Question: Which American Thoroughbred(s) of today might replicate the influence of Cottage Son?
In addition to outstanding jumping ability, Cottage Son endowed his offspring with superior stamina. Although his individual talents were undiscovered due to an injury sustained in his very first race, he was a successful steeplechase and eventing influence. But this alone was not enough to thrust him into the Internationally renowned company of Furioso and Rantzau...
During the 1950's, in the Holstein region of Germany, Sport Horse breeding experts turned to the Thoroughbred. Although Cottage Son did not meet any of the racing criteria, nor did he meet any of the German qualifications, they quickly discovered that the influence of Cottage Son combined with the horses of that region was simply remarkable.
Cottage Son was born in 1944. He was a descendant of the great Bay Ronald on his sire’s side, and on his dam’s side, descended from the great steeplechase sire, Cottage. Cottage Son, a brown horse, standing16.3 hands high, produced 14 stallion sons and 42 approved daughters, in Dressage, Showjumping, and Eventing. As a broodmare sire, Cottage Son was a sensation, siring the dams of two of the all time greats of modern jumping, Lord and Ramiro. His son Consul was the sire of the World Champion Dressage horse Granat. His great grandson, Capitol, would secure his place in breeding history. His influence on the modern Showjumper is nothing short of legendary.
Nine of the thirteen medalists at the 2006 World Showjumping Championships that took place at Aachen, were direct descendants of the Thoroughbred, Cottage Son.
It is an amazing thing, to watch a horse take flight, whether it is galloping at top speed, jumping a 5 foot oxer, or measuring the moments of suspension between the floating strides of the trot. Horses that perform difficult feats with ease, inspire us, and thrill us. Few horses can compete at World Class levels for extended periods of time, and fewer still may earn their place as a famous progenitor of this calibre. To his credit, Cottage Son remains a potent influence in the arena of World Class Equine Athletes.
Answer: Four American Thoroughbred stallions of distinction fit this particular bill in more recent times: they are Northern Dancer, Dynaformer, Secretariat, and Seattle Slew.
*Northern Dancer has topped the list of steeplechase sires and grandsires for several decades. In fact, his influence is felt more than four decades later.
*Dynaformer, the incredible sire of the famous KY Derby winner 'Barbaro', also sired McDynamo, a World Class steeplechase horse, who topped the earnings list for several years. Dynaformer, like Cottage Son, imparts incredible talent, along with size and stamina.
*The incredible Triple Crown winner of 1973, Secretariat, stood at 16.2 hands high, and sired many, many Hunter/Jumper sires including Innkeeper, and Watermark. His daughters are renowned for producing elite racehorses, and his legacy is cemented in history through them. Secretariat has stamped his sons and daughters with his trademark movement: a huge gallop and an outstanding, floating trot. He stamps his get with jumping ability, substance and exceptional stamina.
*Seattle Slew, was the Triple Crown winner of 1977. Since he was retired to the breeding shed, he has been a phenomenal producer of stallion sons both in the racing and sport horse industry, particularly in eventing. He has produced some very large horses {17hh+}, with exceptional bone and substance. His daughters have produced a long list of very athletic, and powerful horses. |
