Michael Hernon and Brian Graves of Gainesway Farm

re: Michael Hernon and Brian Graves of Gainesway Farm

Cassandra.Says — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 02:40:59 GMT

Terry:

You are right about the state of the breed, but there is nothing magical about the sire line. It is still possible to put together a broodmare band that has quality outcross blood. An inbred stud can sire an outcross foal.

You can also use your judgement to find those horses who have the name on the page but not in the blood. Inheritance does not proceed on a bell curve; the odds are more like a coin flip. Many of Nasrullah's descendants do not have a single Nasrullah-derived gene. If it doesn't look like Nasrullah, run like Nasrullah, sire like Nasrullah . . .

War Admiral was a Sweep.

re: Michael Hernon and Brian Graves of Gainesway Farm

jim of G — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 04:23:27 GMT

Nasrullah has been dead for over 50 years and you won't find him generally anywhere nearer than 6 generations ago. I think Tapit, for example, shows no one need fear the influence of Nasrullah. If you wanted to bring in fresh blood do it like it was originally done and open "the book" to outside mares. How about some good 1/2 thoroughbred quarter horses for starters? One of my children gave me a calendar with photographs of all kinds of horses and the one I've not discarded is Feb 28th described as "an Arabian-Andalusian mare" She looks like George Stubbs invented her

re: Michael Hernon and Brian Graves of Gainesway Farm

Terry M. — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:25:22 GMT

Interesting podcast. But I am disappointed they did not address the issue of inbreeding and the desperate need for new bloodlines that don't carry Nasrullah multiple times. They did mention the recent acquisition of Hat Trick, but didn't talk about what an amazing outcross he is.

Hat Trick has no crosses to Nearctic, Native Dancer or Bold Ruler. He has the really old bloodlines that seem to have fallen out of fashion in North America and Europe. More stallions like him are badly needed.