There is no one method of breeding that guarantees success – or all breeders would be using it. With genetics being what they are, all we can do as breeders is raise the probability of breeding a top horse by using selective breeding techniques.
If all champion horses and top stallions reproduced their traits in the offspring, breeding would be easy. There is no guarantee that the foal will inherit the best genes from both parents, but there are certain ways to stack the deck in our favour.
We need a multi-faceted approach using all the tools at our disposal in the quest to breed better horses.
Experts recommendations for planning matings :
- Learn your mare’s pedigree which is the map of her genetics. Note any duplications on both sides of her pedigree (if any). This is how you determine what her strongest genetic influences are. If she only has duplications on one side then she has an inbred parent.
- Define your breeding goal for each mare. Perhaps you want to breed a foal to sell, a filly to keep, or a top competition horse. Having a definate goal for each mare helps refine stallion choices, and keep the lid on impulse picks from flash stallions seen on social media.
- Each mare requires a different method of breeding – she may need linebreeding, inbreeding or outcrossing depending on her existing pedigree structure.
Run testings with stallion pedigrees to come up with a short list of genetically compatible matings , which will increase the lines of superior sport individuals in your foals. - Include multiple line breedings and inbreedings to several superior ancestors – typically from 3rd to 7th generation, and further out in warmbloods which are hybrids comprised of several different breeds. If your mare is tightly bred , she will require an out cross mating.
- Sex balance bloodlines so they come through a son and a daughter. If your mare has sons of a sire look for a stallion that brings in a daughter of that line, and any sisters or three quarter relatives. If your mare has important female lines, find a stallion that brings in a son or brothers to that line.
- Make sure to reinforce any inbreedings or line breedings by using a stallion that has independent lines of the parents or grand parents.
- Include where possible sons and daughters of powerful mares in pedigrees. Duplications of two or more progeny of a mare carry far more weight than the same in stallions, due to mitochondrial DNA and sex linked genes on the X chromosome.
- Always try to include siblings or three-quarter relatives in the engine room of a pedigree.
- Once you have a shortlist of genetically suitable stallion candidates, then focus on the equally important considerations of conformation, temperament, soundness and performance. Always breed to strengthen strengths in the mare.
- Genetics being what they are, it can be a good idea to repeat the mating a couple of times to give the best chance of getting the ideal throw of the dice in the foal. It is a good idea to repeat the mating to get two of the same sex. Not all matings are as good for both sexes. The first foal from a mating that is ideal in all elements is not always the best one.
These strategies involve a combination of the many topics covered on this website. Starting with genetics, balanced breeding principles, pedigree structure and the sub-topics within each section , along with evaluation of each horse as an individual.
Detailed articles on specific mating strategies are available in the Education Portal (members only), including Breeding the Best, Breeding By Type, Choosing a Stallion, Choosing a Mare, and Nicks.
Do you need help?
Grand Prix Pedigrees offers pedigree analysis services and can also suggest potential mates based on the genetics of your mare. View All Products