Most disappointing crosses.

What do you guys think are some of the most disappointing/worst breed crosses?

I was just watching some videos of Georgian Grandes (Saddlebred x Friesian/Drafts) and while a lot of them are very tall and colorful, frankly none of them impressed me. For a Friesian x Saddlebred I would expect a lot more movement and presence. Don't get me wrong, they look like nice riding horses... but nothing special.

Ironically, the same cross comes to mind for me. The proportions just don't look right. I also am not to fond of a lot of Arabian draft crosses.

A lot of them looks kinda gangly, they get the thin saddlebred neck but the long friesian head. On the other hand though, I do tend to like Friesian x Morgan crosses. They've got more substance and seem better proportioned.

like this guy, he's handsome.

I like gypsy shetland crosses. They look like giant ponies with flowing manes and tales, it's great.



Last edited on 2017-02-02 at 09:12:23 by SilverWolves

Morgans tend to cross nicely with draft horses. I know a few people who have some nice Morgan x Percheron horses. They make great driving horses for multiple purposes. Not as heavy as a Percheron but with more size and pulling power than the Morgan on it's own.

Personally, I don't think Friesians cross nicely with other breeds. They can, but not often do I see it. That's just me though :p

Yeah, most Friesian crosses are not particularly good (at least, not consistently good). Which is unfortunate 'cause Friesians are one breed that really needs more genetic diversity.

Arabian x Paso Fino is something I've come across a few times, and I just don't like them. I've met five or so of them, and all except one were poorly built. Their personalities can be a little spirited and hot, as well depending on the horse.

Andalusian x TWH is also not one of my favorites. Well, really most TWH crosses I'm not fond of. Such as the Arab x TWH. Walkaloosas can be pretty most of the time, though I have come across a few that are kind of meh.

TWH x Friesian. I really just couldn't get past "What did you hope to gain?" One breed is selectively bred for a huge trot, the other to not trot at all??? The stallion was built mostly like a Friesian, big, black, had the huge wavy hair, but he just couldn't figure out what to do with his legs, he didn't consistently gait, but he didn't have a nice trot either.

I have seen two amazing Arab x Friesian crosses, just stunning horses, and another that was not quite as striking in appearance, but a total powerhouse in the driving ring - he was up for USEF horse of the year for 2016.

There is an Arabian/Shire at my barn. Honestly he is adorable, but extremely awkward. Shire feet, Shire head (complete with black coat and blaze) but Arabian body. A little heavier boned but a petite horse with a huge head and hooves.

I have seen Fresians cross okay with tbs or other baroque horses. The tb crosses are interesting though because they lose some of the sportiness of the thoroughbred side but often don't look fresian in appearance. Not sure what is being gained in those cases.

I absolutely LOVE Irish Draught x Warmblood/TB aka Irish Sporthorse. They are thick but proportioned amazingly if bred correctly.

I've seen some wonky Arab Draft crosses that have the draft body and Arab legs and head. Same with some Quater Horse Draft crosses. They've all been unproportionate and weird looking.

So I found this guy. He is an Arabian and Gypsy cross.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgXrl1ZB0q4

I know a few Friesian crosses, one being a Friesian x Cob. The beauty of a Friesian and the jumping ability of a Cob! She was a lovely mare and was a piebald. Fabulous jumping ability. Honestly, I'm surprised they aren't more popular. I also know of a Trakehner x Friesian, who was used a hunter and was quite good at it.
Some draft x light breed horses look quite awkward and weird, and I'm not keen on them.

I don't like crossing a gaited horse with a non-gaited horse.

I own a part trotter, he's actually quite nicely built and is quite pretty, but he cannot canter properly as he has the trotter canter. that said, he's of unknown breeding but I've been told he looks like he has friesian, welsh cob and trotter in him. the trotter isn't from a french trotter either, but from the traveller/road racing trotters too. awful idea to cross non-gaited horses with gaited ones as often they are unable to find a proper gait (I know someone else with a pacer/standarbred and whilst he can't canter, his standarbred canter is still more 'normal' looking than my canter because mine isn't even typical for a trotter/pacer canter) 

ISH's are actually a TBxID or ISHxISH, not an IDxwarmblood. I've seen some TBxConnies marketed as ISH's as well, but they're not. I do quite like TBxConnemara as well and have known some that have the TB's athleticism and the Connemara adds a bit of bone to them (as well as the Connemara athleticism too), and others that look more TB. ConnemaraxISH I also like too. I have also seen some really, really awkward looking ISH's too that have TB bodies and ID heads or TB legs and ID bodies. That said, Irish Draughts aren't really heavy draughts and are actually quite pretty themselves, a lot of pure ID's are actually quite sporty and are able to compete around 1m20 and 1m30 themselves, and I like the ID temperament too as they're usually quite nice to deal with on the ground at least lol haven't come across any IDxConnemara yet, but not sure if that one would work. 

I'm not really a fan of Friesian crosses either, as I think they usually end up getting the worst parts of Friesians and look odd. If you want something similar to a mini-Friesian, just get a Welsh Cob :P

i know it's not a confo shot, but this is my boy here