Stallions throwing good brains for Amateurs [Archive]

JMurray

Jun. 6, 2009, 08:36 PM

A big round of applause for the Rampal brain. Spent 1 hour introducing 2 yr old Theo to the trailer and in no time he was self loading. Standing still with the butt bar up and one hind leg cocked resting, munching hay in the hay bag. Backing off like a gentleman. All the in hand work I had been doing on the ground enabled a stress free ho hum experience for both of us.

I know there are lots and lots of really nice WB stallions out there. For an older amatuer like me (56), and here all by myself all the time with no help.... I could just kiss Rampal all over for the brain on this baby and the pure pleasure he is giving me.

What other stallions out there throw good brains like this?

diva4ever

Jun. 6, 2009, 09:02 PM

Ironman's have great brains....it isn't unlike them to start jumping at only a few days. I've known many of them to walk onto trailers the first time like it's nothing. Most of them are broken out by their amateur owners too. They all stay calm under pressure and usually when one horse blows up they just look at them like "and how stupid are you for spooking at ___".

hansiska

Jun. 6, 2009, 09:21 PM

I came in from the barn tonight thinking, "I think I could breed R-line hanoverians for the rest of my life and be perfectly happy."

This afternoon I introduced clippers to my yearling Rascalino/ Warkant filly -- in preparation for her first show next weekend -- and guess what? I clipped her face, jaw, throatlatch, ears, and all four fetlocks!

I was amazed. :yes:

Her five-year-old pasturemate fled in terror. The filly just stood there. I actually didn't even need a leadrope while I did her feet. She just kept eating while I clipped away. :winkgrin:

Everything I've asked of her seems to go the same way. I can't wait to see what she's like under saddle.

Dressage_Diva333

Jun. 6, 2009, 09:42 PM

YankeeLawyer

Jun. 6, 2009, 09:43 PM

Well, you have to give some credit to their dams, as well. That Warkant mare, in particular, *is* pretty nice ; ).

Dan

Jun. 6, 2009, 10:04 PM

Fabriano is great for temperment.

imjustjoking22

Jun. 6, 2009, 10:05 PM

My Ideal baby is great- definitely stubborn, but always sensible and safe. I think his 3rd time at the beach we went for a little gallop and one of the girls lost control of her horse- a bunch of them bolted up past us and my stirrup broke and I was still able to quickly stop him without even much of a fight, even when the other horses continued past us. Took him foxhunting and he was great, even with the hounds running under his belly, and he packed me around the first cross country course for us both when he was 5 yrs old. Self loads and clips while snoozing, and every vet I have been to loves him- he'll stand for everything. He's a gem of a horse :) Forgot to mention that I am a rider with a lot of fear issues, and he is 16.3hh and still does not take advantage (thankfully!)
He is C line Holsteiner too though on the dam's side, so that may have been where it came from. I think his stubbornness may have come from Ideal.

TKR

Jun. 6, 2009, 10:12 PM

I also think the dam contributes plenty -- and I have two stallions that I've stood for many years and believe in their temperments completely. I'm glad your Rampal has a good brain. My experience with a Rampal was completely negative and knew of another that was pretty quirky as well. Not to say that's true overall -- just my experience.
PennyG

hansiska

Jun. 6, 2009, 10:29 PM

Well, you have to give some credit to their dams, as well. That Warkant mare, in particular, *is* pretty nice ; ).
Oh yeah. I'm certainly not putting the mare down -- which is why I mentioned that part of the bloodline (and a big part of why I bought the filly in the first place). ;)

idlemoon

Jun. 6, 2009, 10:36 PM

I have bred 2 Routinier's, trying for my 3rd, and have worked with several others. I feel Rudy consistently throws fantastic ammy minds, with above average gaits. Both that I have bred have the "been there-done that" attitude with an "old-soul" feel. I am a huge fan of the "R" line as others have mentioned. Of course, every foal does have a mother, but I have loved every single Routinier foal I have been around.

Lisa

szipi

Jun. 6, 2009, 10:54 PM

i think throwing temperament should be a requirement for stallions...of course, approval happens before we know that of a sire. I have trained/handled/ridden hundreds of youngsters over the years and there are certainly patterns...sometimes an individual sticks out as having a great temperamnet, but unless you have seen that temperament by the same stallion over and over again, I am not sure if all that can be credited to the stallion. i am not a Hanoverian person, but one of my most trainable, sane youngster was a Rienzi baby ("R" line).

I had tremendous luck with Landgraf-line stallions in my career. I rode quite a few of them in Europe (I am 6'4" tall, so they would always give the big, tall Holsteiner stallions to ride). That is why I selected Lemgo to breed most of my mares to at the start of my breeding business here in the States. Over the years I owned, trained and competed 3 Lemgo sons: Lansing, Lasting Impression and Lotus T. Bonnie Cruickshank-Wallace bred the former two and I bred Lotus. The common denominator in all that they stood out in the show ring with their behavior and their foals also know how to behave.... In Lotus' case, after seeing dozens and dozens of his foals, out of different mares, lot of them with very questionable attitude, I am confident to say that Lotus fixes temperament. Again, it took me seeing 5 years of his foals and training 2-3 crops before I could say that with confidence.

Fairview Horse Center

Jun. 6, 2009, 11:48 PM

Both of my stallions produce wonderful amateur brains.

Last year, I sold an Ollie 4 year old that had never been near a trailer. The teenager that purchased him was in flip flops when they came to pick him up, so I told her she was not handling him. She handed her dad the the lead. "Dad" led him to the trailer, and I expected to load him, but after a few seconds of hesitation, he went right in for "Dad".

We often have amateur owners break their own youngsters, and they ride them at their first shows too.

mzm farm

Jun. 6, 2009, 11:57 PM

He throws SUPER brains no matter what you breed him to! So far, ALL his kids take care of their ammy riders and "multitask" - show and trails. "boring" to break - no bucking, no rearing, no spooking, they just LIKE people around them, on them, being "loved".

All the babies are friendly and will happily leave their friends and grass to come say hello to humans. All have been super at shows, load easily within minutes, super willing under saddle, easy all around horses.

Proudly and safely owned and ridden by ammies:winkgrin:

Oh, yeah, bloodlines :Gotthard, Ferdinand, Pik As, Mahagoni, Abglanz - no fads, all proven.

RockingN

Jun. 7, 2009, 12:27 AM

Sempatico! His babies are so easy to handle!

Dressage-ryder

Jun. 7, 2009, 12:43 AM

Fabuleux! His babies have been by far the most simple I have worked with.

houserabbitz

Jun. 7, 2009, 01:22 AM

Wonderful and Widmark throw super brains and movement.

Indy-lou

Jun. 7, 2009, 01:37 AM

Our yearling Royal Prince filly is the most unflappable we've raised to date. The other day a violent storm front blew through our area and caused one of the paddock shelter metal roofs to flap like a bird in the wind, not to mention the thunder, lightening cracks and driving rain. Made a hideous and frightful noise to be heard for a mile, as well as a visual fright. The whole storm was quite unsettling, even to me. I was certain the roof would come undone. The other horses ran from the awful flapping metal roof, including the neighbors cattle, some distance away. Except for Dauphine, who remained steadfastly underneath the flapping metal, munching her hay and wondering why anyone would leave a perfectly lovely pile of hay. She's been cool, calm and collected with an old soul's face and eyes since the day she was born. I give thanks to Rubinstein. We have a new Bugatti filly, who also has Rubinstein in her blood, and she has also a cool head and open mind at only 1 month of age. This year, I am really happy that both frozen stallions I am using carry Rubinstein blood.

stoicfish

Jun. 7, 2009, 03:32 AM

I have heard Grand Cru has very gentle offspring.
Just a side thought – since I joined the warmblood forums I have always wondered how is that people can attribute certain characteristics to certain lines. Like for instance the R-line mentioned above, when the biggest connection is the first letter of the name? Btw, not saying that all the stallions mentioned didn’t have great temperaments, just wondering how we can talk about it being a line trait instead of an individual thing? Notice that many threads talk of a line trait, just wondering. Could see it in a generation or two, like with ROHDIAMANT as an above example, but some of these lines (RAMPAL) go back many generations before there is a common ancestor and at that point there is many horses involved.

camohn

Jun. 7, 2009, 07:51 AM

The easisest to start ones I have had u/s have been by our sadly deceased TB stallion Wild by Design. He was bought at coming 2 and I started him myself at 3 with some help of a trainer that came here since I could not find a trainer at the time that was "fair" to stallions. His oldest foal is now 5. The one 5 YO test foal and the 4 YO crop after that have all been reported to be super easy to start u/s by their predominantly ammy owner breeders. With his demise I have his last (now 2 YO) son here intact.....so we certainly hope he can fill daddys big shoes! So far the temperment reports were that the foals out of easier mares are mega easy, the the ones out of hotter/more difficult mares still have an "edge" to them but are a definite improvement over the mares.....so I think that is a success.

Sunnydays

Jun. 7, 2009, 08:05 AM

Kendra, great to hear about your filly. She sounds like a prize. I must say that the Rascalino colt I had a few years back was the bravest, smartest, most confident colt I've known. Just easy, and contented, but still a sparkler.
Oh, I second Widmark experience. Have had 2 colts by him. Both sweet, gentle, trusting and agreeable. The older one, now 5, is doing beautifully undersaddle.

hansiska

Jun. 7, 2009, 08:11 AM

Kendra, great to hear about your filly. She sounds like a prize. I must say that the Rascalino colt I had a few years back was the bravest, smartest, most confident colt I've known. Just easy, and contented, but still a sparkler.

Thanks! I just love her!!! She is easy, contented, and a sparkler -- that's very aptly put. :winkgrin:

And many thanks to Walnut Farm for breeding her. :D

SilverBalls

Jun. 7, 2009, 08:46 AM

My Westporte 2 year old is awesome! Very easy to work with, and you can turn him out in any ring with a course of fences... and he proceeds to jump around... down lines... over singles etc. He has plenty of room to go past them.
Gold Tycoon by Zillionair was easy from day one. He is doing well in Ca for his new owner who says he is so easy. They adore him so much, they actually purchased weanlings this year from Norsire Farm.

I would also have to say Escapade, A Fine Romance, and Just The Best are producing some very amatuer friendly offspring according to my friends, and I have been around several and they are really sweet.

My Zarr guy, Zarrbuck was a tough one initially... very playful. He has started to mellow out.

Loerke is pretty cool. My big chestnut is so easy...You just add water, put your quarter in and go.

nsm

Jun. 7, 2009, 08:56 AM

Ironman is definately known for his fabulous disposition and the fact he passes it on. His kids are majorly ami-friendly and very easy to train.

Nancy

Oakstable

Jun. 7, 2009, 10:41 AM

Another vote for Routinier. I have one in training now. He got a late start because I couldn't find a trainer that I wanted. Now that I have one, he is on the fast track, working on the same level with horses with much more time under saddle.

MsRidiculous

Jun. 7, 2009, 10:51 AM

My Westporte 2 year old is awesome!

Mine is easy as pie too. Very smart, learns quickly and you can always see her thinking about things before she reacts. She learned to lunge in 5 mins, knew her voice commands within a few sessions, and her first saddling was literally me just tossing the saddle up there and sticking her on the line. She thought it was all quite boring and preferred to try to graze.

A friend has a 3yo by him and he too is very ammy friendly. She started him and she's never started one before by herself. I don't know that he is as smart as my filly, takes him a little longer to catch on, but he's still quiet and sweet.

Cinnybren

Jun. 7, 2009, 11:04 AM

My A Fine Romance boy is terrific! He's three this year, has been a breeze to start and is a peach to work around. I was riding around Monday and the wind picked up and blew around a big piece of brown paper attached to a pallet, he did a little spook in place, we stood and looked at it for a few seconds and then went on. I've had him out grooming and been a clutz, knocking a lunge whip over and had it fall on his head...he just looks at me with the "Mom, could you please be a little more careful??" look on his face. :)

Foxhound

Jun. 7, 2009, 11:11 AM

I've found Ruffian's babies to be very sane and sensible.

akrogirl

Jun. 7, 2009, 11:28 AM

I'll have to put in a vote for Landkoenig. My girl, out of a Diamont daughter, is just a total puppy dog and a real lover. Having had the pleasure of meeting her sire, I am pretty sure that much of her sweet disposition came from him :-)

GGStables

Jun. 7, 2009, 11:28 AM

...and still another vote for Routinier.

I bred him to a * chestnut TB mare * :winkgrin: who was sold in foal but I get to see the 2yo filly and her dam very regularly. The dark bay filly is a clone of her father which is a bonus in itself, but what a ridiculously easy-going horse she is! A really fabulous mind. Smart, interesting, even temperament and the looks to boot. The whole package.

We also have a huge chestnut 2yo Coromino gelding who's almost as easy as that filly. Just as someone else described their foal, this fellow truly has an "old soul". He is a joy to be around. And so playful! We've been seriously impressed by his sweet temperament and lovely conformation out of a less than perfectly proportioned dam, and decided to go back to Coromino, this time using a completely different mare although I'd be thrilled even were the next one no different to this sunshine boy!:) We're expecting the foal in the next 10 days so I'll be able to get further impressions on what Coromino can bring to the table, dams nothwithstanding. Exciting!

grayfox

Jun. 7, 2009, 11:29 AM

I like the R line for amatuer friendly temperments.

siegi b.

Jun. 7, 2009, 01:21 PM

Contango - best temperament ever and it always gets passed on.

Ride4Life

Jun. 7, 2009, 01:43 PM

I have an Ideal mare, and her son, who is by Rosenthal. My mare was difficult as a baby, but friendly and sweet. Just more on the hot side, with a little bit of attitude when trying something new. I remember one particular moment when I was clipping her at 3 months for her foal inspection and she threw the back of her head into my nose and I had to stand there swaying for several moments until the dizzyness passed. (I swear I could hear her chuckling) Happily she has matured into a VERY nice lady, who everyone thinks is sweet, and I can ride around with a halter bareback. She loves people and attention, she just needed time to mature.

Her son by Rosenthal however, is the sweetest, easiest horse I have ever had the pleasure of being around. At two weeks old they had a minor emergency at the foaling stable, and I had to load him up for his first trailer ride in the dark. He walked in right after his mom, like he had been on trailers for years. Clipped his face and gave him his first bath at 6 months old, and he acted like he'd done it before. I had never actually taught him to stand tied before that, but he was so good that I was able to tie him to the tie rail and clip his face all by myself with no assistance. Same thing with tieing him for his bath. Never even offered to pull back, he just acted like he knew what it was all about. You have a hard time taking pictures of him in the field though. Hard to take pictures when his nose is shoved up the camera lens! =)

My Rosenthal foal has a prettier face, and nice conformation, but his movement as a foal has not been spectacular. His mom scored an 8 on movement as a foal, and ran around doing tempi's just for fun, floating across the pasture. His movement has been more hunterish, but I've heard from a lot of people that the R's just don't develop their gaits until later. But to me it doesn't matter if he does or not, with his temperament he is worth his weight in gold!

Oakstable

Jun. 7, 2009, 02:01 PM

I don't think you really know if the horses will be ammy appropriate until it is under saddle.

I have had some sweetie foals that are tough as riding mounts.

From everything I have read, tho, the R line and the D line are pretty safe for the buyers of young horses.

mainerinmd

Jun. 7, 2009, 02:12 PM

My Tantris filly is amazing! is mellow and a love. Takes everything in stride and when not sure looks to me for support/direction. She is everything I wanted. Thank goodness as she is 16H at 2yrs old and built like a tank!

Hi Jump

Jun. 7, 2009, 02:49 PM

I would point out that probably 50% or higher, stallions standing likely produce a temperment very suitable for the average range of amateur riders. So much of the offsprings ease in handling and rideablity is a result of their interaction with human handling.

This question to me is akin to asking what human bloodlines produce temperments suitable in thoughtfulness to handle young horses?

Lisa, Synergy Sporthorses'
Home to stallions Holstein Cotopaxi and Hanoverian Raffaello

George Morris on a 5 year old homebred Holstein , I might add kidding aside, he then arranged for him to go to Beezie Madden for assessment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAa9Hiz89sM

Brutust

Jun. 7, 2009, 05:32 PM

I would not be surprised if Sir Wanabi would sire amateur friendly horses. Although his first crop of foals were born in 2007, all comments I have heard so far were very positive. Sir Wanabi has also just won the grand championship in the huge adult amateur owner hunter division at Blainville, Quebec yesterday. He was ridden by his "petite" owner, Sandra Laprise, who got back in the saddle after a very long hiatus from competition in the hunter/jumper divisions. His exquisite manners and calm attitude really made him stand out from the other horses at the show ground, even with ponies and mares standing near him!

Foxtrot's

Jun. 7, 2009, 05:38 PM

...and don't forget the good old Irish horses.

StarDoozer

Jun. 7, 2009, 05:47 PM

Our guy, Olivier, throws an unbelievable temperament. His babies are smart, sensitive, easy to handle, easy to start and fun to be around. They are busy (they want toys, attention, stimulation!), but very, very good natured.

We've had two Thatcher offspring both with wonderful temperaments. They are full brothers and mom was also a gem... That said, one of my friends has a Thatcher filly who is also super sweet and easy.

I'm currently training a Sempatico mare for a client who is WONDERFUL. WONDERFUL. Sweet, easy, sooooo easy to ride. But smart and sensitive- not a "dead head."

DuffyAgain

Jun. 7, 2009, 05:55 PM

Blue Yonder

Jun. 7, 2009, 06:20 PM

Ditto on Coromino. I really like the easy temperament on our filly.

My Donaudeen colt is the bees' knees. :) He's been an absolute lap dog around people from Day 1 and continues to be so so easy and friendly, despite being alpha in the pasture among his buddies and despite already feeling his young man hormones. I adore him.

JMurray

Jun. 7, 2009, 09:14 PM

I am going to have this horse professionally started next year as a 3 year old and then have him go to my trainer for her to have him for awhile. I certainly hope he stays as sensible and safe under saddle as he is to handle on the ground but I am going to leave all that 3 & 4 year old work to the trainer to do and not leave it to chance. He is so athletic, and he spends most of his time cantering everywhere he goes in the pasture, I rarely see him trot.

Being here by myself most of the time, I couldn't ask for a more sensible and cooperative brain. I keep my wits about me of course and a firm & authoritative manner but he is easy.

Very interesting to read all these posts, I am impressed with what all of you breeders do and what you have to know to make the right breeding choices.

bloomingtonfarm

Jun. 8, 2009, 12:18 AM

stoicfish

Jun. 8, 2009, 01:42 AM

Bloom – I think it is partially a marketing thing, so your horse can be associated with the others of that line.
Like I said in a generation or two I can see a stallion who really has a strong “stamp” being expressed in the next couple generations. But the above example made me think of Ratina Z and her notorious personality.
But also when I was choosing a stallion, I found he had a G-line dam sire, (Grand Cru) but ironically enough my chosen stallion’s sire (an L-line) actually has way more line breeding to the G-line. I thought it was interesting that an “L-line” stallion actually has way more “G-line” genetics then did the “G-line” stallion. And to further bug my mind the L-line sire also had way more G-line genetics that actual L-line genetics.
I am sure most breeders look at the horse and the immediate ancestors anyway, but yea I don’t understand how some people refer to the continuity of these lines over like, 5 generations?

However, with this train of thought could I say that ARGENTINUS was just showing his A-line TRAKEHNER talent….(my mare made me type that) :lol:

Commander Cody

Jun. 8, 2009, 05:37 AM

Another vote for Ruffian offspring. Not only are they pretty laid back, but they are so sweet and people-oriented (as is Ruffian) and the ones I know are proving to be very rideable. And I have to say my Tantris foal is young yet, but he is a total clown and very very relaxed.

hansiska

Jun. 8, 2009, 05:57 AM

In an attempt to clarify: R-line hanoverians going back at least to Rubinstein are known for having good brains -- tractable personalities well-suited to amateurs.

Not all warmbloods whose name starts with R are part of this line; Ratina Z and Rampal go back to Ramiro, not Rubinstein. And you must, as has been mentioned, take the mare into account, so there can definitely be exceptions! (I bred three Fabuleuxs, for example. Two had typical, wonderful Fabuleux personalities --as has every other Fabuleux horse I've met -- but one was imperious, and that is directly atributable to his dam, believe me!) Often, breeders will use stallions known for temperament on dams who need, shall we say, a character adjustment, and sometimes it works out.

Rosenthal, Redwine, Regazzoni, Rubino Bellissimo, Routinier, Rubignon, and Rascalino (the sire of my filly) are all examples of "R-line" stallions who go back to Rubinstein. There are many others around the world.

The G-line can be more confusing. To me, there are (at least) two distinct G-lines: those going back to Gotthard (sorry if I spelled that wrong!), which tend to be grey jumpers, and those going back to Grande. Grand Cru is an example of the latter. These tend to be large, chestnut, and good at dressage. Gifted was perhaps the most well-known (bay) example of this line in the US.

What we're really talking about are trends that certain lines tend to possess. As with all breeding, there are no guarantees! You have to look at the individual. But I've certainly met many riders who have preferences for certain lines and who seek them out and buy them again and again. Considering my filly's easy nature, I'll definitely be using the R-line more in my breeding program!

DownYonder

Jun. 8, 2009, 06:12 AM

Just a side thought – since I joined the warmblood forums I have always wondered how is that people can attribute certain characteristics to certain lines. Like for instance the R-line mentioned above, when the biggest connection is the first letter of the name? Btw, not saying that all the stallions mentioned didn’t have great temperaments, just wondering how we can talk about it being a line trait instead of an individual thing? Notice that many threads talk of a line trait, just wondering. Could see it in a generation or two, like with ROHDIAMANT as an above example, but some of these lines (RAMPAL) go back many generations before there is a common ancestor and at that point there is many horses involved.

When a line has produced hundreds upon hundreds of horses from a variety of mares, and most of those horses are born and raised, and ridden, within relatively close proximity to each other (as in the great warmblood breeding areas of northern Germany, Holland, etc.), it becomes easier to spot common traits. Donnerhall, for example, was noted for his own excellent work ethic, and many of his offspring also displayed the same ability and desire to work. Rubinstein was noted for his good looks, gentle demeanor, and generosity under saddle - and, as already mentioned on this thread, the ability to pass on those traits. Sandro Hit is known for his good looks, big, high stepping trot, black coat, and high spirit - and those traits are seen time and time again in his offspring. The great jumping lines are also noted for various dominant traits - great power, or scope, or adjustability, or rideability, etc. It is this ability to put a certain "stamp" on their offspring, and frequently on their offspring's offspring, that make some stallions worthy of being considered dynastic sires.

Someone mentioned Tantris earlier - I have no direct experience with the stallion himself, or his offspring, but I would not be surprised if his foals were easy-peasy. He is descended from Harli Seifert's great mare Rudilore II - one of the few warmblood mares who founded a dynasty - and she was noted for her exceptional gentleness, and her ability to pass on that trait to her offspring.

Buglet

Jun. 8, 2009, 07:23 AM

I have a filly by Beste Gold. I got her as an unbroke two year old with little training. 2 weeks after I got her we showed her in hand. This was her first time going to a show. She was Grand Champion Sport Horse and earned the Bloomberg Trophy (Howard County Fair). She has been a saint to work with. Within two weeks of being under saddle, my trainer had her walk/trot/cantering with no problems. She loves to jump and is fearless. She is extremely smart and tries so hard to please. She just turned 5 last month. She is very competetive on the rated hunter circuit, and has gotten 2nd in every "A" circuit hack she has been entered in. She always places over fences too. My trainer says that she is one of the easiest horses she has ever worked with. Nothing phases her and she is the bravest horse I have ever worked with. I am showing her in the pre-adult hunters (2'6") and she tolerates every mistake I make. She is more then ready for the 3' ring and will be doing the pre-greens (3') next week.
As an amatuer, I really did not want a completely green horse, but I am so thankful that I have her. I am so impressed by my filly, that I just sent another mare to be bred to Beste Gold. My trainer also sent one of her mares to be bred to him too.
You can check out info about Beste Gold at www.magicrosefarm.com

can't re-

Jun. 8, 2009, 10:43 AM

My Westporte 2 year old is awesome! Very easy to work with, and you can turn him out in any ring with a course of fences... and he proceeds to jump around... down lines... over singles etc. He has plenty of room to go past them.

I have had the same experience. My two Westportes are super, want to pull blood, q-u-i-e-t! I was a little concerned with the first one because she was SO quiet and easy - I really thought something was wrong with her. I now have a second one that is just as quiet, I know not to worry.

vtwmbld

Jun. 8, 2009, 01:27 PM

"Rubinstein was noted for his good looks, gentle demeanor, and generosity under saddle - and, as already mentioned on this thread, the ability to pass on those traits. "

I agree with Down Yonder about the various lines and how certain traits tend to hold true. I am lucky enough to have a direct Rubinstein daughter and ALL of her foals (with different sires) have had super temperaments and been easy to handle and start. I know of several other R-line horses and all seem consistently rideable, while not too dull. I also will second Olivier. I have bred several times to him with great results. Great minds, beautiful to look at and superb hind leg mechanics. He hasn't had the advantage that some of those European sires has had in that he breeds a limited number of mares a year (as opposed to hundreds) and thus statistics will not showcase him, but of the foals he's sired, I have not seen a dud yet. One of his colts (just rising 3 years) out of an R-line mare just did his very first show this past weekend and not only won his class but was high score of the show. A perfect gentleman with no priors. That speaks reams for both sire and dam.

STF

Jun. 8, 2009, 01:51 PM

Love the Rubinstein line for that reason!!

Also, most all of Puerto D'Azur offspring are ridden and shown by AA's or Youth/Jr's - even in the big rings -
http://www.spindletopfarm.net/9901.html

patch work farm

Jun. 8, 2009, 03:00 PM

Although I have previously mentioned that I am a fan of the G line for other reasons, as far as starting youngsters, I have to second Royal Prince. I have bred two of them, easy to do anything with-one is just starting under saddle and since she is G line on her dam's side...(slow to mature) they are taking it slowly with her. Her full brother is as easy as she was for anything I throw at him.

I know of two others, that have been easy, easy, easy to start-they have never put a foot wrong.

I also have two Rotspons that will do anything asked of them as well so a BIG vote for the R line!

Ainsley

Jun. 8, 2009, 03:23 PM

Although I have yet to see one that will place in the conformation ring, I would highly recommend Dreitakt (RPSI) for temperament. I have met a number of them and every single one has an exceptional temperament. ***Every...single...one! Regardless of the mare!***

I bred my rather hot and sensitive Abdullah/xx mare to Dreitakt hoping to get a keeper for myself. My requirements were not what they would be for any other foal: I wanted temperament, chrome and a nice mover with a decent jump. This foal would not be for sale, so nothing else mattered (including breed).

I have to say that the resulting foal is everything I wanted and sooooo much more. He is a good mover who will do the low(ish) hunters and jumpers with style and class. He is not particularly brave, but the level of trust he has in any human more than makes up for it. He would walk through fire if you told him to. I would trust him with anyone, any time, anywhere for anything. I swear he was born knowing how to be ridden, clipped, bathed, and anything else you want to do to him.

If I ever decide to breed a mare for a warmblood foal again and I want temperament to be of the utmost importance, I will return to this stallion in a heartbeat.

savvy9

Jun. 8, 2009, 04:17 PM

My Westporte yearling gelding is also super quiet and easy - another vote for Westporte! I also put in a vote for Shine - my 4 year old by him has been wonderful - he handles my amateur mistakes as I try to teach him to jump with great patience - LOL!

Kyzteke

Jun. 8, 2009, 04:50 PM

I'm going to second "R" line :)

I just had a Rubino Bellissimo colt and he is so friendly and even tempered already (though the dam is a super mare too), he is already sold, and I'm sure his new owner will absolutly love him :)

My friends are boarding their lovely Rohdiamant mare at my house, and she is such a sweatheart as well, throws foals with super temperments! I've always heard that R line is known very much for temperment, and now I'm seeing it for myself :yes:

I am so happy to hear this! Of course, the R line has long been known for their intelligence, but didn't know they were quite as mellow as others are reporting.

I have a Rubino Bellissimo daughter -- the first one sired by him -- and she is a total sweetheart about handling, breaking, riding. Once wrapped her in a hay tarp just for fun. Does NOT like the clippers, but her dam was a bit of a b*t*h, so some of that might have come from her. So far I bred this mare to Goldmaker & Sempatico, and both colts are currently owned by ammie woman "of a certain age" who are doing alot of the training/breaking themselves. I get rave reviews on the good brains in both these colts. Very few problems.

This year this Rubino daughter is bred to Rosenthal, for a linebred "R" foal. I have put an order in for a black filly, which will be my "old lady" dressage horse. Sounds like I picked the perfect bloodlines!

EquineLVR

Jun. 8, 2009, 05:14 PM

Gold Luck - G line - always throws a great brain.

Landkoenig - I have ridden two and they were both lovely.

Kovy

Jun. 8, 2009, 05:48 PM

I have to add another vote for Westporte! My Westporte yearling filly is bombproof. I am 100% sure that she is the most unflappable baby I've had to date.

Here is an example, the other day we were taking some pictures of her and hubby decided a chain leather lead would look better in the pictures than a rope one, so he doubled the chain through the halter ring (so there wouldn't be so much chain hanging down). After a few pictures the flies got really bad and she started stomping them off, not good for conformation pictures, lol. So, off hubby went to get some fly spray leaving me with the camera to hold baby horse. She happily started grazing and next thing I knew she had somehow managed to put her hoof THROUGH the chain (yes, this is why you've always heard NOT to loop the chain back through the halter ring...) :0 It all happened SO fast, I don't even really know how her hoof managed to get into the chain. But, there she stood with the chain around her ankle and her hoof up around her chin, on three legs. I really think at this point most horses would have panicked and thrown themself on the ground or leapt in the air in horror, but, not this filly. She sortof wobbled a few steps, struggled to find her balance, all the while the chain is tightening around her leg and pulling her leg up higher! Then, she looked at me like "hmmm... this is uncomfortable, you think you could help me here?!" I was so shocked I could hardly speak, nevermind be of any use to the poor girl, so I called for my husband who came quickly out of the barn and said to me "what have you done to her?". He surveyed the situation, while the filly very quietly stood there, approached her, lifted her leg a little more to ease the tension on the chain and unsnapped the snap, whereby freeing the leg. PHEW! I can't even begin to think how absolutely disasterous this could have been, and can't believe how amazingly well the filly handled the whole ordeal. She is just a year old, for her to stand like a rock with one leg chained up, and wait for help, just shows what a sensible mind she has. I was very impressed, after I stopped shaking and realized she didn't even have a scratch on her!

FWIW, I will NEVER loop a chain on a halter again, it'll be snapped directly to the halter ring from now on!

SilverBalls

Jun. 8, 2009, 06:05 PM

You gotta love the Westporte kids!

I am hearing lots of good buzz on Black Tie. They say his offspring have amateur written all over them....

As I said earlier... don't dare overlook Just The Best & A Fine Romance either.... these 2 have plenty of their progenyin the ring, and they seem to be packers.

I can't say I heard anything about the "R" or "G" lines, but then I am talking strictly hunters....

Foxdale Farm

Jun. 8, 2009, 08:46 PM

I must put in a vote for my stallion, Gatsby. His superb temperament/trainability and extreme sweetness/affection are his hallmark traits. Our website has owner testimonials one right after the other, all seemingly describing the same type of horse over and over again, and he has been bred to a LOT of mares! It is a big reason why many people choose him for their mares.

Just yesterday we were introducing him to some friends of ours, who had 3 young children in tow. They were holding a 2 year old, and Gatsby put his ears forward and quietly said hello to all 3 children, checking them out with the gentleness of a saint and a genuine curiosity. He stood there patiently like a statue until we were done and he seemed to enjoy the experience. I've always known he was sweet, but it was truly really impressive.

We are very proud of him for many reasons, but this one is perhaps the biggest because it is making a lot of people really happy, from trainers, farriers, vets, of course us, and most importantly the owners of his babies!

www.foxdalefarm.us