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Pedigree
is the absolute essence of the Thoroughbred race horse, a breed
whose origins lie in its name, being "thoroughly-bred" from the
best racing ancestors. While
the modern Thoroughbred is not a truely pure
descendant of its many Arabian ancestors, its own
genetic background has been maintained over 300
years of rigorous selection for superior racing ability.
"The
Thoroughbred exists because its selection has depended, not on experts,
technicians, or zoologists, but on a piece of wood: the winning
post of the Epsom Derby. If you base your criteria on anything else,
you will get something else, not the Thoroughbred." [Federico Tesio]
What was Tesio
talking about? Quite simply, he
meant that the Epsom Derby was the standard and the goal of breeders
around the world, and those runners that achieve this highest of
standard of classic performance consistently proved to be outstanding
breeding stock. The Thoroughbred is the result of breeding
for racing performance and nothing else. Breeders that concentrate
on any other criteria,
especially those that breed strictly to sell an attractive
sale yearling with what appears to be perfect conformation, are
not breeding racehorses.
There are many
factors involved in breeding
racehorses. Every few years, someone announces a
new theory or a new line of analysis. Some are
effective and some are not. The truth of it is that there
is no one single method that will guarantee success in
this endeavour. Breeders are encouraged to study the various
breeding theories carefully, find the ones that make the most sense
to them, and try to engineer
matings that satisfy theory from several different angles.
I've been working on a brief explanation of several of the most
well-known theories and selection techniques. This is a work in
progress and more articles will be completed as I have the time.
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Stating the
Obvious:
Breed
the best to the best
The
racecourse test
Proven
versus unproven
Market
breeding
Joe Estes' statistical analyses
Standard Livestock
Breeding Practices:
Why
Inbreeding
Outcrossing / Hybrid vigor
Nicks
or Not
Stamina Index
Genetics
Conformation
More Controversial
Systems:
Bruce Lowe's Figure System
Dosage in its various incarnations
The X-Factor (Large Heart Gene)
Positional Analysis
Astrology
Nick Ratings
Myths and Legends:
Inbreeding is bad
Inbreeding is good
Milers make the best sires
Breed to race or breed to sell
Saint La Troienne
Native Dancer is Satan
Special Features:
Cluster affinities
Sires of sires - the good and bad
Sires of broodmares
Broodmare sires of sires
The atypical son
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