Conformation Corner
can say the mare and the stallion truly complement each other in conformation, then a mating can be considered. Remember, if both potential parents are short necked or have offset cannons, the offspring may well be short necked or have offset cannons. That does not mean if you breed a long-necked horse to a short-necked horse you will end up with a medium-length necked foal, or that a straight-legged horse bred to one with offset cannons will produce a foal with slightly offset cannons. Genetics are not absolute nor entirely predictable. To further complicate the picture, one or both of the
parents may not display a trait, but may carry a recessive gene for it. If both parents contribute their recessive genes, the foal will display that trait. So, as mentioned before, knowing the breeding and production history of both horses is very important. Generally, if you breed “like” to “like,” the result should be like the parents. An examination of genotype (genetic makeup, pedigree
and factors in the lineage) helps identify characteristics that may or may not be displayed in the individual. Many qualities are deemed worth knowing in the ancestry, such as a genetic tendency to pass on a particular trait (good or bad). In some cases the idea of crossing two individuals may have to be abandoned due to the risk factors. But, by the same token, genetic factors may lead you to choose a mating that could produce your wonder horse. If, for instance, the genetic background of either parent shows a tendency to throw a bad disposition, susceptibility to navicular disease, or a conformational defect, then the genetic makeup of the other becomes even more important. The breeding and production history of the families can also be used to gauge which horses tend to be more prepotent in stamping their offspring. Unfortunately these things cannot be guaranteed because of the nature of genes. Witness the degree of difference in full siblings. Breeding using AI (artificial insemination) often does
not provide a breeder with knowledge of the type of mares previously bred or the physical characteristics of the resultant foals, and it is therefore difficult to determine whether a particular trait should be attributed to the stallion or the mare. Using “local talent” can allow the breeder to view the stallion, some of the mares who have gone to his court and a variety of his offspring. This can provide insights regarding the potential offspring of that stallion with our mare...if we’re practical and brutally honest in our assessments.
Being Objective As a noun, ‘objective’ refers to the intended goal and as an adjective it means undistorted by emotion, bias or interpretation and is the opposite of subjective. Both
68 January/February 2018
Generally, if you breed “like” to “like,” the result should be like the parents.
definitions can be advantageous when choosing a suitable mate for our mares and our stallions. Objectively evaluating the functional conformation of
both mare and stallion supplements pedigree evaluation, performance records and production history. It also complements financial choices, allowing the bargain hunter to get the most value for his or her budget as well as decreasing the likelihood of producing a substandard offspring no matter the fee. Consider what happens to the foal with the fabulous
pedigree who lacks the physical abilities suggested by the lineage. That foal will likely be pushed to reach human expectations—at the horse’s peril.
Practical Applications It is common practice to breed ‘like’ to ‘like’ in order to produce a foal of the same type as the sire and dam. It is also normal to look for a stallion who favorably complements the mare, perhaps adding strength where she is less strong. We often consider these things automatically. We know if
we want to produce a 15-hand riding horse, we are not likely to cross our 12-hand mare to an 18-hand stallion. We’re also not likely to cross a reiner with an endurance horse hoping to produce an eventer. Although we quickly determine these are unlikely choices, we generally stop there. Because it takes time and effort to learn the points of
conformation that determine function and/or specialty and the process can seem intimidating, I encourage you to take these first steps. Step One: It isn’t difficult to expand on what we already
know and make a shift to a more analytical approach to breeding decisions. To enhance the thought process, we only need to take the time to consciously and objectively analyze the physical strengths and the physical limitations of mares and stallions. If the mare was only able to jump two feet, had trouble with doing lead changes, could do extensions but not collection, developed soreness in a certain spot or broke down, then we can select a stallion who could do those things better and stayed sound...or we could consider her unsuitable as a broodmare. Step Two: We can educate ourselves by first learning some of the major bones in the equine skeleton. Knowing such things as the placement of the lumbosacral gap (where the articulation of the vertebra changes just in front of the sacrum), the ilium, the femur, the stifle, the scapula,
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