FOS - would you mind giving us your observations of the types of mares for other stallions - say in the $7500 - 15,000? You could start a separate thread.
Thanks,
merse
Skip Away
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FOS wrote:hello Heidilady...hi Joltman
You might consider the following when selecting a mare for Skip Away.
1/ Of the many sons and daughters of Skip Away that I've seen thru the years (including foals, yearlings, training horses, and runners by him)...in general the rule seems to be that they're pretty darn weak-looking/weakly-made behind.
2/ Skip Away's most successful runners (at least the ones that I've seen anyway) seem to be exceptions to the rule though, to the extent that they are (at the very least) clearly stronger-looking behind than the overwhelming majority of SA's sons and daughters (that I've seen) in general.
Best.
Respectfully
Thanks FOS
You are obviously a fan of Skip Away as am I, but I think it essential to find the keys to a successful match. The conformational stuff is important but unfortunately for me I don't have the eye for it. Nice to be able to trust measurements of this stuff which is what the biomechanics does. Otherwise you end up repeating the same errors which everyone else has made.
jm
Run the race - the one that's really worth winning.
hello Heidilady...hi all
Happy New Year to you !!!
Based on the relatively dark (if you will), shadowy and not-so-easy to discern action photo available on PQ...my impressions include the following. Skip Code seems to 1/ be a relatively lean (rather than robust) type of horse that has, 2/ plenty of length, 3/ adequate (but not an abundance of) bone, 4/ somewhat long cannons, 5/ not particularly sturdy (but not fragile-looking either) pasterns that might best be described as adequate, 6/ forearms, gaskins and hocks that are likely a bit thrifty (if you will), 7/ a lovely neck (which likely enhances a fluid action that I perceive is indicated in the photo), but I'm not so sure he doesn't carry his head a bit high (it's difficult to know for sure though since the photo shows him galloping out, and not at full-throttle [if you will]), and 8/ a hind-end that's not (based on what I can decipher from the shadowy action photo) particularlyly strong-looking or massive...which leaves me (again) using the word adequate.
Skip Code (based on my perception/impression of the photo anyway) would NOT be among the strongest-looking (overall and/or behind) sons/daughters of Skip Away I've seen, nor would he be among the weakest-looking (overall and/or behind) that I've seen. I get a sense (based on the photo) that Skip Code is more similar to the lighter-made Skip Aways than the stronger-made ones, and perceive (again based on the photo) that SC is relatively well-balanced, has a lovely neck, a shoulder that likely has a sweeping angle to it, and that (overall) the pieces tie together quite nicely, and he is a fluid mover.
Bottom line...the photo leaves me with the impression that Skip Code does not (strength-wise anyway) compare favorably to the likes of (for example) Skipaslew...Stormin Away...Cervelo...and, Sister Swank. Those are among the stronger-looking/best individuals I've seen by Skip Away.
Conjecture? I might throw a dart somewhere in the neighborhood of Promised Land and his sire Palestinian.
Skip Away was a GREAT racehorse...and obviously he proved time and again that he had lots of oomph (as you indicated), despite what might be generously described as little (if anything) more than an adequate-looking caboose (your word).
I would submit that Skip Away's hind-end is likely stronger (and stronger-looking) than what most of his sons and daughters receive from him...but that comment is NOT intended to suggest that he is particularly strong-looking and/or massive behind...because (from my perspective) he is NOT.
When I critiqued and evaluated Skip Away (subsequent to his retirement to stud), I sensed that he would benefit-from/need mares that more likely than not could/would inject the strength (behind) that I was not so confident that he could/would (without assistance).
Again...I would suggest that anyone considering using Skip Away would likely best be served by sending a mare to him that (at the very least) could/would inject (into the equation) some significant POWER and MASS BEHIND.
Skip Away is living proof that dreams can come true. He was absolutely, positively a SENSATIONAL racehorse...and a WOW...Real-Deal extraordinaire.
Hopefully 2009 will be wonderful. Best of luck...
...and Happy New Year to you !!!
Respectfully
Happy New Year to you !!!
Heidilady wrote: FOS, what do you think about Skip Code? There's a picture of him mid-flight on PQ.
Based on the relatively dark (if you will), shadowy and not-so-easy to discern action photo available on PQ...my impressions include the following. Skip Code seems to 1/ be a relatively lean (rather than robust) type of horse that has, 2/ plenty of length, 3/ adequate (but not an abundance of) bone, 4/ somewhat long cannons, 5/ not particularly sturdy (but not fragile-looking either) pasterns that might best be described as adequate, 6/ forearms, gaskins and hocks that are likely a bit thrifty (if you will), 7/ a lovely neck (which likely enhances a fluid action that I perceive is indicated in the photo), but I'm not so sure he doesn't carry his head a bit high (it's difficult to know for sure though since the photo shows him galloping out, and not at full-throttle [if you will]), and 8/ a hind-end that's not (based on what I can decipher from the shadowy action photo) particularlyly strong-looking or massive...which leaves me (again) using the word adequate.
Skip Code (based on my perception/impression of the photo anyway) would NOT be among the strongest-looking (overall and/or behind) sons/daughters of Skip Away I've seen, nor would he be among the weakest-looking (overall and/or behind) that I've seen. I get a sense (based on the photo) that Skip Code is more similar to the lighter-made Skip Aways than the stronger-made ones, and perceive (again based on the photo) that SC is relatively well-balanced, has a lovely neck, a shoulder that likely has a sweeping angle to it, and that (overall) the pieces tie together quite nicely, and he is a fluid mover.
Bottom line...the photo leaves me with the impression that Skip Code does not (strength-wise anyway) compare favorably to the likes of (for example) Skipaslew...Stormin Away...Cervelo...and, Sister Swank. Those are among the stronger-looking/best individuals I've seen by Skip Away.
Heidilady wrote: Where would you conjecture Skip Away's weak hind end transfer comes from?
Conjecture? I might throw a dart somewhere in the neighborhood of Promised Land and his sire Palestinian.
Heidilady wrote:Obviously (Skip Away) himself had lots of oomph to win races so I assume he wasn't lacking in the caboose to the degree his offspring seem to quite often.
Skip Away was a GREAT racehorse...and obviously he proved time and again that he had lots of oomph (as you indicated), despite what might be generously described as little (if anything) more than an adequate-looking caboose (your word).
I would submit that Skip Away's hind-end is likely stronger (and stronger-looking) than what most of his sons and daughters receive from him...but that comment is NOT intended to suggest that he is particularly strong-looking and/or massive behind...because (from my perspective) he is NOT.
When I critiqued and evaluated Skip Away (subsequent to his retirement to stud), I sensed that he would benefit-from/need mares that more likely than not could/would inject the strength (behind) that I was not so confident that he could/would (without assistance).
Again...I would suggest that anyone considering using Skip Away would likely best be served by sending a mare to him that (at the very least) could/would inject (into the equation) some significant POWER and MASS BEHIND.
Skip Away is living proof that dreams can come true. He was absolutely, positively a SENSATIONAL racehorse...and a WOW...Real-Deal extraordinaire.
Hopefully 2009 will be wonderful. Best of luck...
...and Happy New Year to you !!!
Respectfully