Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Bloodlines (or the lack there of)

For the most part I am not obsessed with bloodlines of horses.  I like to know yes, and whenever I get a new horse I go to allbreedpedigree.com and learn about the horse I have just purchased.

Two of my horses are Colonel Freckles bred.  Sassy is even doubled up. Melody has a whole slew of gorgeous appys and thoroughbreds in her pedigree.  

Then there is Trax.

As some of you know I have traced back his ownership as far as I can go trying to find out his breeding, if there were ever any papers, or if either of his parents were registered.  I got as far as the auction and the name of the folks who took him there, and I even sent them a letter with a picture asking about him, but never got a response.  For all I know they never got it.

Since I cannot find out much about his breeding other than what he looks like I am just slightly obsessed with horses that resemble him.  It is to the point now that TC teases me a lot.  When ever we see a paint horse he says, "Oh look, it's Trax's brother."

Some of you may follow the blog "One old Cowgirls view"  and she has her horse Pic, who reminds me much of Trax.  They share a couple of distinct characteristics. Those are; a long nose, short neck, and short coupled body, not to mention the Tovero markings.  AND, they have very similar personalities.  Her horse Pic originated from South Dakota.  (which happens to be just a hop, skip and a jump away from Northern WY where Trax is from)

Still that does not mean they actually are related, but it does lead one to wonder if there are not some similar blood lines in there somewhere.

I'm constantly looking for that one horse who put his stamp on his offspring.  The ones like Pic and Trax, and some others that I have seen. (all of whom hail from the same geographical location)

Sure I'm probably grasping at straws.

Its probably just a grade horse thing...they way the look I mean.

Its silly of me to keep wondering what his breeding is...isn't it?

Then today I ran across this.


TC says I'm crazy.  He says that horse looks like any horse in the world.  " A horse is a horse is horse, it doesn't matter what their bloodlines are."

To me, I look at that horse and I see the same long nose (one cowboy said that if Trax got a drink out of the bottom of a 55 gal drum, he could still see out the top while he was drinking.) short neck, short coupled body....and of course then there is that whole "buck like you mean it" thing going on in this picture.  Yeah, my horse does that.

This picture was taken in 1948....in Montana.

Yeah, okay.  I get it.  I'm grasping at straws.  He may not look exactly like my horse, but he does look similar to him.  And yes I know that I will never know his bloodlines, and he is a gelding and it doesn't matter.  He is who he is, and that is all I need.  But sometimes its kind of fun to imagine him coming from some great bucker, or some special rodeo horse, or maybe his sire was just some cowboys best friend.

A best friend with an attitude that only the right person could understand.


5 comments:

  1. I totally get it. I've looked through mustang pictures to try and find a hint of a picture of pony in the days before I knew her!!

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  2. That's why it always bugs me when people don't register horses that are eligible to be registered. I think bloodlines are important- there are characteristics that are genetically passed on, and abilities that are passed on. Just because a colt is destined to be a gelding doesn't mean his bloodlines aren't important to someone.

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  3. I am with Shirley, if the horse is eligible for papers do it, for the reasons you say(knowing a little about the horses history and possible temperament issues) but also genetic issues good and bad that would serve you to know

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  4. I think papers help keep horses safe, since so many people like to "know what they're getting" but in the end, a horse is a horse!

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  5. While it's nice to have papers to give you an idea of the horses genetic background, they give you no clue as to the training or life experiences the horse has been thru, unless they have been show or won money... In the end it's like they say, You can't ride the papers.

    The best way to help 'keep your horse safe' is to train them and give them a job. If they are safe to be around and good at what they do, others would want them and scoop them up in a heartbeat if you ever need to let them go. Kat doesn't have papers and his background is questionable at best. I love him though and he's probably 'safer' to place than my two mares.

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