Friday, February 12, 2010

Re: [haflingerfriends] chocolate Haffie

Personally - as just a general horse owner - conformation rates way higher than any color impurities.

How many dark hairs in the mane? Just a few or a bunch? Unfortunately the smutty/sooty gene that creates the darker chocolate haflingers is not limited to just the body and is most likely what is causing the dark hairs in the mane. However, even my non-chocolate (one registered, one grade) have a few darker strands in their tails. Not many, but if you are brushing them, you see them.

Here is what the standard says:
"Color impurities in the mane and tail are undesirable and excessive
deviation from white or flaxen will be judged as negative and strongly
discouraged for breeding animals."

What is "excessive" and are hers excessive? I don't know - excessive seems to be such a vague term and I haven't seen any photos of her. Maybe a few of the breeders will be able to jump on here and give you a better idea.

As to the leg markings - it sounds like she only has one, correct? While leg markings are not desirable - one leg marking is not penalized.
"Leg markings are not desirable: One white leg will not be penalized,
two white legs will result in a one point deduction, three white legs
will result in a two point deduction, and horses with four white legs
or white above the knees or hocks will be strongly discouraged from
breeding."

I think if you like her and she has good conformation and even breeding her at this point is a "maybe" at best - I wouldn't turn her down just because of the few things you describe. Now if you were buying her with the intent of using her as a broodmare as one of her main "jobs" then those things may weigh heavier.

Jessie in KY

www.jessicahaviland.com


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