Bonheur
is a good example of a well-balanced and rectangular-shaped
sport horse with good muscle development and an athletic
appearance. His body can be easily divided into thirds -
the forequarter, the middle and the hindquarter. He has a
very good topline - strong and well-connected. His neck is
well set on and of good shape - it comes high enough out of the
wither and attaches at the bottom well above the point of
shoulder. The shape is good, not a tubular shape but narrower at
the throat than at the base.
His head is attached in a manner that will make flexion easy,
and his throat is open enough for good air flow. Stallions
should show masculine development of the head and neck; mares
should be feminine. Bonheur's head is well shaped with a
straight profile, a calm eye, big nostrils, a mouth long enough
to hold a double bridle, a round jowl and a long enough nose.
His ears are proportionate and set on well. He is aware of his
surroundings. All this gives him an attractive face that shows a
calm inner peace.
Bonheur has an excellent, well-placed shoulder with slope and
length. The withers are long into the back. You really won't
find too many others better than this. His back shows a
well-placed saddle position behind the withers, flowing into a
strong, well-developed loin. He has a good, forward-sloping
femur. the thigh might give the appearance of being a little
long, but one must take into consideration that he is standing
out behind the vertical with it. If he were to stand with the
left hind leg cannon bone vertical, I don't think it would
appear long, and the croup may appear flatter, too. His legs are
very "dry," meaning that the tendons and bones can easily be
seen under the skin and are not puffy or lumpy. Bonheur is a
horse I would happily put in my barn.
If you're looking for a stallion to breed to, further
evaluate his history and pedigree. These are good predictors of
what he produces. If a stallion is a strong progenitor, your
expectations of the pedigree should match the horse standing in
front of you. True breeders are always making the next match in
their plan and learning from mistakes. For me, breeding is like
cooking - first, you learn the basics, then you experiment.
