This year we reached our goal when Álffinnur's offsprings convinced us that they were as quick, strong and promising as we thought. Our goal was to show 15 of his offsprings in evaluation, by that reaching the standards for 1st prize for offsprings at only eight years of age. 15 offsprings have been shown, two last year and thirteen new ones this year.
One of the two shown horses last year, Vinátta, was evaluated again this year and with higher marks so there is only one valid judgment from last year that belongs to Goði frá Ketilsstöðum. Goði received 8.08 in total, including 9 for tölt and spirit.
Three of his offsprings have been shown twice this summer, first Stúdent frá Ketilsstöðum. He is five years old and received 8.36 in total, then shown again at fjórðungsmót Stekkhólma receiving the same score and was the highest judged stallion at the show.
The other two horses are Bjóla frá Ketilsstöðum and Ari frá Efri-Gegnishólum. Bjóla is 4 years old and started off with 7.91 and raised her score up to 7.99. Ari is 5 years old and was shown as a four gaiter at first and got 7.82 after a rather unsuccessful show. We kept on training, found the pace and showed him again receiving 8.18 where everything fell into place.
In these 15 highest judgments are 7 five years old judgments and 8 four years old. His lowest four years old offspring is Ásbrá with 7.82 who was shown as a four gaiter this time, with 9 for slow tölt and 8,5 for tölt, spirit and form under rider.
Four of his offsprings were shown as four gaiters, five of them got from 5,5 to 6,5 for pace and six of them got from 7,5 to 8,5.
The offsprings' average score for confirmation is 8,13
For ridden abilities 8,01
And in average total of 8,06
Their mothers are all kinds of mares. From honorary prize mares to mares with a low judgment and mares that were never shown and have delivered little to nothing. Even though the mothers are not alike, the offsprings that we know have alot in common. They have been quick, positive, willing with good movements. The will is excelent, brave, energetic and relaxed. Their best gaites by nature are tölt and walk.
Álffinnur is a son of Orri frá Þúfu and Álfadís frá Selfossi, third of four full siblings that have all gotten good judgments at the age of four. At that age Álfur frá Selfossi got 8.26(8.06 the first time), Álffinnur got 8.24(8.04), Álfhildur frá Syðri-Gegnishólum got 8.14(7.98) and Álfgrímur got 8.11. But their highest judgments are Álfur 8,46, Álfhildur 8,52, Álffinnur 8,37 and Álfgrímur is 4 years old and has only been shown once. But the plan is to show him again next year.
Álffinnur's oldest full sibling, Álfur frá Selfossi received 1st prize for offsprings at 9 years old and honorary prize at 10 so Álffinnur's success in breeding is not a surprice to us. It's exactly what we expected because his bloodlines/pedigree have become so safe.
One of our goals in breeding is to breed horses that start of in advantage, that is to say they are mentally and physically stronger as 4 year-old. Our way to that goal is to focus on using mainly stallions and mares that show off early, preferably 4 years old and not older than 5, because it says so much about their natural abilities. That kind of horses don't perform well without being strong by nature, most importantly strong torso, back and croup and that they are positive and enthusiastic.
I think most of us have the same goal for when they are older and more mature, simply that they at some point become great, e.g. become winners in a competition at 8-10 years old.
What we wonder about Álffinnur is wether or not this is a world record. As far as we know he is the youngest stallion to receive 1st prize for offsprings, 8 years old. At least compared to the new rules about this prize, but has it happened before compared to the old rules?
Here are all of his shown offsprings, from highest judged to lowest: