Storm Cat to Be QH Sire

[freshman]

Is it possible to employ Storm Cat as a sire with Thoroughbred mares, at a reduced non-guaranteed price, with the understanding that the resulting foal will only serve as a future sire and will not run?

Anyone know what is Storm Cat's current physical condition, other than appparent decline of semen quality?

The article emphasizes that the AI for QH mares is being processed from sperm samples from last year, not from fresh collections. Makes me wonder if he isn't too arthritic or has some other reason not to cover mares, or to go through the same motions on a dummy, etc. A lot of these old stallions have bad hocks, backs, etc, that prevent them from breeding.

[SlewCrew]

Is it possible to employ Storm Cat as a sire with Thoroughbred mares, at a reduced non-guaranteed price, with the understanding that the resulting foal will only serve as a future sire and will not run?

Anyone know what is Storm Cat's current physical condition, other than appparent decline of semen quality?

The article emphasizes that the AI for QH mares is being processed from sperm samples from last year, not from fresh collections. Makes me wonder if he isn't too arthritic or has some other reason not to cover mares, or to go through the same motions on a dummy, etc. A lot of these old stallions have bad hocks, backs, etc, that prevent them from breeding.

His health is excellent,he is excellent.

[bridlewise]

Just a note on the QH breed in general...the QH breed in recent decades has evolved into several distinct sub-types. IE: Western Pleasure-type, Halter-type, Cutting-type, Racing-type and so on. You would no more breed a Cutting QH to a Racing QH that you would a Shetland to a Shire and expect to get a likeness to either parent! The old "foundation" line QH's do resemble the Hobby Horses mentioned on this thread...but those bloodlines have little to do with the modern racing QH.

This thread is also correct that most modern racing QH's are have predominantly TB blood and are gene pool is probably even smaller that that of the TB industry's 3x3x3 Raise A Native/ND horses! I looked through the stallion auction book of the Heritage Sale last week and all but 4 of 76 studs had the horse Dash For Cash (3/4 TB by the way!) or his son First Down Dash in the first 3 generations...and many times several doses of each at that! And so although I don't necessarily agree with adding blooding-minded and unsound Storm Cat blood to the QH breed just to make an extra buck, it would seem that they are in dire need of something new and why not follow tradition and use a Thoroughbred!

[Pan Zareta]

The old "foundation" line QH's do resemble the Hobby Horses mentioned on this thread...but those bloodlines have little to do with the modern racing QH.

There's considerable evidence in the written record that imported Hobbies and their 17th cent. descendants were used for Quarter racing in colonial Virginia prior to importation of the first TB, but it's impossible to link even one of them to any of the prominent 19th cent. QH founder names (Steeldust, Shiloh, Billy, et al.) Probably the most compelling evidence for the Hobby influence I've found is actually in performance. A fair number of (working) QH's I've ridden retained the lateral gaits characteristic of the Hobby. If held back my old QH (9/16ths TB) mare invariably tries to break into a 4 beat rack

Dash For Cash (3/4 TB by the way!)

233/256ths, actually. Undoubtedly closer to 63/64ths. La Gallina V had a pedigree. It just didn't make it into the registry.

The Sixes is standing TB Ketchum Cowboy (2003 Salt Lake - Snowmass x Kingmambo) as an outcross performance sire. I've seen him cut. Very good at what he does, and looks like a pleasure to ride. A better prospect, imho, than their QH Salt Lake son, Sixes Country.

[Lei Owen]

I held a conference with my quarter horse broodmare band. The subject was the chance to have a Storm Cat foal. If any were so inclined, I'd cough up the 50 grand it would take to get the deed done. (20 grand stud fee, the rest is to Texas A&M). I showed them a picture of Storm Cat and they gasp! They all declined as the admired their pretty heads, nice leg's and stroked their silky manes. Mix their gene's with Storm Cat! They were insulted!! Said they'd be afraid the foal would look like Storm Cat!! Poor thing would have to walk around with a sack over it's head. They turned around, kicked up their heel's, farted and galloped to the end of the pasture. And I'd served them root beer and home made horsey treat's!! These are broodies who have Beduino, Three Bars, Victory Stride, Bolero and Mito Paint in their linage. Hussy's! I know them. They're holding out for Dash Ta Fame! He's the hottest flavor of the month!

[griff]

I know Three Bars was a Thoroughbred and expect many of the others have a high % of TB blood.

griff

[Pan Zareta]

I held a conference with my quarter horse broodmare band. The subject was the chance to have a Storm Cat foal. If any were so inclined, I'd cough up the 50 grand it would take to get the deed done. (20 grand stud fee, the rest is to Texas A&M). I showed them a picture of Storm Cat and they gasp! They all declined as the admired their pretty heads, nice leg's and stroked their silky manes. Mix their gene's with Storm Cat! They were insulted!! Said they'd be afraid the foal would look like Storm Cat!! Poor thing would have to walk around with a sack over it's head. They turned around, kicked up their heel's, farted and galloped to the end of the pasture. And I'd served them root beer and home made horsey treat's!! These are broodies who have Beduino, Three Bars, Victory Stride, Bolero and Mito Paint in their linage. Hussy's! I know them. They're holding out for Dash Ta Fame! He's the hottest flavor of the month!

Sooooo glad I wasn't drinking anything hot when I read that. Your mares are impressively selective. Ours roll out the red carpet for anything that hasn't been gelded, including a rank stud colt that one of the cowboys put in the wrong pen. Their fun...my vet bill..

I know Three Bars was a Thoroughbred and expect many of the others have a high % of TB blood.

Just for grins, a short list of other TBs that have shaped the QH-
Azure Te, Beduino, Bold Venture, Bonnie Joe, Chicaro, Custus Rastus, Depth Charge, Equestrian, Joe Blair, Little Request, Piggin String, Porte Drapeau, Raise Your Glass, Reb's Policy, Rocket Bar, Sparkling Native, Top Deck, Truly Truckle, Uncle Jimmie Gray, Vandy, & Zevi

I doubt Storm Cat will ever join their number, but would bet that one or more of his sons will. His grandson Woodford Cat is another TB that's being evaluated as an outcross performance sire.

[going4stamina]

Then there is Impressive, and my what a wonder he has been for shaping the QH .

[Pan Zareta]

Then there is Impressive, and my what a wonder he has been for shaping the QH .

Not a TB. Inbred 2x3x4 to one (Three Bars), but that had nothing to do w/ the random mutation that caused HYPP (an autosomal dominant trait). That (or something similar) could just as easily happen in the TB, and it's interesting to contemplate what the JC might do. Would they allow heterozygotes (as the AQHA does w/ HYPP carriers) into the registry, or register only homozygous negatives and expunge the trait from the breed?

Problems from inbreeding, including but not limited to HERDA, are the main reason performance horse breeders are beginning to look to the TB for outcross stock.

[bridlewise]

Has anyone ever heard the old-timey rumor that Top Deck and his kin had temperment problems ala Storm Cat and co? In essence they were tough competitors but difficult around the barn? If true, what a fun cross that will be!