HGG Community Forums

I look for combos of multiple closed genes that I hold, usually on Red foundation studs. If they are outside of my breeding goals otherwise, the closed genes sometimes outweigh that.

People tend to like extremes, varieties on said extremes, and things they haven't seen before.

For example black livers/chocolates are probably one of the games universally accepted "desired" colour. This is basically a chestnut or palomino with all of the darkening genes added on. As a base, it is great! But S+? Love. Grey hyperpigmentation with grey reduction? OMG it's even darker!

A lot of people also seem to like the mega spots as well. I can remember before we even knew how the game coded it, a whole group of people came together to figure out exactly what made the spots on an Appy bigger (hint: it's those darkening genes again). We've now got a gene that makes those spots bigger by itself.

"Novelty" would be another thing. Has a horse like this been seen before? Even something as simple as a "basic colour" horse having Paintbrush, which only changes the mane and tail colour, can pique my interest in a horse I would otherwise scroll over. Sometimes those studs that people are going gaga for have a combination and/or expression that people haven't seen before, or is rarer to see posted.

This is partially why it is so hard to breed to "please the market". You're never going to be able to keep up with the next new expression. By the time you reach third gen with the line you make, people would have started their own or lost interest to focus on other projects.

For foundations like everyone else, I’m looking for that unique or interesting combination of genes, base colour, patterns, closed genes, all of that. Preferably I’m looking for something that will fit neatly into one of my lines, but I’m willing to cross over a bit for something super cool. I’m looking for at least an Exceptional foundation.

For lined horses, yeah, all that stuff about quality (I require Star at gen 3 for my own horses) but also there is a sentimentality factor. I’m more likely to go for the offspring of foundations I loved even if maybe their quality is a tiny bit behind my own lines or if they didn’t have all the genes I might have wanted. Those “legacy” lines are a seller for me.

And finally, for me at least, no restriction on how long I have to to use the straws is important. I have a terrifying straw freezer, and don’t always create embryos/lab foals every season. I try to prioritize what is going to expire, but I just don’t always get there, so straws that will last for a long time and not just 4 months is a perk I pay attention to. I completely understand why players put expiration dates on straws, but I’m less likely to buy, no matter how much I like the stallion, if they do.