Foundation Herd Starting Conformation Question

Now that conformation has become a factor in horse showing, what is the minimum conformation you guys would choose to have for a foundation herd? I'm already trying to have a maximum of one conformation area relevant to my horses discipline that can be a poor, and a minimum overall of 57.00 but would you guys go higher?

Last edited on 2024-10-05 at 20:31:12 by ℌ𝔢𝔯𝔪𝔢𝔰 𝔖𝔱𝔲𝔡

40 to 60 confo for me, I know people loath lower confo horses, but I love to breed them higher and use them for my project lines to lower higher NSS.

For a couple "main projects" (that I never seem to start) I collected so many foundations that I can start with only 58/59 and 60+ confo's, but on the other hand all my side projects I have lower confos in the mix and actually experience you can breed them up quite quickly.
And also seen 55 confo horses with no poors for their specialty, while a 60 one can have two poors for it, with just the wrong tiers really high.

I just finished breeding a group this morning and sorted the foals, so I have a couple fresh examples:

https://equiverse.com/foals.php?id=1461859
From the pairing with the lowest confo, 52.88, matched with a 59. I was able to keep two foals of 58.57 and 58.97, so practically equal with the highest parent. One more foal was that high (and actually a filly), but picked the two that were also dun ;)

https://equiverse.com/foals.php?id=1461866
A pair with a smaller difference (55.63 x 57.38) actually gave me two foals slightly over the highest with 57.78 and 58.39

https://equiverse.com/foals.php?id=1461745
And lastly a pair quite close together (59.25 x 59.50) and also slightly higher gave me even a nice climbe in confo, kept a 60.31 and a 61.36 foal there ^_^

So I kinda settled for not nescessarily needing only higher confos, as I can match a lower one that has a better nss or fun color, with a higher confo one. And with that I think you can breed out most poors in a generation or two.
Also taking in account that the couple percent of difference it makes, only makes a really big difference in showing once that stats/grades have gotten higher as well.

I usually do not use horses with 2 poors overall and no more than 1 poor in a category related to the chosen discipline. I do not have a minimum for overall confo score. 

You guys have given me some things to think about. Thanks!