VIEWPOINT

getting better and better. Good moving horses are the products of good fami- Breeding for pleasure lies and are not just occasional freaks to be stumbled upon any more.

Breeders of pleasure horses discuss the qualities “Just as important as breeding is training the well-bred two- they strive for in their breeding program and why year-old so that he does what they believe today’s pleasure horses are improving comes naturally.” BRAD & KELLI MCCAMY, McCamy Quarter Horses, Lucas, “I believe that genetics play a bigger role in a pleasure horse’s suc- Texas cess than the trainer does.” The major quality that we breed for is DAN MCWHIRTER, Dan McWhirter Quarter Horses, Doniphan, Nebraska conformation. These days, you have to have pretty. And the more conforma- tionally correct a horse is, the prettier it The Quarter Horse industry is dramati- physically be forced to do it well will be and the better move it will be. cally becoming more and more special- enough to beat those horses that are We also breed for disposition, ized. Competition has gotten so keen, naturally meant to. From my point of movement and tail set/carriage. If you that each segment of the industry is view as a breeder, I believe that genet- breed for tail set/carriage and make that breeding more and more within its own ics play a bigger role in a pleasure just as important as breeding for proven bloodlines resulting in very horse's success than the trainer does. straight legs, then maybe tail altering specialized physical types within the As an AQHA judge and national will not be an issue. If you breed two breed. These horses are being bred with director, I am acutely aware of how the horses with these good qualities, genet- lots of natural talent which predisposes pleasure horse industry's image has ics tell us that we will be improving the them to excel in their given arenas - be suffered. I attribute much of this to lack breed. This is what the industry has it halter, cutting, reining, racing, hunter of knowledge. Many people just don't done and will continue to do. under saddle or western pleasure. understand that there is specific criteria What we do not want to do is take At Dan McWhirter Quarter to what makes a "good mover." Many a mare that would not or could not be a Horses, we too have become very spe- critics can't recognize the form to func- pleasure horse (for whatever reason) cialized. The entire focus of our breed- tion qualities of, for example: a strong, and try to raise a pleasure horse out of ing business is to produce pretty, natu- efficient driving hock; a flat knee; ca- her. If she is not a good individual, ral moving, athletic prospects for the denced clean rhythm to the gaits; fluid chances are she will not produce good pleasure horse industry. We have tried length of stride with natural suspension individuals. You have to breed to a to model our business after the blue at the lope; a level neck that doesn't good stallion with the qualities men- grass Thoroughbred farms. Like the bob because the horse is strong and tioned, but you must breed a mare with Thoroughbred breeders, our goal is to balanced; etc. When I judge a pleasure good qualities also. produce a very high quality product class, I start at the ground with the Over the years, we have done this, and market those top horses as year- horse's movement and then work my therefore improving our breed. But, lings, either privately or at the fall way up, not at the horse's head position just as important as breeding, is train- sales. and work my way down. Somehow, the ing the well-bred two-year-old so that pleasure horse industry, perhaps in he does what comes natural! The philosophy of our breeding conjunction with the AQHA, needs to program, which we follow closely, is to develop positive criteria to specifically “Breeders have a moral re- breed form to function. Bone structure define what good movement is so that and natural balance are the basis for sponsibility to the industry to there can be more appreciation for outstanding pleasure horse movement strive to produce exactly what these talented, natural moving horses and these characteristics are highly the judges are requested to inheritable. Basically, the four primary and less criticism. qualities we are breeding for are: bal- In my opinion, today's pleasure place.” ance, movement, disposition, and at- horse breeders are making a significant MARK GRICE, Kilmanagh Valley tractiveness. We feel strongly that a contribution to the improvement of the Farms, Ontario, Canada pleasure horse should be a good breed. We are producing pretty moving enough mover naturally, that a trainer athletes with so much natural ability I feel that breeders have a moral re- shouldn't have to try to change him. He that it is easy for them to do their job. sponsibility to the industry to strive to should only have to school what is al- The future looks bright in the pleasure produce exactly what the judges are ready there. A horse that's not naturally horse business as the consistent quality requested to place. This means that we meant to jog and lope slowly can't of the horse we are producing keeps need to breed horses that naturally have

8 FEBRUARY 1992 EASTERN/WESTERN the correct conformation and move- develop the required locomotion. We of our breed. The horse of the 50s ment to be representative of the Quarter want a performer with ring presence, a could walk, trot and lope the same as horse. natural fluid movement at all gaits the today, but the enhancement of the With the competitive pleasure pleasure class might require, and a will- breed through increased selectivity in horse market being what it is, the pub- ing animal with an attitude of wanting sires and dams over the past years, and lic is becoming much more educated to please and work as a partner with the hopefully into the future, has been out- about good movement and the confor- trainer and/or rider. standing. We hope we have contrib- mation which produces it. You hear It is our opinion that the breeding uted to this through our breeding pro- less talk about forearm circumference track we have taken is helping in a gram which is geared to our desire to and more talk about a strong top line small way to return the Quarter Horse produce and train a more natural, and deep hock movement. to his previous position of an all- graceful animal that is a “pleasure” to From an economic standpoint, it around using horse, but on a much own, watch and ride. makes good sense to breed what the higher plane than in the earlier history majority of buyers want. In my case I seem to get the highest demand, and therefore the most money for, tall, “The beauty of breeding pleasure horses is that they can be enjoyed dark-colored horses with the capability to go in both English and western by everyone from the youngest 4-H exhibitor to the strongest pro- events. With the stallion, Tresrullah, I fessional competitor.” feel we have the size, movement, color and disposition that the end user—the ANN PERRY, Bob Perry Quarter Horses, Valley View, Texas youth and amateur market, is looking for. We strive to raise all around athletic and trainers the potential to recover horses that also have the potential to more money than ever before for their “Our desire (is) to produce and make top caliber pleasure horses. It is labors. Is the reason for racing, cutting train a more natural, graceful of great economic importance to own- or reining horses to win money any animal that is a pleasure to ers as well as breeders that the horses different than showing pleasure horses specifically bred for pleasure can also for futurity purses? own, watch and ride.” be capable of performing in several KEN MUNSON, Deer Oaks Quarter The beauty of breeding pleasure other events. This is not necessarily horses is that they can be enjoyed by Horses, Bath, Michigan the case in some of the other special- everyone from the youngest 4-H ex- ized breeding programs such as halter hibitor to the strongest professional Our opinion regarding the recent devel- and racing. competitor. It would be interesting to opment and perpetuation of the pleas- We are proud of the fact our Zippo see a breakdown on AQHA breeding ure horse is most strongly shown by bloodlines promote the qualities that statistics between race, cutting, halter, our choice of Mito Cierra (as a two make pretty movers with good confor- pleasure and all others to compare month old weanling) to place our faith mation and great dispositions. Pleasure which area is most popular among in, both as a future performer and as a horses are not perpetuating negative breeders. If I’m not mistaken, western sire. We did this on the basis of our qualities, but in fact have made many pleasure is still the most popular class wish to put forth in the Quarter Horse owners much more aware that all mares among youth, amateur and open exhibi- world, a stallion that was not limited to aren’t necessarily broodmares candi- tors as well as many owners. Junior, a specific area of expertise, but was dates. senior and amateur western pleasure capable of being a great all-around require the most AQHA points to qual- athlete that would sire all-around ath- The rising costs of raising, keeping ify for the World Show. letes. Mito Cierra’s bloodlines (Mito and showing horses are another reason Commander x Fancy Laces by Ole many mare owners choose to breed for Thanks to Easter/Western for con- Man) gave us the genes we thought competitive pleasure horses. Many sidering the breeders an important would produce the type of athlete we shows large and small have instituted voice on pleasure horses. ◄ had in mind. Mito Cierra’s perform- futurity programs which give owners ance record (Superior Western pleasure in eight weeks as a two year old; Con- gress Versatility Champion in 1985, A “difference in opinion” can be healthy in any industry. This column is not in- etc.) and his siring ability (numerous tended for the purpose of implying that any particular point of view is either right or performance Superior get and Con- wrong. Eastern/Western appreciates the contributions of those who have put their gress Versatility Champion in 1990, thoughts into words and are willing to share them with our readers. etc.), have substantiated our belief in his ability to sire into the Quarter Horse industry: “the athlete.” We always strive to breed mares and produce get that are pretty-headed with a nice neck and a medium to short back with enough power in the rear to

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