When we are considering adding another boodine to our herd we consider quite a few things. First of course is the horse in question(conformation etc), then the crosses we intend to make with that horse and then we look at the bloodines. In that order.
Not every bloodline cross works and you really have to do your homework and either know or find someone that knows what that particuar bloodline has produced before. That goes for nationally known bloodines and small breeder bloodlines alike. With a little homework and even a small sampling of resuts you can usually see a trend.
OH!
Let me give you an example Fairy Tail Prince produced some nice horses but never anything like himself. But his daughters have produced some really extra nice horses. they tend to not be the best looking in a herd but they produce extremely well. I got a chance to buy two of his daughters and would not part with them for love or money. They are not the prettiest in the herd as I said before, but boy do I like the resuts we are getting. You woud have to know that about his daughters are you might pass up a real find.
Also realize a stallion can't do it all himself. So many times I have seen folks spend a lot of money on a stallion and then never spend the time picking the right mares for him. Then they aways blame him when he was bred to insufficent quality mares in the first place.
One other thought with starting any new boodline and/or cross is the marketing value that you have to do yourself if offspring from your breedings are not something that potencial buyers can identify with.
OH!
A perfect example of this is when we bought "WF See Me Shine" a General Patton son that is a full brother to Spectacular Bey that Martha Hickham had for a number of years. He has produced well for us and actually out produces himself. (he was 3rd out a class of 45 or so a number of years ago). We do not have to promote him near as much as some of our other stallions as most show people have seen and read the advertisements for the "Patton Dynasty". That is money I do not have to expend and can apply somewhere else.
But with all that said, we personally really enjoy doing things outside the box a little and try to achieve a certain look and consistency in the look of our babies. that is the fun in the breeding aspect of this deal for us. There is nothing more satisfying than to have a foal from your horses in the show ring from horses that you bred, raised and then bred in the second or third generation of bloodines all your own.
Cindy has always said that she sells the best she produces in order to have other folks enjoy the product of her breeding program as much as she does. She really seems to enjoy other folks showing her horses more than when we show them. A little wierd I guess, but then again she woud have to be to live with me for all these years. LOL
Good Luck whichever way you go.