A nick is defined as a beneficial cross between two bloodlines which results in a horse that is superior to both parents in sport talent, type and athleticism. There is more on the nicks page of the education portal.
It should be a successful and proven compatibility between usually a sire or dam sire, and be backed by statistical evidence, with several examples of horses which display these common bloodlines.
It could also include the two bloodlines appearing somewhere in a pedigree, such as a son of one of the lines with the other appearing as second or third dam sire.
One successful nick in showjumping is the cross between Quidam De Revel and Diamant De Semilly, seen in a hypothetical mating between the two sires in the chart above.
The main reason for this nick is fairly simple – it involves Alme Z and his three quarter brother Elf III at 3 x 3 here, sex balanced through a son and a daughter.
These brothers are not related on the mother line but they have the same sire / dam sire – Ibrahim out of mares by Ultimate. They have 75% of their bloodlines in common and they are referred to as three quarter siblings for this reason. Patterns like this create a structure which allows balance and flow, and provides for strength and complexity both sides of a pedigree.
There is an extra line of Ultimate on the 5th generation provided by son Juriste. Top horses will often have an extra line of a duplicated horse appearing elsewhere in the pedigree. (Clive Harper). In this case it provides a sex balance for Ultimate as the other lines were present by daughter lines.
Jus De Pomme is at 5 x 6 both sides via daughters ,which is a strong filly factor.
Orange Peel is present both sides at 6 x 6 x 6 x 6 sex balanced.
So both stallions share, on each side of their pedigrees, the common bloodlines – Ibrahim / Ultimate, Jus De Pomme and Orange Peel.
These ancestors form a pattern on both sides, and this is far stronger than a pedigree that has a duplication of one horse only. Patterns provide an organised structure and often create sibling formations at the same time. These have a tendency to be inherited together, it creates many genes in common, and increases the likelihood that any progeny will inherit the sport ability of these elite ancestors.
There are other important ancestors but they need a longer pedigree chart to view.
This is what it takes to form a nick – common ancestors both sides of a pedigree that fit together in a sex balanced way, like a jigsaw puzzle which connects the dots, and allows the power of the lines to flow throughout the pedigree in open channels to the progeny, instead of reaching dead ends and petering out with no where to go.
Google puts forward a different definition. It says the nick between these two horses is based on type and techniques. Quidam adds Thoroughbred blood, suppleness and extreme carefulness. He can put on a longer weaker back and a downhill build along with a heavy frame, and the progeny can be slow behind, but he does bring the blood.
Diamant is said to bring a strong compact top line, great bone and immense power from behind.
Google calls them the perfect physical balance – they correct each others flaws while amplifying their strengths. These phenotypical aspects are definitely important, and are a vital part of the intentional selection process for breeders when looking at ways to upgrade the mare, in examining what her needs are to create a better horse in terms of her conformation, movement, style and technique.
But in terms of bloodlines and genetic inheritance it tells breeders absolutely nothing. This is the type of information we have been fed for years which ultimately still leaves breeders in the dark.
My own studies and observations, along with the writings of pedigree experts, lead me to the conclusion that proper nicks have nothing to do with type, or adding a more powerful hind leg, or a more uphill canter, or a better bascule. These are phenotypical characteristics which are very difficult to rely on in hybrid breeds such as warmbloods, which are comprised of many different breeds and therefore do not breed true to type.
There are many horses who can fit the bill of the google description. The question is, why do these two particular horses keep cropping up again and again together in the pedigrees of champions? It has to be based on a genetic alliance, there is no other logical explanation. A study of their pedigree reveals that they do have strong genetic balances and affinities, and that their same common relatives are consistently returning in the progeny.
Nicks can only be built on bloodlines – how they blend and merge together, how they complement and supplement each others genetic strengths (Clive Harper) to create a better athlete than using either sire alone. Where a nick is suspected, a study of the pedigree will reveal the answer. In this day and age where semen can be flown worldwide, it is even more difficult for nicks to form. So when two horses regularly come together in successful progeny attention should be paid to the pedigree structure. The top progeny of any stallion will also reveal what blood he is nicking with in the mare lines.
Stallion Vivant is bred on this same nick but through a different brother this time – Hedjas rather than Elf III.
The three quarter brothers Alme Z and Hedjas are at 3 x 3, by Ultimate out of Ibrahim mares .
Vivant who was imported to Australia has been a very successful stallion and was sold back to Germany after his first successful campaign here. He would be an excellent mating for mares by Quidam de Revel or Diamant de Semilly, as it would bring together and reinforce the three brothers Alme Z, Elf III and Hedjaz.
Alme Z and Hedjaz can be seen here at 3 x 3.
This is an inbred position and it is ideal for a stallion in terms of his producing power and his ability to set type and athleticism.
Do It Easy is a 2013 gelding , 1.60 jumper, ridden by Cian O’Connor who is also bred on this cross but combines three instances of these brothers multiple times over.
Alme Z, Elf III, and Quastor are all by Ibrahim out of Ultimate mares.
Alme and Quastor are three quarter genetic brothers from the mare Girondine. Alme is out of Girondine and Quastor is out of her daughter, La Citadelle.
Elf III is adding in another instance of an Ibrahim / Ultimate cross.
Alme Z is present at 5 x 5 x 5.
Quastor is present at 6 x 5.
Elf III is also on the 5th generation.
So these brothers are appearing 6 times within 6 generations creates a structure and a pattern which is highly reliable and desirable in creating 1.60m jumpers. Many horses such as Vivant and others on the list below are successful with just one cross of Alme and Quastor or Alme and Elf III or brother Hedjaz in their pedigree, whereas this horse has 6 crosses.
It is a pity for breeders that he a gelding, but his pedigree can still be used as a road map in how to find stallions and mares that unite these brothers in the progeny.
Joyau De Bloye is an example of the Ibrahim / Ultimate cross coming in via a mare instead of only through the brothers.
Here brothers Elf III and Alme Z can be seen at 3 x 4, but the important factor is the mare Agile, the 3rd dam on the bottom line, who is a three quarter sister to these brothers bred on the same cross of Ibrahim / Ultimate. It adds an extra dimension of sex balancing as Ibrahim is rarely seen through his daughters. The daughter line allows any sex linked genes on the X chromosome into the mix and provides a fuller DNA profile for the bloodline of Ibrahim.
Darry Lou is a 1.70m showjumper with Harrie Smolders who shows yet another configuration of the brothers residing in the stallions Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve and Nabab de Reve.
The genetic brothers Quastor and Alme Z can be seen in the sire Tangelo Van Ce Zuuthoeve at 4 x 5 and again on the 5th generation, Alme Z is present in Nabab De Reve.
Alme is out of mare Girondine and Quastor is out of her daughter La Citadelle.
Quattro B is another stallion demonstrating this pattern. Not only was he a 1.60m show jumper, he was also a successful dressage competitor. He has been an influential stallion for both jumping and dressage disciplines. He is the sire of Quando-Quando (grandsire of Quaterback and sire of Quantensprung, among others). The 3/4 brothers Alme Z and Quastor are at 3 x 4. Australian breeders may know one of his successful sons in Valhalla. Interestingly, according to Horsetelex, he has produced directly 20 1.60 Showjumpers AND 33 FEI dressage horses, as well as 23 licensed sons.
Various stallions will have these different brothers in their bloodlines.
Breeders must do their own research as to where they reside and how to combine them in pedigrees in order to follow a very successful pattern that is present in many champion showjumpers, and can seriously raise the probability of breeding a 1.60 m horse.
Other 1.60 horses bred on this nick are:
Utamaro d’ecaussines – Elf III/ Alme Z – one cross
Genesis Semilly – Elf III / Alme Z – one cross
Diamant de Revel – Elf III / Alme Z – one cross
Diamant De Quidam – one cross Elf III / Alme Z
Elvis Ter Putte – one cross of Alme / Elf III
Thara Nantuel – one cross Diamant / Quidam
Jaliso PKS – 2 crosses of Alme, one of Elf III
Joyau De Bloye – 3 crosses, Elf III, Alme and sister Agile
Leandros De Semilly – one cross Elf III / Alme Z
Prestige de Lannay – one cross Elf III/ Alme Z
Ocean de Nantuel – one cross Elf III / Alme Z – but very importantly also has a daughter of Ibrahim on the 6th generation