What makes a great horse

If we all knew, wouldn't it be easy !!

Over the years I have raised, prepared, sold and ridden some great horses.

Saleous, Kings High, Almurtajaz, Scarlet Bisque, Grandiose, Flotilla ,Savanah City, Accomplise, Sydneys Dream, Dane Ripper, Nunkalowe, Pelican Point, Flying Luskin and Gallieni etc (also view our Honour Roll)

Everyone of the above was different - big, small, strong, lean, tough, quiet, colts, geldings, fillies and mares.

What made them all group winners? Here is how I would describe the above .

The folowing yearlings I had under my care, as yearling manager at Widden Stud .

Saleous : I had her from a weanling through to a late yearling . Nearly died twice from a blocked colon - in the end, surgery was done to bypass the colon. She was a big scopy filly, huge shoulder and girth, correct confirmation, very relaxed attitude until stirred up. She would then fight against you tooth and nail. Huge walker.

Verdict : She gave me the indication she would be very good. She should have died but she had a huge heart .

Accomplise : We only had him for the sale preparation. Very nice colt. Very strong, deep shoulder, good girth and huge hindquarter, good confirmation. Medium walk and was a medium mover in the paddock.

Verdict : Nice colt and very popular at the sales. I liked him a lot  but didnt think he would be a Gr1 winner. Very well bred.

Dane Ripper : Raised at Widden to mid yearling stage. Big strong, great shoulder and girth, very good hind quarter, good gaskins and fore arms. She looked like a colt. Offset in both knees slightly, rotated in on both fronts. We worked quite a lot with her confirmation as a weanling. Great walk

Verdict : Yes, did think she would be a Gr1 winner. She had something about her .

Sydneys Dream : (dam of Charge Forward) raised and sold at Easter sale. Small to medium size. Very powerful compact type, great shoulder and girth. Good hind quarter and pretty head. Had small boxy feet. Had ring bone on the off hind pastern. Very good family. Had a great temperment. Super quiet like a kid's pony. Huge walk

Verdict : Really liked her but maybe she was just to pretty . Didn't like her small feet either. No, didn't think she would be a Gr1 winner .

Horses raised by the Irwins family :

Kings High : Medium plain looking colt. Good shoulder and medium girth. Great hind quarter and gaskins/forearms. Huge walk - would over reach 24 inches. Tough as nails but very relaxed. Unbeliveable eater . Confirmation: down of pasterns and slightly rotated in. Dinner plate feet .

Verdict : Yes, was everyone's pick, walk and tempermant. I will never ever forget, Colin Hayes gave me a wink and said "Put him away, son". He saw enough in 10 seconds to tell him what he had. My father said he was the closest yearling he had to match Taj Rossi. I went and worked after we sold him  at Lindsay Park. Went super as a ride, moved very low to the ground.

Flotilla : Big, tall, scopey and long barrelled. Muscler type. Round powerful shoulder, lacked girth. Very tough. Correct confirmation. Was very highly strung if stired up. Small boxy feet. Bad walker -  jigged and jogged all the time.

Verdict : Yes, would be a Gr1 winner if his temperament didn't go against him .

Flying Luskin : Big scopey, athletic type. Beautiful colt. Correct in front and cow hocked behind. Medium walker, great mover in the paddock. I remember one day his paddock of eight colts were galloping. He put 10 lenghts on them in about 5 strides .

Verdict : Yes, did think he would be super up to a mile. Won the Auckland cup 3200m. By Luskin Star from a half sister to Tobin Bronze .

Horses I rode at Lindsay Park :

Grandiose : Medium to big. Athletic, muscler, medium shoulder and girth, nice well balanced horse. Tempermant: No confidence at all. Colin Hayes told me to be patient with him, try to get his confidence, because he can really run.

Verdict : Was a nice horse to look at. I thought he would be too weak to win anything speacial . It shows, in the right enviroment, a true horseman can make a big difference.

Almurtajaz : (rode as breaker ) Big and scopey. Beautiful horse but a real pig of a temperament - pushy and terrible to ride most of the time, but when he wanted to he could be unbelievable. He was like riding a Rolls Royce when it suited him .

Verdict : Yes. Had the pedigree and the looks. Was tough and arrogant enough, he knew he was good .

My Opinion :

Trainers : They are the most important person to help you to get a great horse. They get a gut feeling at the sales when they inspect yearlings. That is why  they keep going back to relook over and over. A good trainer can make an average horse a good horse. That is why when they get a good or very good horse, they can take it that extra step. A good horseperson is born with that gift just like a tennis player.

Trackwork rider / Strapper : They are the trainers' eyes and ears. Good trainers always have good/great staff .

The Farm Owner / Manager : A lot of trainers/agents take into account the knowledge and the reputation of the horse person in charge of the farms . They know more about the horse than you can find out. In the 2 minutes you have inspected that yearling at the sales. Combine your knowledge about the yearlings you like, you will find out more about the horse you are considering purchasing .

Breeding : More so these days, breeding is a key factor. The better bloodlines win more than non commercial bloodlines. But type can beat pedigree. You can have the best bloodlines and a bloody slow horse .

Every good horse I have been in contact with was different. Everyone has there own ingredients that makes the perfect horse for them That is why we still always seem to find a buyer for every horse .

There have been a lot of trainers/agents who could have trained some truly great horses. There are many so called great judges out there - if you gave the good trainers/agents a open cheque book, you would really see some different results.

If we all knew what made a "great" horse, it wouldn't be a challenge !!

(If you think you know what makes a great horse, I would love to hear and would be happy to add your opinion)