I would most definitely not let go of her… Even as a ‘grade’ mare, she is stunning and sounds like a sweetheart. I would mention the possibility of a discount since they have lost the papers… Possibly paying your stud fee? (GORGEOUS stallion, BTW… He was one that I picked from the site you had posted as well.)
You say the previous owner ‘doesn’t want to jump through those hoops’?? Well who was it that lost the papers? Certainly not YOU. You bought this mare on good faith that her papers came with her. I really think they should START JUMPING, or give you a good discount (like paying the sstud fee.
Apparently she’s more motitvated, thinking about possible getting her back. She’s tracked down the two previous owners and gotten bills of sale, and only has one more to go. So YEAH! It’s sort of sad to think that in 8 years this horse has had 5 owners. Certainly no one has bothered to love her.
The weather has been just lousy since I got her. (Coincidence? Maybe not…) I haven’t been able to spend as much time as I’d like with her, but I try to hold her feed bucket and talk to her while she eats every night. I was cleaning out the run-in shed this past weekend and she hung around with me.
Like many people, I’m watching this thread for the vicarious thrills. I’m glad the previous owner is motivated to get her paperwork done. I’m glad you’re keeping the mare though. She looks so sweet.
I agree that Donnaufurst is the very ideal of a warmblood stallion. He does dressage and jumping both! If you get a foal, do you plan to train him for jumping/dressage or just for general riding?
The seller e-mailed me tonight saying, “I hope you appreciate what a great horse you have!” Apparently doing the research that I did before I bought her, she’s just now realizing what she let go of. Seller’s remorse. I don’t think the internet is her strong suit. It looks like I’ll be getting the replacement papers, as she’s been able to track down the previous owners. I also talked to the equine vet about breeding her. The Donaufurst semen is frozen, which means she’ll have to stay at the vet’s and be ultrasounded every 4 hours after ovulation to determine the exact moment to inseminate her, while fresh semen has a much longer window. But she said it wouldn’t be a problem, and it’ll cost about $250.
Merneith - I’ll do dressage, but probably not competing.
I’m currently the high bidder for Donaufurst’s stud service. According to the farm, there are approximately $250 in collection and shipping fees in addition to the stud fee. The auction ends in 24 hours. Wish me luck!
I’m not a horse person but this thread is fascinating. St. Germain, I’m glad things are working out so well for you and Nakota.
Questions:
The horse in the video, Dakota – is that beautiful floating gait something that’s learned or is the horse born with it? That’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen from an animal.
What’s “warmblood”?
Is “Trakehner” a breed, like Golden Retriever is a breed? Can you tell if a horse is Trakehner just by looking at it? (All horses look alike to me, except for their coloring.)
Yes, Trakehner is a breed like Golden Retriever is a breed, exactly.
In days of yore there were generally said to be 2 “types of horse” – the heavy drafts (picture the Budweiser Clydesdales) know as coldbloods, and the light and energetic hotbloods - epitomized by Arabians and their descendent, the Thoroughbred. The hotbloods had wonderful endurance but were energetic and spirited. The coldbloods could do heavy work but tired more easily, and had a placid temperment.
Then someone thought to cross the drafty type with the hotblood type to get something in the middle. These were known as “warmbloods” because of the mix. Over time, particular warmblood breeds were developed, especially in Europe. The breeding of these horses was carefully limited so that it could only occur between horses that had been inspected and approved for breeding. Registries recorded every approved breeding and in this way a breed standard was maintained.
The Trakehner breed is interesting. It was almost destroyed completely in WWII, when the Trakehner Stud Farm in Germany was evacuated, and so many horses died on the journey, that only 700 remained in the entire Registry. The breed was “brought back from the brink” by reopening the studbook to approved Arabs and Thoroughbreds. Because they have a lot of recent Arabian & TB influence, they look different than other warmblood breeds; somewhat lighter, and sometimes with a slightly “dished” face reminiscent of the Arabian type. See a “typey” Trak face in this picture.
Experienced horsepeople can usually only guess at breed within the general warmblood type. However, breed brands prove very helpful in identifying them in a snap.
AuntiePam - I see that Hello Again answered your questions about the Trakehner breed. Some horses can be identified on sight. Quarter horses are very typey and square-built. Tennessee Walkers and spotted saddle horses have big blocky heads and stout solid bodies. Arabians are small and have the classic dish face. Warmbloodsd tend to be tall and sort of refined-looking and look much like a thoroughbred only not so delicate.
Those floating gaits are natural extensions of a trot and canter. Hopefully what they have has babies you can keep once they start under saddle.
AuntiePam - the racehorses you see on TV races are all thoroughbreds. There is quarterhorse racing, but it’s small-time. Those legs are small and relatively delicate. When galloping, they have all that force coming down on one foot.
You want to see something fun? Watch this video of a dressage musical freestyle.
Edited to add: - I see that the mare in this video had to be put down two weeks ago because she broke her knee. What a shame!
Very subtle signals - that’s the whole point of dressage. It should look like the rider is just a passenger, but s/he is making very subtle movements with their fingers, hands, leg (knee, calf, toe, heel), and simple shifts in weight as well.
AutiePam - Every movement is directed by the rider. Cues with legs, hands, seat and feet tell the horse what to do. How long to make their stride. How fast to go. Obviously, this is a sport that is all about communication between horse and rider.
For sheer horse and rider athleticism, if you ever get a chance to see show jumping, TAKE IT! Jim an I aren’t really horse people either, but we try to get out to Spruce Meadows here at least once a year. It is just amazing to watch live. (Note the bicycle jump at about one minute - the horses hate that one and often balk at it. Then you get to see some real communication between the rider and the horse.)
