Babies from Bella!

[Loosey]

So .... in Spring 2013 I will putting Bella in foal. It's all being very forward planned but I still can't decide what to put her to. She's an 18hh Pure Shire and currently 6 years old.

Later in her life I may consider going for a registered Shire but her first baby will be for me to keep.

I want to keep a fair bit of her size and want something built but a little lighter and more athletic than she is.

I don't want to cross her with a TB as don't want top risk the foal being too fine.

I have been thinking about putting her to a fresian as I know this cross is quite popular in europe. My main interest is dressage although I'd like to be able to do a bit of local level jumping which Bella can't so much of due to her size.

I need to be looking at offspring that will make about 17hh + ... What would you do?!:D

[My Crazy Clan]

God everyones breeding/going too!

I was going to say Shire x TB, thats what Monty is, none a few of these and all been chunky/medium weights never a slim jim one, they make great alrounders.

[Tiaki]

I have never seen a fine Shire x TB in all honesty. They have all been tall with a good amount of bone.

If you are worried about lack of bone, what about a shire x warmblood or ID?? A mate of mine had a shire x ID, she looks just like a shire but a tiny bit finer and stood at about 16.2hh

xxx

[Anni~Bell]

I have never seen a fine Shire x TB ever! At a riding school I used to ride at there were 3 on the yard (2 riding school, 1 livery) and they were tall (17hh +) but not fine in the slightest. All middleweights apart from Ted who was quite a heavy weight :)
I personally would go for the shire x tb as they are amazing all rounders :)

[Chloe05]

how about an oldenburg, chunky but built a bit like an IDx
-Trakehner
-Warmblood (poss Dutch WB)
-selle francais (natural jumper)
-Hanoverian (natural jumper again)
-Holstien
most of these crossed with a shire would lighten the foal but not make it to light, all these horse breeds are well known for having plenty of bone..

[Sasca]

i think a cross with a friesian would have a very restriced gate. It would be a brilliant driver with a powerful shoulder and a huge front leg movement but may struggle with collection and correct working for dressage and jumping. Both breeds are designed for driving and power, if you want something to compete and be more athletic, you should go with a breed with less of a front action, more floaty and a good hind quarter to counteract the shires pelvis.

[My Crazy Clan]

Some one on FTHM had a shirexTB and he was the more finer side but not that fine, he was a cracker though.

[BEX101]

I think some sort of warmblood

[CityLights]

Slightly different but i once saw an Andaluscian cross percheron and it was GORGEOUS really really nice looking horse and quite chunky

i would go TB though if you get a nice chunkier build one then you should be fine, and wouldnt loose too much bone

[Loosey]

A friend of mine bred two foals from a shire a few years back and they would have been too fine for me ... I'm after more of a heavy hunter - not so much for competing, just for fun more than anything.

Rhea, is that Phoenix? He would have been too fine for me too!

I'll have a look into some kind of warmblood and see what I can find I think - thanks guys ... more idea's appreciated!

[Alex Underdown]

Would need to see a conformational picture of your mare, then we can see what her weak points are. Has she ever had a foal before?
I think a friesian cross could work - shires are derived from friesians, but it does depend on the friesian if it compliments your mares conformation. Most friesians do tend to have weak quarters and long backs so are built for driving as they can't collect as well, but get the right one for your mare and you would get something very flashy - not necessarily good for jumping - it will be able to but I would say it would be better for dressage, as you will get a nice front action and plenty of hair and bone!!!:D Height wise - it's going to be big no matter what you put her to!!!!:D
I do agree though with some, crossing something like a TB to a shire can go wrong - usually you get something chunky but I have seen one with a very heavy set body, fine legs and neck which looked awful! Until you know what your mare throws I wouldn't personally go that fine, if you were wanting that sort of horse then I'd go with a heavy set warmblood, ID - again tend to be long backed so you'd need to pick carefully, but really need to see a pic of your mare!:D

[Loosey]

Hi Alex, it would be her first. I have seen rather a nice warmblood close to me but he's a homozygonous (sp) spotty - not sure what tha would turn out like!! I'll try and load some recent pics to PB to show you! :)

[Loosey]

*Knabstrupper not warmblood!

[CityLights]

*Knabstrupper not warmblood!

the modern knab is basically a warmblood with spots anyway

[Alex Underdown]

Knabs are great but don't always tend to have the best butts for crossing to things like shires, friesians etc - there is one nice knab x friesian in the states but he's 3/4 friesian and not really the norm - a lucky cross - the majority aren't great but people that do that cross are more interested in colour than conformation!! So I'd stick with something a bit more predictable and that suits the conformation of big fluffies!! Can't wait to see some pics of your girl - i do like chunky fluffies!!!:D