This is one of several great quarter horse operations in Northern Utah.  I don't use quarter horses myself, so I'm not going to be able to help you choose a pedigree. But I occassionally will spend an afternoon at the auction. This is one of the better known horse production ranches that consistently shows up and the horses always sell well. I'd call teh ranch and talk with them about what you want the horse to do. They can tell you which of their offspring are doing better at barrels, cutting, chariot racing or flat track. Or which pedigree is more cowy than the others. Don't be afraid to talk with them. They are in the business of producing horses and want repeat business. Not just a one time sale.

You might also look at:

Bosen Land and Livestock http://www.bosenhorse.com/

Fort Ranch http://www.fortranch.com/

Running U Ranch http://www.runningulivestock.com/

Also check www.rmahorsesales.com  besides doing most of the consignment sales in the area, They usually are the auctioneers for most of the Production sales at many of the horse ranches in the region.

You need to know exactly how you plan to use the horse, and you always pick the best looking animal (health, movement, temperament) and then look at pedigree...it's not a guarantee but an indication of what the horse may become.

Looking at the stallion page you can tell one stallion in particular has a serious conformation fault...he's downhill and that should be avoided at all cost!  Several others are suspect.

farmbabe, I've had more than my share of QH's in my barn and under my saddle and being downhill is a fault.  They don't breed for it, I'm not sure where you got that idea from...(one of my world titles is in judging halter horses, FYI.)

I will say QH breeders breed for level horses and not horses taller at the wither like many sport horse breeds, but downhill...no way.

If I'm wrong please correct me, but I am unaware of any discipline in which this conformational fault would be helpful.

Sorry to bring up my past, I'm not being braggadocious.

I can say with 100% certainty that a downhill halter horse over the age of 4 must be judged as "faulted."  As far as faults go it's fairly serious too.

Lots of QH's grow in their hip first, but LEVEL OUT around 2-4 years old.  Don't fault a growthy horse but don't use a faulty horse was how I was trained to judge.

Anyone that would pose a horse so that it looked hip high is not a good equine photographer, but it also shows how important a good picture really is when marketing a stallion.

The mechanics of a downhill horse really is all wrong, they can't engage the hip and use those "quarters" they are named after.  Instead they rather just plow the front half around like a wheelbarrow.  The front legs don't bare weight properly and thus after years of use they tend to be unsound.  Why would anyone want these traits in their barn, I doubt that any breeder would "choose" this and breed for it.

Farmbabe, I went there and didn't see what you saw.

I am sorry that you feel that the entire stock horse world is breeding downhill horses, when in deed others have tried to tell you otherwise.

Can you post links to these ads that show horses with such faults?

I mean any idiot can take a male and a female and sell their offspring.  That does not make the offspring a quality animal by any stretch of the imagination in any species or breed.

Checked out that website and I've got to say I don't know how anyone can look at those "field" pictures of all those babies and make an honest assessment of their conformation.   The ground is not level, the pics are taken at all different angles...  The pics get posted so anyone shopping the internet can get a look at the range of babies produced - color, markings, etc.  If you really want to buy one, are you going to just pick it out from the postings, send a check and say "ship that baby to me"?

I have a 10 yr old QH gelding who seemed to be higher in the hip for a long time as he grew.  He didn't stop growing until he was 5.  He has a nice big hip, but it's not any higher than his withers.  I think it's an optical illusion because the QH has such a muscular hind end it makes it also look taller.

I've seen some absolutely gorgeous babies grow into really ugly adults...  Still think you can't go by baby pictures.

I just spent three weeks looking for a new Quarter Horse. Browsed internet photos, etc....spent $$$ on fuel to go look.  The pix just dont do 'em justice. The ones I thought looked good on the internet were not so pretty in person. You best go to the ranch and talk to them about what you want.

I ended up with a 12 yr old mare, just for trail riding and ranch - cow stuff. Dont have her "good" pix yet....LOL......will take some when the weather is better here.

But it sure is fun to go look.