What he showed in? Any details seem to be left out. I did see that he has a lot of TB in him which I love, but no video to see movement or jump?

Any Nob Hills out there showing besides HB? I do like him a lot, just wish they gave more info!:)

Equino, this one could be an idea? Like that he has a lot of TB.

Also, what about the new craze about Silvio I? I did see pics of him and he is gorgeous, just not sure how bulky he is. Hard to tell from pics that far away. He is beautiful. He is in Virginia I think? Where do you live?

I live in NY-Westchester County. I have been obsessively looking at photos of mare's that have been bred to see which are similar to my mare's type and what stallion they were matched with. A fun, and time consuming, hobby!

Nob Hill is very nice-the still photos on his site show off his form o/f and trotting, but not the same as seeing him in motion. I wonder about how much TB blood comes through. My mare is not a hothead by any means, but she is a more sensitive ride. She can be kick-kick-kick quiet (my kind of ride!), and she can be a bit spooky. I don't lunge before I show, all she needs is a hack in the ring and she's good to go. The jumps are never the issue, but if she's not kick quiet, she will look around and be a bit tense at the ends of the ring. So, while I want to target her neck/topline as areas to improve, I also don't want to add too much blood and get away from the quiet WB mentality. I suppose that's another topic altogether!

The Silvio babies that have been posted here are beautiful as well!

[Dazednconfused]

Also, depending on what direction you'd like to go with your topline, consider a Morgan sporthorse. Some of these have a really nice neck. (As a bonus, they tend to be easy keepers and have good feet/legs.) Don't be put off if they are not 17 hands. A 15.2 Morgan is a LOT of horse!

I'm going way outside the box here, (prepare to be shocked!) but if you want long necks, you might want to consider a Saddlebred stud. Not all Saddlebreds just dance around a ring... some are very athletic.

Erm - the OP is looking to breed a horse for the hunters. Not really sure how a morgan or a saddlebred would fit the bill, realistically? :confused:

[goodmorning]

You know, I have found that it's the WB's who are looky, the hotter TB's tend to be more flighty...neither one is fun though :lol:

[Equino]

I don't mind riding her through the looky stuff because I know she'll end up kick quiet. Definitely do not want a flighty horse! Already had one...NOT fun and took me years to learn to fake it on him. :no: But what I meant was she is a more sensistive mare, even though she doesn't have a motor, if youwere to really bully her, she would light up a little, maybe not go anywhere, but definitely overreact to commands.

[DownYonder]

How about Rosenthal? He is noted for putting beautiful frontpieces and toplines on his foals. He might give you the kind of neck you are looking for, and he finished in the top ten of the 2007 USEF sire rankings for Hunter Breeding. You can see photos at http://wwwarmbloods.com/highpoint/rosenthal_photos/ .

[EquineLVR]

I would second Chaleon - I have seen him and a friend has one of his babies in our barn- lovely neck and face.

Also Raffaello - he is lovely.