Breeding Program
Two programs, each with its own purpose
Rolling Sunset is developing a Thoroughbred program and an American Quarter Horse program. Each will be guided by its own objectives, evaluated on its own terms and built patiently over time.
Program one
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a lean, athletic breed developed for speed and stamina, with a long stride, a deep chest and a refined frame.
Our Thoroughbred program is in development. Before acquiring any horses, we are defining precise objectives for the program. Those objectives will determine the type of horse we seek and how each candidate is judged.
What we intend to evaluate
- Pedigree and program fit
- How well a horse’s pedigree suits the specific objectives we set for the Thoroughbred program, reviewed across several generations.
- Conformation and soundness
- Correct, balanced structure and freedom from unsoundness, with particular attention to the legs, feet and overall athletic frame.
- Temperament
- A sensible, trainable disposition that makes a horse safe to handle and suited to the demands placed on the breed.
- Health and genetic considerations
- Veterinary history and any relevant health or hereditary concerns, reviewed with qualified professionals before a decision is made.
- Long-term breeding objectives
- Whether a horse strengthens the direction of the program over time, rather than only meeting a short-term goal.
Program two
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is compact and powerfully muscled, known for quick acceleration, agility and a steady, willing temperament.
Our Quarter Horse program is being developed separately from our Thoroughbred program, with objectives suited to the breed. As those objectives are finalized, they will shape the horses we look for and the way we evaluate them.
What we intend to evaluate
- Pedigree and program fit
- How a horse’s bloodlines align with the objectives we define for the Quarter Horse program, considered as a whole rather than by individual names.
- Conformation and soundness
- Balanced, correct conformation with the strength and muscling characteristic of the breed, supported by sound legs and feet.
- Temperament
- The calm, willing nature the Quarter Horse is valued for, which we regard as essential in breeding stock.
- Health and genetic considerations
- Health records and relevant hereditary considerations, assessed with qualified professionals as part of every evaluation.
- Long-term breeding objectives
- The contribution a horse can make to the program across generations, and how it complements the rest of our foundation.
A note on expectations
Careful selection improves the likelihood of desirable traits, but no breeding program can guarantee the conformation, temperament, soundness or performance of any individual horse. We will describe our horses and our results honestly as the program develops.
Development roadmap
The planned sequence
This is the order in which we intend to build both programs. It is a planned sequence rather than a schedule, and each step will take the time it requires.
Step 1: Define program objectives
Set clear, written goals for each breed program that will guide every selection and breeding decision that follows.
Step 2: Evaluate potential foundation stock
Identify candidates and assess each one against those goals, considering pedigree, conformation, soundness, temperament and health.
Step 3: Acquire suitable horses
Purchase horses only after appropriate evaluation, including veterinary review, and only when they genuinely fit the program.
Step 4: Develop future breeding plans
Plan matings with purpose, building on the strengths of the foundation and refining the program as each generation arrives.
Contact
Questions about our programs?
If you would like to learn more about either breed program as it develops, we would be pleased to hear from you.
