Pedigree Query

hi guys

Recently the question was raised...Why is Nureyev any better than Nijinsky?

He may or may not be...certainly that's a topic open for discussion.

But when considering both Nureyev and Nijinsky, memories of the two champion sons of Northern Dancer seemed to generate some word associations that might (to some extent) describe the two...


Nureyev...beautiful------Nijinsky...rugged

Nureyev...Aston Martin------Nijinsky...Escalade

Nureyev...James Bond-------Nijinsky...Dirty Harry


Both wonderful horses...but I suggest extremely different physical types.

Thoughts?

Respectfully

For photographic reference:

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/isd/cl ... nskyii.pdf

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/isd/cl ... ureyev.pdf

Nijinsky looks like a warmblood in that picture.

Boy can I see my mare, Miss Ballet as the granddaughter of Nijinsky that she is, but she is 16.3 and probably 1350 lbs...anyone know how big Nijinsky was?

Hi Madelyn,

I had a chance to speak with Nijinsky shortly before his death in 1992. I arrived at Claiburne farm and went directly to his stall with two quartered raw sweet potatoes and a La Gloria Cubaña, Gloria Extra, a cigar I knew to be one of the champs’ favorites.

I knocked softly at the stall door, “Champ?” I asked quietly.

Nijinsky turned and cocked his head to the side then quickly moved to the stall door with a single fluid stride.

“Hey buddy! How ya been?”, he flashed a set of gleaming teeth. “Those for me?” He saw the potatoes but was looking at the cigar.

Nijinsky giggled and then gobbled up the potatoes.

“Thanks for rememberin’, I hate the potatoes but at my age you gotta have ruffage. Since prunes is the alternative, I’ll eat the spuds.”

I attached a shank and lead the champion out of his stall. I unwrapped the La Gloria and slipped it into his mouth.

“Thank’s kid”, he craned his neck towards me waiting for a light.

I struck the red tip against the striker, cupped the igniting match in my hands and settled it under the end of the cigar. Nijinsky skillfully rolled the cigar in his mouth, drawing in his breath slowly until the tip was a golden glow.

We spoke of many things including his great disappointment in how horse years are calculated, “Makes me old before my time” he complained.

He still liked to remember that I hadn’t bet on him in the St. Leger Stakes. “What a dumbell move that was!”, he chuckled and as always I could offer nothing more than a sheepish grin.

I asked him about his health and weight and he rolled his eyes, drew softly on the cigar and said,

“Some things ya just don’t need to talk about, eh kid?”

“Well you’ve always been a big guy, you should carry weight, look at your frame. What are you, sixteen-two?” , I knew that he was listed in the Stallion Register at that height.

Nijinsky looked at me thoughtfully, “There are horses that’re sixteen-two and then there are horses that are sixteen-two if ya get my meanin?”, the big horse winked at me. “Take that pansy, what’s his name, Nureeve or Nur…whatever, he was a runt, what, fifteen-three, tops, and no one ever thought he would like girls anyway.”

“Nureyev?”, I asked as if I was reminding myself as well as the champ, “You mean Nureyev? He’s technically your half brother you know.” I said it factually, for it was true that they shared the same father. “Champ, you and Nureyev are both SPECIAL, as runners, sires and horses!”

Nijinsky burst into laughter and began casting about frantically. I feared he wouldn't be able to catch his breath and worse, he might choke on his cigar, but even in the midst of his convulsive laughter he pointed a hock towards his stall door that had swung shut. On it were a series of photos, some larger than others and all at least a bit worn; Green Dancer, Royal Academy, Baldski, Strawberry Road, Ferdinand, Dancing Spree and a yellowing newspaper article about the champ himself and how he won the triple crown.

“I ain’t SPECIAL”, he neighed at me as I left. “Sure you’re not”, I thought to myself.

hi madelyn

I never put a stick on Nijinsky II...but I would guess he was in the solid 16-2 maybe 16-3+- range. It wouldn't surprise me if some might say 17HH.

I would suggest that the first impression when setting eyes on Nijinsky II related to his impressive size, ruggedly-coarse and powerful structure and physique, and masculine looks. When I last saw him he had significant filling in both hind legs from the hocks thru his ankles and pasterns. I don't recall if it was a circulatory issue...or what.

He was a lotta horse with good bone and a look of eagles...and had an aura about him. Quite a horse.

Best to you.

Respectfully

Well thanks to all! Pete you should write stories! She sounds more like him than ever, haughty, impatient, difficult, and yes, the look of eagles. I will try to post a picture of her on her pedigree here in a couple of days. And her catalog page has been improving a lot lately.

Great story, Pete.

Hi Henthorn,

Lovely baby you have there.

I'm must be too cynical, I'm selling most of my kids in August.


Pete

wonderful thread everybody, wonderful read - thanks!

Interesting that though Nijinsky was so much taller than Northern Dancer, his build is not dissimilar - at least in this one photo. You can really see the ND around slightly sickle but very strongly made hocks, especially.

I never noticed it before, but there is a lot of Bull Lea about Nijinsky, esp. around the front end.

Bull Lea may well have been the source of Nijinsky's sickle hocks, too.

I came across this discussion and had to add my piece!

Nijinsky is the perfect specimen of what a thoroughbred should be. He is what every breeder should be attaining and striving for.

He was by far, the best of any ND produce, and something unlike any other ND son. Great horses should stand out, and he sure did stand out.

Nijinsky was named after another talented individaul Vaslav Nijinsky. Maybe it was density for him to be great!

(don't worry Nureyev is also great, just as great!)

Nijinksy obviously took after his dam's side of the family.

He had lymphangitis. I'm not sure if he had a continuing infection or if infections damaged the lymphatic system in his hind leg (s) but he was unable to move the fluids back up the leg and they oozed out into the skin. (think it is lymphedema or something like that if the infection is gone) It was one leg mainly, the other probably filled from being kept up and supporting more weight. I guess after a few years of that he got laminitis too and that did him in.

hi summerhorse...hi UK Breeder (19)

Thanks for your insights re: Nijinsky II...and (summerhorse) for your description of his leg condition as lymphangitis.

If I can take it one step further, it looked nasty...

...regardless, Nijinsky II was a very impressive individual (to say the least) in a ruggedly-coarse and classic sense...

...and UK Breeder (19), I agree with your comment "...he sure did stand out."

Respectfully

Dew Poisoning - he had whites behind and white pasterns are prone to it. That is how it appeared and how it was described by his groom. I am not sure if lymphangitis is the official term or just a related condition, or perhaps he had a combination of the two.

And as Pete relates, he was all of 16.2.....and Nureyev did not reach 15.3, at best he was 15.2!