NoteworthyA Successful Inbred Sport Horse Stallion
Can a inbred sport horse be a successful performer and breeder? Noteworthy, inbred 1x3 to Ramiro is living proof it can be done! A warning before we discuss Noteworthy: Historically, inbreeding is a risky enterprise. Very few breeders have been successful at it, but there are noteable exceptions like the great French breeder Marcel Boussac (and now Carolyn Hoekstra). When you are inbreeding, you are concentrating all the genes- the good as well as the bad, and if there are any problems in the lineage, you will cement those right into your gene pool along with the talent you were aiming at. (The soundness and saneness of the duplicated individual should be a more important concern for you than whether you inbreed or linebreed.) So why try it then? Because if you want to concentrate a superior influence, plus set a type into your herd, inbreeding is the surest way to do it. Most horse breeds originated with inbred individuals, for that is what makes a reproducible and recognizable type. Carolyn Hoekstra, the breeder of Noteworthy, was the right person to pull this genetic coup off. A medical physician, Carolyn is well versed in genetics, and she did extensive research into the percentages for success in inbred animals. "I mostly researched how close one can breed and minimize recessive genes being expressed."
Read more about Carolyn Hoekstra on this link.
The phenotype of the horse usually gives us a reliable clue to the dominant genetics in play.
Looking at these conformation shots of Noteworthy (left) and Ramiro (right) you will notice that Ramiro's type came through very strongly in Noteworthy. Carolyn knew exactly what she wanted to achieve, which was to increase the Ramiro presence in her herd. Noteworthy is 62.5% Ramiro- 1x3 Ramiro. His sire is Ramiro and his second dam is a Ramiro daughter. Ramiro himself is not an inbred horse, he is however beautifully linebred. Ramiro was a safe genetic package to concentrate- remember not all good Sport lines are completely without problems, so do your homework. Read more about Ramiro and his linebreeding on this link Ramiro is a sound, sane and talented progenitor, and his breeding history proves the excellence of his genetic package. The Hoekstras' say, "Ramiro is second to none as far as successful progeny, fertility and talent, and no other stallion was considered in this endeavor." Carolyn did the American breeders a great service by creating Noteworthy- he is a genetic gift to America. As the years go on, his true breeding value will become realized. When inbreeding works right we get a lasting positive genetic influence. Here are two Thoroughbred examples that breeders of Sport Horses can relate to: The inbred War Relic (1x2 to the 3/4 siblings Man O'War and Friar Rock) was not a good performer, but has made a lasting presence in Thoroughbred, Warmblood and Sport Horse pedigrees. Cottage Son, both a great performer and sire, who is Ramiro's dam sire (also in the great Holstein Lord) is inbred to the 3/4 brothers Rochester and Tracery 3x3. Cottage Son is a lasting source of versatile talent in Sport Horse breeding and his line is considered genetic gold. Noteworthy is not a "cranked up" horse, as many inbreds are. Carolyn did her homework, knowing fully if she used a individual that had defects hidden in the gene pool that they would manifest with inbreeding. By sex balancing the Ramiro, Carolyn has guaranteed the workable talent of Ramiro comes through intact. The non-Ramiro 36.5% of the pedigree intergrates well with the Ramiro majority. The Fanatiker daughter Infra is sex balanced by the addition of the Fanatiker son Fax I. There is also a seperate filly factor added with two daughters of Signal Light, which will help any stallion succeed. Noteworthy's performance success has been non-stop since 1998. He has multiple championships in-hand, in dressage and in breeding.
See Knollwood Farm for details.
His progeny have earned and are still earning championships of their own, always over 80% premium foals. His rating has always been in the top 10 for stallions in USDF. Noteworthy is a success in every way- a triumph of intelligent breeding. He is now standing in Houston, Texas with his new owner, Cecila McKinney. Back to Pedigree Generation Position
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