This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Equine Reproduction » Horse Breeding & Artificial Insemination » Coat Color Genetics »
  Discussion on TB mare cross with a Shire?
Author Message
Member:
Nathalie

Posted on Sunday, Feb 1, 2004 - 3:15 am:

I am considering to breed my TB mare this year to a Shire. I would like to get a foal with a bit 'more bone'. But I can't really find the info about this cross I am looking for. I only find pictures of babies, promises they will all make great dressage horses but can't really find any pictures from horses used in the dressage under saddle (above training level). Can anyone direct me to some sites maybe?
Also I would like to hear some pro's and con's to breed my mare with a Shire? All I found out so far is that I should make sure the Shire is not cow hocked since a lot of them are (?)How are their legs normally vs. OCD? Any thought/input would be greatly appreciated!!
Member:
Albionsh

Posted on Sunday, Feb 1, 2004 - 11:15 am:

Nathalie, what is your intended purpose for the foal? If you are looking for an upper level dressage or eventing horse, I would suggest you consider breeding to one of the many proven warmblood stallions. The internet is full of information on breeds, specific sires and their performance, and progeny performance. Good luck. A quality TB mare makes a very nice warmblood cross.
Member:
Nathalie

Posted on Sunday, Feb 1, 2004 - 11:32 am:

No, I live in Holland so plenty of the high quality warmbloods around here. I still have a TB mare (in the US)where I already have a 3yr. old TB gelding out and a 2yr old Dutch Warmblood cross. I am just interested to see how she would cross with a Shire. I am more looking into anything important I might overlook in this cross. The foal would be just for low level dressage + trails for a friend of mine. Still it would be nice if it would have a bit of potential though of course!
Thanks for any sort of input!
Member:
Tkranch

Posted on Sunday, Feb 1, 2004 - 1:30 pm:

Nathalie,
We have a Shire mare we crossed with an Andalusian last year. I wanted to get a Dressage/Hunter Jumper prospect.
With Shires, slightly cow hocked is what they want for the breed. They say 'they should sh*t on one hock and knock it off with the other while walking'. Our foal has very straight legs. The problem we have found is the incredibly fast rate of growth. At 6mo he was 15h. I had him gelded at 4mo and weaned at 6mo. We noticed he was slightly off on his left hind. Thinking pysitis we cut way back on his feed. We recently had xrays done and found it is in his stifel and possibly a very slight case of OCD. So much for Hunter/Jumper, now I hope he will be a nice Dressage horse. We have him semi confined, starting a combo of MSM, chonDrOintin and glucosamine, and if no improvement will take him in to have better xrays done to determine next step.
I know of someone who uses our Shire mare's brother as a stud for her TB mares. She sells the warmblood foals.
kat
Member:
Tkranch

Posted on Sunday, Feb 15, 2004 - 1:18 pm:

Nathalie,
Sorry it took so long to get back to you. The people that have the Shire stud they use with TB mares are at www.roundtableshires.com .
Kat
Member:
Nathalie

Posted on Sunday, Feb 15, 2004 - 1:51 pm:

Thanks so much for this link! It has some great pictures on what to (possible) expect!
Thanks again!
Nath
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC