Zenyatta to a 17 hands stallion --- yes or no

[Crystal]

I think you would have to ask why you wanted to breed her to a larger stallion in the first place?

She is by no means small..
She already has great substance in her bone density..
Her conformation is overall just lovely..

What would you be bringing to the table with a larger stallion? height??

A horse with a longer stride may actually exude the same amount of energy in collection as a smaller horse may in extention. Yet the smaller horse maybe speedier because they have less to collect. But the bigger horse may run longer distances because they are covering more ground with each stride.

tortise vs. the hare..

[dublino]

What toppings are on the pizza?

[madelyn]

Actually, I would look for the stallion known to throw almost nothing into the mix. In other words I would be looking for the most recessive trait horse I could find.. a chestnut with no white who never threw himself. In the hopes of getting another horse just like Zenyatta - in other words, let her throw a horse just like her. Better still if the stallion came from her female family.

[Crystal]

they would be in right place. KY has tons of stallions that bring nothing to the table.. hahahaha

[kimberley mine]

Actually, I would look for the stallion known to throw almost nothing into the mix. In other words I would be looking for the most recessive trait horse I could find.. a chestnut with no white who never threw himself. In the hopes of getting another horse just like Zenyatta - in other words, let her throw a horse just like her. Better still if the stallion came from her female family.

Maybe so, maybe no. She doesn't have any tactical speed, which cost her in November. She also isn't proven as a broodmare, so while she has beautiful conformation, there is no guarantee that she'll pass it on.

Hopefully, in 5 years when we realize she's the second coming of Personal Ensign, and could be bred to a clydesdale and get quality runners, all of that will be moot.

[Jorge]

I completely agree with Madelyn but at the same time, such a stallion has to be a heavily built, good bone stallion (tall in my opinion). Not necessarily a precocious sprinter with just few starts, but a good well-raced quick horse capable of providing additional soundness to the cross, irrespectively of his precociousness. Makes me remember of Spectacular Bid, Alphabet Soup, Dr. Fager and other Tartan Farm stallions. I would really like to see her being bred to the best available meritorious specimen, irrespectively of "catalog-wisdom" top-notch merits.

[Jorge]

Hey, why not ask John Nerud for a suggestion? Would really like to know his opinion!

[LB]

I completely agree with Madelyn but at the same time, such a stallion has to be a heavily built, good bone stallion (tall in my opinion). Not necessarily a precocious sprinter with just few starts, but a good well-raced quick horse capable of providing additional soundness to the cross, irrespectively of his precociousness. Makes me remember of Spectacular Bid, Alphabet Soup, Dr. Fager and other Tartan Farm stallions. I would really like to see her being bred to the best available meritorious specimen, irrespectively of "catalog-wisdom" top-notch merits.

I don't see how Bernardini doesn't fit your qualifications.

And "catalog-wisdom" only matters when a prospective foal will be offered for sale. It's highly unlikely that this one will.

[Jorge]

I completely agree with Madelyn but at the same time, such a stallion has to be a heavily built, good bone stallion (tall in my opinion). Not necessarily a precocious sprinter with just few starts, but a good well-raced quick horse capable of providing additional soundness to the cross, irrespectively of his precociousness. Makes me remember of Spectacular Bid, Alphabet Soup, Dr. Fager and other Tartan Farm stallions. I would really like to see her being bred to the best available meritorious specimen, irrespectively of "catalog-wisdom" top-notch merits.

I don't see how Bernardini doesn't fit your qualifications.

And "catalog-wisdom" only matters when a prospective foal will be offered for sale. It's highly unlikely that this one will.

I am under the impression that, comparatively speaking, Bernardini does not par in size to Zenyatta. (Hmmm, would like to further examine Point Given ---for size only.) But other than this aspect, I think that you are completely right LB, Bernardini is a great choice. In addition, I like the mighty presence of both, Dr. Fager and Spectaciular Bid. Most probably, Bernardini is the best "acceptable-to-all-parties" candidate.

But I would really like to examine other super-heralded choices too.

[kimberley mine]

I am under the impression that, comparatively speaking, Bernardini does not par in size to Zenyatta. (Hmmm, would like to further examine Point Given ---for size only.) But other than this aspect, I think that you are completely right LB, Bernardini is a great choice. In addition, I like the mighty presence of both, Dr. Fager and Spectaciular Bid. Most probably, Bernardini is the best "acceptable-to-all-parties" candidate.

But I would really like to examine other super-heralded choices too.

Very few of the elite thoroughbred stallions around are as large as Zenyatta. The vast majority are between 15.3hh and 16.2hh, with the bulk of those being 16h-16.1h. Their very averageness is what makes them a good fit with a wider variety of mares. Occasionally you get an outlier like Northern Dancer, Rahy, Lyphard, Tiznow, Roberto, or Pleasant Colony, but they are comparatively rare.

[fastappy]

Hey, why not ask John Nerud for a suggestion? Would really like to know his opinion!

I would definitely like to hear his take on breeding Ms. Z He's an American treasure in regards to Thoroughbred breeding.

[springboro]

Actually, I would look for the stallion known to throw almost nothing into the mix. In other words I would be looking for the most recessive trait horse I could find.. a chestnut with no white who never threw himself. In the hopes of getting another horse just like Zenyatta - in other words, let her throw a horse just like her. Better still if the stallion came from her female family.

I like it! That could mean Mizzen Mast, or much more remotely (IRELAND!) Tamayaz.

I like the way you think, Madelyn!!

[madelyn]

I meant to put these in my post but really it's not such a bad idea, is it?

Maybe that should have been the tactic with Secretariat: instead of the BEST mares, use the LEAST mares...

[Jorge]

Are you suggesting this cross?

MIZZEN MAST http://www.pedigreequery.com/mizzen+mast
ZENYATTA http://www.pedigreequery.com/zenyatta