Breeding goals and utilization of horse 말의 이용, 경주마, 승용마

A7. Breeding goals and utilization forms in horse breeding, most important performance traits (race, sport, others)

Horse breeding 이미지

History of horse breeding

Arabian horses : Earliest documentation of breeding of horses by Bedouin people in Middle East

Akhal-Teke : Bred for war & racing in West-Central Asia

Nomads of Mongolian Steppes : have bred horses for several thousand years

Medieval Europe : Specific breeding of horses for war

North Africa & Middle East : Muslim warriors bred lighter horses for speed & agility​

Later, in Europe, Europeans incorporated genetic traits of oriental horses to improve the speed of native breeds.

Renaissance period: “Haute ecole” riding

Popular with the nobility

Development of breeds such as Lipizzaner

Thoroughbred : “Ultimate racehorse”

Warmblood : Developed during the 17th & 18th centuries for use as carriage horses

Easily adapted to modern use as competition horses

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Methods of horse breeding

Knowledge of basic genetics:

Mendelian genetics – color inheritance

Population/quantitative genetics – polygenic traits, performance, speed, strength, conformation etc.

Understanding of reproductive cycle & fertility

Selection of animals to be mated depends on intended use of animal Must have a clear breeding goal. 3 methods:

1. Pure- bred breeding

2. Crossing- new breed formation

3. Crossing for types and interspecific hybrids

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Purebreeding : more common, with selection !

Inbreeding: Inbreeding coefficient should not exceed 0.1-0.3.

Line breeding : Repeated backcrossing. the goal: character fixation, increase blood ratio of line founders in offspring

Blood refreshment : Crossing of individuals of same breed but different family lines. Goal: to increase vigor (=physical strength, good health)

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​Crossbreeding : common! Crossing between different breeds. Goals: gene refreshment, breed improvement, reaching a desire character, additive gene effects, heterosis

Single crossing : One-time crossing

Grading up : Regular crossings throughout more generations to improve breed/produce new breed

Synthetic breeds : A planned gene pool of a horse breed

Terminal crossings : main goal: to use heterosis effect

Interspecies hybrids : (Haldane’s rule of sterility)- for eg mule: mare + jack ass

Race horse breeding is based on: (1) pedigree, (2) conformation, (3) performance (traits) ​

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Use of horses throughout history

Transportation

Riding – “saddle horse”

Driving – “harness horse”

Food – production of meat, milk

Sport horses- saddle and harness horses. Competitive/ non-competitive horse sports. Many kinds of riding and driving horses.

Saddle horse: tourism riding, military, police, agriculture, parade, circus

Harness horse: collar/ breast type of harness: in the past- for post couch, fire guard, train, shipping. At present: hackney carriage, forest hunting etc

Racing- saddle racing/ harness racing/ quarter racehorses

Other usage of horses: horse shows, parades, circus, pony races

Companionship (pleasure riding, pleasure driving)

Work – Farming, carts, ploughing, cavalry, police, ranching etc.

Medicine – Globulin & eCG (equine choriogonadotropin) production

Housing, instruments – Horse hair

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most important performance traits

Racing:

Running flat racing (distance 900-3200 m)

Hurdle racing (distance 2800- 4000 m)

Steeplechase racing (3200-7200 m) with difficult obstacles and fences (thoroughbred, halfblooded)

Racing is a performance testing for speed, skillfulness, stamina, jumping ability.

​Harness racing:

Trotting: gait between a walk & a run. With trotters in sulky, 1000- 4000 m, in sulky or under saddle with rider.

Test for speed and trotting skills

Informative time: 1 min 20 seconds for 1000 m

Pacing: American pacer horses, pace is quicker than trot.

Quarter racehorses:

For a quarter mile, speediest horses

great turning, starting, sprinting and stopping abilities

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sports horses :

riding and driving horses, thoroughbred, half blooded, sport and Spanish horses.

Competitive equestrian sports, have few rules:

Dressage – elegance

Show jumping – obstacles, jumping ability and riding skills, Olympics

Three-day event

Driving: international 3 day driving trials = (1) presentation and driven dressage in arena, (2) marathon (3) obstacle competition

Long distance riding – 40- 160 km . 6. Vaulting – gymnastics 7. Pony races

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