I know that you are rather stringent in your breeding program, but at what point do you forgive or try to improve upon something conformationally in a breeding horse? Just for example... a little thicker neck or slightly longer loin attachment... something along those lines? What kind of pedigree does this type of horse have to have to back it up?

And on the flip side of the coin, when do you forgive pedigree for a phenotypically stellar horse? How much of it's pedigree can be unknown or 'off'?

I have a difficult time analyzing pedigrees. I recognize names and look up performance records, but have trouble putting together what bloodline should cross with what, and where... and why. lol I am much better at recognizing quality and conformation. Perhaps if these horses were 'a little closer to home', such as horses I know (of), it wouldn't seem so hard?


Or, maybe I should get some sleep and try starting in on thread 3. :)