A year or so ago, a new Brandenburg/Oldenburg stallion caused a sensation in the breeding world. If the walk and the canter are the most important gaits, it's probably the trot that sells the most horses. When I was looking at babies, breeders would gently remind me that the canter is more important than the trot and the trot can be improved with training. Intellectually I understood this. But as I drooled over the babies with the fancy trots, my inner thought was I'll worry about that when I get to third level.
When I first saw the Quaterback video, I wondered why such a young horse was being shown in passage. Then I realized that is his trot. Granted, they were asking a lot of this young horse and at times he seemed to struggle to control his power. But he looked other-worldly. The canter was equally remarkable -- huge and uphill.
Experienced horsemen and horsewoman pointed out that his walk was "only average" (he got a 7). Well, Jesus splashed when he walked on water too. I feel I can overlook this. Judy Yancey of Yancey Farms was the agent (the only one I know of) that you could get semen from in the U.S. in 2007. This year the first crop of Quaterback foals is arriving in the U.S. I'm compiling videos of his foals, and if you know of one that I missed, let me know!
Quaterback: The stallion (two videos)
Quaterback fillies from Yancey Farms
Quaterback Colt Quantum Leap
Quaterback Filly Quantrilla
Quaterback foal out of a Rubenstein mare
Querido (not U.S.)
Six month old not U.S. born
Hengstfohlen v. Quaterback x StPrSt v. Don Vino
Hengstfohlen von Quaterback
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Quarterback is a beautiful, talented well trained horse. It's hard to pick one of the babies, they are all very nice. I think I'll just have to take them all. Ha. Wonder what the price would be for just one.
ReplyDeleteThey seem to be sold very quickly - small wonder. It sure looks like QB is passing on movement. On a superficial note I'm glad he's a chestnut! This passion for a black horse is going to backfire when they're all competing in dressage together -- people will want a chestnut so they can stand out!
ReplyDeleteSigned,
A chestnut owner
For me, it is painful to watch this horse. The strain on his limbs must be incredible. I saw this happen in the dog world with basenjis where people bred for movement. Their gait became exagerated. Somewhere in the back of my head, I remember some old dressage guru talking about that it is unfortunate that the trot is getting so passagey. I may be alone in this, but to me, this isn't a pure trot. Does this then set the standard? I can only shake my head at this. But I love your blog and appreciate you sharing this.
ReplyDeleteIn the video I saw of QB at three years, it worried me a little the way he was pushed for the extravagance -- it was beautiful but you could see his hind fall out of balance b/c he couldn't yet handle the power. Hopefully he'll stay sound.
ReplyDeleteI have heard dressage trainers reprimand riders of big-moving horses, telling them not to let the trot get too passagey. It amused me at the time (I should have such problems) but I see your point. A few years from now the pendulum may swing the other way...
I am just blown away! What an amazing stallion. That kind of talent doesn't come along every day...and his babies look absolutely outstanding!
ReplyDeleteoookay, I need to wipe the drool off of my keyboard now, LOL! What a beautiful stallion. Yes, the movement is extraordinary for a horse of his age but I would think that was only his natural abilities amplified for the exhibition.
ReplyDeleteDuring schooling I'm sure that his handlers are careful to not overuse such gifts. Just as you or I wouldn't demand show level movements or performance every time we school our horses, I would want to believe it would be the same for him. The longer they keep his movement pure and him sound, the longer he can compete, stay in the public eye and generate stud bookings.
I look forward to seeing more of him and his gorgeous babies! Thanks for sharing!!
He's a really cool horse. I like the fact that he actually maintains a better canter rhythm than Florencio. Of course as much as I like the big moving stallions, sometimes it worries me that people seem to be more concerned wih breeding to these ones than to the ones who hare proven performers/producers for the upper levels. I'm not saying don't breed to the Quaterbacks/Florencios/Fidertanzes, I just think that there should be some balance between the young stars and the old favorites
ReplyDeleteLove the videos and the babies. I also do really like this stallion. I would love to see him perform as an older horse because I wondr how his natural movement will translate under training....
ReplyDeletekitty bo, what do you mean re: basenjis? I don't see the movement adversely affected by breeding for movement. I see movement affected by breeding for 'cute', but not by breeding for good true sound movers. I have definitely seen some crappy movers-- fronts that paddle, etc. But the breeders who breed crappy movement seem to be breeding for type and sacfrificing movement. I'd love to hear which dogs/ breeders you see as breeding for movement and producing poor movers.
Wow, he sure stamps his movement, doesn't he?
ReplyDeleteQuaterback sure is amazing! It was funny because I was looking at his video and I told my non-horsey fiancee to come look at the horse. (He's always said that it would only be worth having horses if they did tricks,ie passage and piaffe in the pasture whenever he went out to feed them LOL right!). Anyways I showed him the video and he was like wow that horse is amazing and then I told him that's the horse's REAL trot he said no way! I want those offspring in my pasture!!!!! AND it seems like QB is doing a very good job passing on the movement. I don't need another horse but I am really considering breeding my arab to him. Hey does anyone know of anyone else who is selling his semen in the US? Pls contact me at carlinarabians@aol.com
ReplyDeleteQuaterback sure is amazing! It was funny because I was looking at his video and I told my non-horsey fiancee to come look at the horse. (He's always said that it would only be worth having horses if they did tricks,ie passage and piaffe in the pasture whenever he went out to feed them LOL right!). Anyways I showed him the video and he was like wow that horse is amazing and then I told him that's the horse's REAL trot he said no way! I want those offspring in my pasture!!!!! AND it seems like QB is doing a very good job passing on the movement. I don't need another horse but I am really considering breeding my arab to him. Hey does anyone know of anyone else who is selling his semen in the US? Pls contact me at carlinarabians@aol.com
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteI own one the foal at the last video on the page.
The video isn't working, because I've uploaded a new one with better quality.
And he is not going to the US.
He is going to Norway;)
Anyway, keep up the good work.
Nice to look at other siblings;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIC9r8MrLtk There's the video;)