This n that about inspections

A few interesting points from:  Warmbloods Today Jan/Feb 2011.  “Refining the Trakehner” by Stephanie J. Corum using my notes

In 1920, 61% of the entire Trakehner broodmare herd was Thoroughbred offspring which resulted in a ‘refined, noble horse, which in type and frame was hardly distinguishable from the thoroughbred.”

Studies in the early 1900s showed that the addition of Thoroughbred blood resulted in:

               Reduction of bone

               Reduction of depth of girth

               Reduction of girth circumference

               Reduction in body weight

After World War II the influence of the Thoroughbred declined. Instead, breeders gravitated toward  producing a heavier, stronger pulling and riding horse. While breeders still appreciated the nerve, nobility and athleticism of the Thoroughbred, they did not want the temperament faults associated with them.

Gustav Rau – Oberlandstall meister of Prussia (Horse Breeding Director – Trakehner). Rau developed and implemented modern warmblood protocols. “I am not interested in picking flaws. I am interested in picking horses.” Three things he felt were truly problematic:  Disproportionality, downhill build and weediness (lack of bone substance).  Looked for overall rectangular body outlines and smooth, broad & deep loin coupling.

I am not really into the rectangular frame.  I much prefer a squarer frame

This was on the same notes but I didn’t write down who ‘she’ was.   Probably one of my most favorite quotes about horses.  “Running the equation backward” by which she means ‘a common problem that arises when numbers begin to be more important than horses.”