Performance Related Pedigrees
Norman Storey, B.Agr.Sc
Teagasc Equine Specialist Adviser
In the thoroughbred world performance and breeding are very closely linked. All one has
to do is look at the information given for each entry is the sales catalogue to realise the
link. The race card outlining the runners in each race also provided relevant information
on performance and breeding. The performance and placings in previous races is
available. Stallions ranking are available based on the performance in terms of prize
winnings of progeny on the race track. While they may not be statistical they do relate
breeding to performance Stallion cards and stallion advertisements are regularly up-dated
with recent performance results.
Our thoroughbreds are bred for one purpose and one purpose
only and that is racing. The breeding objective is clear. The
best race horses retire to stud and become the breeding stock
for the next generation. Their selection is based on their
performance on the track. Their success at stud is based on
the performance of their progeny on the track. The price paid
for young potential horses is based on the performance of
their sire and dam and other siblings and relatives. Reports of
performances on the track identify the importance of breeding
as well as the actual performance itself.
In the European sport horse industry the World Breeding
Federation of Sport Horses provides update information and rankings of stallions on their
own and on their progenies’ performance in competition. Our Dutch, German and French
breeder competitors have a huge amount of information available to them in terms of
breeding values. These are most useful for breeders when selecting stallions for breeding.
If our sport horse breeding industry is to continue to develop we must strive to create a
stronger link between breeding and sport. Information must feed back in a structured and
coherent manner and more importantly in a way that breeders can understand.
We need to constantly remind ourselves of our breeding objective and to highlight results
that achieve that objective. We have made great improvements and with the creation of a
new organisation – Horse Sport Ireland – where we are all working together we can
breed, train and produce horses that live up to our brand image of ‘Irish Horses’.
Breeders need information about offspring and other relatives of breeding animals and
their genetic value to breeders. The fact that breeders do not often raise and train the
horses they have bred, makes it difficult for them to follow the results of their efforts.
They are depending on others to collect and supply information.
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In fact breeders have developed a system of criteria of their own based on the external
conformation of the animal, as this is the only aspect they can control and that can be
easily measured and recorded.
It is for this reason that a system of external evaluation of horses has developed over the
years. Used, traditionally, in selection for breeding shows, these criteria continue to play
a major role in the selection of competition horses. As the exchange of information
between breeders and owners has increased so the dependence on this system has
decreased. The exchange began years ago for the racing industry and is beginning to
catch up in the performance industry.
Shows, based on conformation and movement, are often criticised for their great
subjectivity, and in particular that beauty is given a greater
priority than other, perhaps more useful traits. Attempts have
been made to try and make the criteria more objective and to
make them relate more directly to specific aptitudes such as
jumping. The goal is to evaluate the actual talents of the
animals more accurately. When the status and identification
of the animals are clearly defined, good management of
competitions makes it possible for breeders to receive
feedback about their horses. Use of this information then
affects subsequent selection decisions.
Evaluating genetic values in horses is not fundamentally different from evaluating them
in other domestic species. The Irish Horse Board has recently announced the publication
of the ‘Genetic Evaluation Results for Approved Stallions 2007’. Estimated Breeding
Values (EBVs) for stallions are included. These are predictions of the genetic advantage
that a horse will pass on to its offspring for a particular trait. EBV are calculated using
information from a stallions own performance in SJAI competitions and from its relatives
including parents and progeny.
From the breeder’s point of view the bottom line is that foals by stallions with EBVs for
show jumping ability above 120 achieve, on average €1,100 more at auction than foal by
stallions with EBVs below 100. Foals out of high EBV mares achieve, on average,
€2,000 more than foals out of low EBV mares.
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