Pedigree Query

When looking for a stallion which is more important?
Racing ability or dosage index? Which is more important?

1. Physical Conformation
2. Physical match
3. Racing ability
4. Racing durability - I like to see more than a few starts and some over a distance of ground

I never gave earnings a thought. I'm a strong proponent that there should be similar conformation. You don't breed large to small and get medium so by breeding similar you tend to get those results. The size (height) does vary but the rest tends to be true.

ETA - I never paid attention to dosage either.

Hey Tappiano very good points. That's what I like about this list.....it makes
you stop and look. It is interesting how we all have methods but are willing to share
those ideas. Thanks

For the commercial market my list goes like below. However, the mating must fulfill all of these, so it's not really in order of importance, to me these are nonnegotiables, but more the order that I use to start narrowing my choices. I'm not going to take the time to revisit a horse that I can eliminate right from the start based on commercial bias or that I hated on first round physical.

1. Race and / or produce record. Does the market even care about this horse?
2. My mare's family has a history of success with this stallion or his lines
3. Physical. I look for a horse that has the ability to improve any weak areas in my mare's conformation. With a newer sire I try to consider not just the horse in front of me, but if the horse's sire is known for throwing certain traits I might want to avoid.

Dosage plays no part in my criteria. I try to keep things straight forward with what the market likes: history of success, top notch physical specimen.

Its always cool hearing how other people think about and develop their mating plans. It's an area that I feel if you ask 20 different breeders their method, you'll get 21 different answers.

Very good points CherryDavis. I am like you when you ask
you get many different opinions but I find all of them fascinating
and learn something new. Thanks