Breeding Principles

Use Statistically Proven Breeding Practices
to Create a Great Sport Horse

The following principles of successful breeding were identified, tested and developed by the Thoroughbred Industry. We have adopted and adjusted these breeding steps to fit our sport horse goals. These key points are backed up by statistical evidence, so you can be confident that there is a documented history showing that these steps work. What we have learned from their success is that in order to breed a better sport horse we should attempt the following:

1. Learn the pedigree to understand the genetic strengths your horse possesses.
2.Have a breeding goal and determine which bloodlines will help you get there.
3.Linebreed- by finding a mate who will multiply the lines of superior ancestors in your horse.
4. Sex balance those lines- find a mate with the daughters and sisters of your good male lines, or the brothers and sons of your female lines.
5.Reinforce the bloodlines by engaging the background strength of the pedigree.
6. Bring in siblings- full if possible, 7/8, 3/4, 5/8 or 1/2. Full or 3/4 siblings send the genetics into high gear. The more complex the relationship between the lines, the better- genetic equivalents of siblings are one way to do this.
7.Repeat the breeding- to insure the best sport horse outcome in one of your foals.

The researchers found that when the quanity and the complexity of the bloodlines reach what they called "critical mass", then the champions start to appear.

This site will discuss the above principles in depth.

Links to Other Articles