Cool Na Grena Sporthorses

08/03/2026

Undaunted!

04/19/2026

can’t wait to see this one out doing big things!

Undaunted SD 480p

03/19/2026

“You can’t ride a pedigree.”

That’s what a few people told me on Threads.

They said breeding from good bloodlines is “just luck”. That thousands of horses are bred every year and none become the next Totilas.

Well … of course they don’t.

The chances of ANY horse, registered or not, becoming a once-in-a-generation horse like Totilas is tiny. That’s why he was extraordinary.

They said an unknown horse out of a kill pen could have Olympic potential.

That idea makes a great headline, but it’s a myth. Because most Olympic horses are identified, registered and traceable. The true rags-to-riches case most people point to is Snowman, the show jumping superstar in the 1950s … but he’s the exception, not the rule.

If pedigree meant nothing, people wouldn’t pay for it. And you wouldn't see it, again and again, in the winner's circle.

Look at the Nutrien Classic Sale, where horses with Hazelwood Conman and Metallic Cat in their pedigrees consistently make top prices. That’s not a coincidence.

Pedigree predicts a lot:
⭐ Suitable discipline
⭐ Risk of genetic disease
⭐ Conformation and movement
⭐ Temperament and trainability
⭐ Soundness, longevity and maturity rate
⭐ Speed, stamina or cow sense
⭐ Fertility and type consistency
⭐ Market value.

Pedigrees reflect genetic inheritance, so dismissing them entirely ignores the biological reality that traits are heritable.

Does pedigree guarantee greatness? No. Because breeding isn’t about certainty. But a pedigree improves the odds of getting the horse you want. Otherwise, you’re just sifting through unknowns and hoping one happens to suit.

For me, a pedigree MUST come with registration papers … because that’s proof. What do you think? Do pedigrees matter to you?

03/12/2026

So true. I love my mares . All at least 50- 100% TB and those that aren’t? Bred to TB sires….

“It’s getting harder and harder to find true five-star horses,” Will Coleman says.

That is a reflection of how the sport, breeding practices, and expectations around performance have changed over time. The modern five-star horse, Coleman argues, is not just talented. It is uniquely built for a job that fewer horses are now bred to do.

Coleman is concerned about the declining percentage of Thoroughbred blood in the modern event horse.

“It’s pretty rare now to see 50 percent blood,” he says.

Historically, blood was non-negotiable. Speed, endurance, and recovery were essential traits, particularly for the demands of cross-country. As breeding trends have shifted, however, the pool of horses with those innate qualities has narrowed.

More riders, Coleman notes, are now sourcing horses from other disciplines, particularly show jumping. While those horses can be incredibly talented, they are not always designed for the physical and mental demands of five-star eventing.

“You’re preparing a horse that maybe wasn’t designed to do it,” he says.

That reality doesn’t make success impossible, but it does change the responsibility placed on the rider and the program.

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2026/03/12/what-makes-a-five-star-horse-today-and-why-theyre-getting-harder-to-find/
📸 © Heather N. Photography