"A good sim horse"

[gespenst, FIN (admin)]

The eternal question. What is considered as a good sim horse? Opinions differ, but I'd say that in Finland most people basically appreciate a horse with an interesting pedigree, well written character, lots of good results in shows. Also titles and prizes are appreciated. It's the general thought of a good horse, but everyone still have their own opinions, no doubt about it. There is no wrong answers in this question.

How's this abroad? What are the main points in a horse, so that it can be generally considered as a good one? And what has a horse to be to stay in memories forever as a fabulous sim game horse?

[Pomsie (SWE)]

In Sweden i think the majority of the members think that the pictures is very important when they're buying/creating a horse. I agree on that point, because i like a cute horse x) It's not important the horse got a lot of prizes and titles when i buy it, i want to start competitions with it myself. The pedigree is important, because i do breed and i don't want the pedigree to collide with my other horses. But after all, the pictures do matter the most for me.

[nanni (AT)]

For me, the pictures and the character are the most important things, and I mean the character by itself, not the way how it is written. I also take a good look at the schooling and the potential of the horse; for example, I don't want ten dressage horses at highest level, that becomes boring for story-writing and complicated with showing all of them (in german, most of the competitions have a rule how often you can start in each class) - but of course, that don't make a horse famous.

With german horses, a character which differs a bit from other horses stays in my mind, or a horse with very sweet pictures. When I don't understand the horse's profile, of course, there's just the picture, results of competitions, the pedigree and the offspring left, at which I can look, so these will be the most important thing to make the horse famous.

[Color [SWE]]

For me is the pedigree important. A pure dressage horse with good horses in pedigree that have done good performance in dressage should get good dressage offspring. While a pure dressage horse with partents that havn't perform over LA level can't produce a offspring that are great in Grand Prix. I think something like that.

But. A show jumping horse don't need to be pure show jumping horse. But it should have some names in his/hers pedigree that the horse could get jumping talent from. Dressage are special, not every horse have movements that are needed to reach Grand Prix.

[gespenst, FIN (admin)]

Interesting to hear. In Finland photos are barely ever the crucial reason of a horse being "good", although with a good photo you can get awards for the horse, and awards are appreciated.

What about offspring, how big role does it have?

[Hannah M. (USA)]

My biggest thing on a horse is the pedigree. If I am looking through someone's stable for a stallion to breed to, I look first at the pedigree. It doesn't really matter to me if the pedigree is full of Sim horses or real horses, as long as the pedigree is realistic and has proven horses in it.
Next I would look at show results, I like to see a horse that has been successful for a long time or a horse that has done really, really well in big events. However, if I am buying a horse, usually I want something that has not been shown or raced so I can enter the horse in shows I want them in.
Pictures are nice, but I would rather have a well-bred, well shown horse without a picture than one with an unflattering picture.
I also love detailed commentary and a good foaling record if I am breeding to someone's horse. Same as if I were searching for a stallion in real life.

[myrkradis]

It depend on what I am looking for at that time, but the pictures ar allways what I think of first the first impression witch is very importent. The pedigree is also very importent for me specielly in young horses since they can not have proven them selfs in any other ways. For me the best pedigree is a pedigree full of sim horse names (I do not give much for real life pedigrees in other ways than bringin in new blood lines). That the pedigree should have simhorses that have been judged both based on their own building and potential and also on their offsprings potential. So for a young horse I look at the picture, pedigree and I also allways like a well made horse with a lots of written information.

For a older horse if I am going to use it for breeding then I look again at the pedigree but also at their show results, because I do not like to use a horse with no show background. That the horse have been juged with good potential plus if he/she already has offsprins is a big plus. If I am looking for competion horse these judged potentials are not importent at all, only the show records plus the pedigree. But also and allways the pictures, for me the best ones are that are taken by a person in the sim comuntity, with great quality and a great horse (no old riding school horse or pictures of a horse eating hay in a barn is what I am looking for).

[Tessa {USA}]

I agree with Hannah M on it. I look first at pedigree, then at show record and then, if Im breeding to the horse, the foal record if there is one.

[Jules [USA]]

It depends on what i'm looking at the horse for. If it's for purchase, then I look at it's pictures if it has any, if it's been evaluated either at SISF or here, and the show record. I also take into account the pedigree. I don't want a lot of one sire in my herd, so i pay close attention to pedigree. Also, show experience is a BIG thing for me. I prefer a horse that specializes in just one or maybe two disciplines. And preferably two that are compatible. Western Pleasure and Jumper, as an example are not.

If I am looking to purchase I look at a coule things simultaneously. I look at pedigree and discipline first. Again, I don't want too many ancestors in my herd, and I'm usually looking for specific disciplines/breeds to fill out missing gaps in my show string. A pretty picture always helps, but with a lot of overseas stables they don't allow the picture to go with the horse, so it does't play as big a picture. I also look at basic stats.. I don't want to have a herd full of just bay's, i like having a little diversity in my colors

[chilli [GER]]

For me the pedigree (I like Holsteins, espacialy when they have rare bloodlines in it) and the character are important. Fitting pictures of good quality which complete the "image" of the horse aren't most important but play a part for me.
I mostly breed, so these points are most important to me.

Private horses I write about need a character which fit my personal taste. Same for the used pictures. Showing results or a high potential are nice, but I don't need them.

In Germany competitions aren't as big and often as in other countries, so that showing results aren't that important - for me