Breeding for Breed Standards vs. Breeding for a Discipline

The content of our last blog helped several readers to reflect on what is “natural” for a domestic horse.  We were happy to hear that many of you were able to differentiate between the breeding of domestic horses, by their human caretakers, and what occurs with the Natural Selection process found in the wild horse. So, when caring for our modern day domestic horses, to include some factors that are considered “unnatural”, is OK, considering our horses are domestic, and not wild.

At any rate, this is a great lead-in to Breeding for Breed Standards vs. Breeding for Disciplines.

Examples to ponder…….. An American Quarter Horse is the foundation horse to the American Cowboy.  They travel short, fast distances while cutting cattle, and are big and stocky for roping and dragging livestock.  A Shire or Clydesdale has its beginnings as a horse driven in front of wagons and plows.  They are big and heavy, and can pull big and heavy things.  There are many examples of horse breeds and standards for what they were originally bred to do….. historically. 

The Arabian horse, although considered the most versatile breed, still should be seen with standards of conformation and type, like all other breeds.

The Arabian Horse was bred to withstand the tough conditions of dry desert climates, and to travel long distances in that environment. They were companions of their people, and enjoyed a deep horse/human relationship, especially when involved in war.   Arabians were bred to be even- tempered, hardy, nimble, and fast. Conformationally, the Arabian Horse is described as short boned, short through the back, and equal balance of shoulder to hip.  Their neck is long and elegant.  Their heads have large, wide set eyes, a slightly dished face, and a tea cup muzzle. Their tail is set high and carries proud. Feel free to get a lengthy description at:  www.arabianhorses.org/home/faq/AskExpert4.asp

Espartero- photo by Andrew K Steen

So, given the picture above, and the description of the Arabian horse, could you breed an Arabian?

I would say yes!

Before we continue further discussion, let us first state we are not trying to point out negatives with any Breeders or Breeding Programs. This is merely a discussion to point out how we compromise Breed Standards whenever we create a horse that will be specific to only one discipline. 

Examples to ponder:    …….Halter folks want an exotic head and lengthy neck, but when breeding for this look, may also end up with a horse with finer bone, which is contrary to the standard.  Western Pleasure folks like a very robust body type, but when breeding for this trait the resulting horse will lack length of stride and lightness in gait. Again, contrary to the standard. Arabian Hack/Saddle Seat horses are bred for more height and more knee action like a Saddlebred! An Arabian was never meant to carry such knee action. In the last 15 years the Arabian Racehorse breeders have been breeding for mostly speed, over shorter distances, and have lost the characteristics of their more delicate heads and tail carriage. Many critics comment that the resulting horses look more like Thoroughbreds then Arabians.

So why should we all care about this anyway?

When horses are bred for a discipline first… and then fail at that discipline, they usually become the outcast, or throw aways!  Compounding their dilemma, is the fact they lack the traits and conformation that is the standard for the breed, and since they are not considered representative of their breed, are considered even more undesirable. This makes future placement, and the hopes of a second career, an ever present challenge.

The long and short of it is that Breeders should consider sticking to breed standards, before breeding just for speed, or just for a pretty head.

Buyers/Owners should not put unrealistic expectations on breeders, which in turn cause breeders to experiment with gene combinations that eventually weaken the breed. In doing so, this would help stabilize Breed Standards, and eventually strengthen the genetic pools of a specific breed, which will keep them unique and specific for the roles of pulling wagons, traveling long distances, jumping, etc., etc..

The Half-Breed Registration has no real purpose with regard to Breed Standards.  Individuals breed Half-Breeds to achieve the egotistical goals which allow a human to compete better in the discipline she/he picks, and that is really all.  The horse is compromised for the status the human achieves in the sport. In addition to diluting and corrupting the purebred gene pool, the resulting horse carries no hope for breed propagation beyond his generation.

Eat or Ride?

The domesticated horse throughout the ages….things to ponder.

 Inspired  by Stephen Budiansky and his book, ” The Nature of the Horse”

Last week, our blog touched on the ideals of what is natural for a horse.  How the wild horse is managed by nature, and how the domestic horse is managed by man.  The viewpoint to come away with was …being smart about horse nutrition, herd management and horsemanship.

So why more controversy? 

With the domestication of the horse has come all the good things man can provide, supplements, deworming programs, & senior diet programs. By virtue of our efforts, we’ve also increased the life expectancy of horses.  Not only that, by managing them in ways of keeping them “safer” from “natural causes” we also have wayward animals that exist because we feed them and house them well.  Is this good in consideration of population/overpopulation of the domestic horse? 

OH, NO, now it’s been said.  ……What to do with the “unwanted domestic horse” especially since the slaughter houses for horses are closed in the United States.  Not to mention, the expense for an owner that would prefer humane euthanasia over the economically cost effective method of a bullet and a ranch burial!

OK horse lovers …hard to hear as we treasure these beasts!  Tough reality ….though when we go back to the horse as an animal of the survival for man. ….. man has evolved  …and the horse is caught up in a totally different  perspective. 

 IS SLAUGHTER BAD?  YES-It is a bad word, ……it is also a very emotional and debated subject for many modern horse people …so let’s just go back to the past to see how horse populations were controlled and managed by our forefathers.

As we travel back we see that first, they did not have manufactured diets, supplements, and dewormers  that may have included manmade chemical additives and hormones.    In the past, the most unnatural thing man did with horses was put metal in their mouth and metal shoes on their feet!   Gunpowder and cayenne pepper were the choice for dewormers.

Thru the ages, the horse was mostly a status symbols of Kings and Emperors, to carry out messages of war and peace.  If peace was not found in the message, horses were a part of the war!  Remember it was the oxen that was the plow animal first.  It was the “beast of burden”.

 Crazy thing about the horse of the past, it could survive it’s best battle but if the emperor died it may also be buried with him as a sign of ‘status”, and something he took with him to his afterlife!

Horses, throughout the ages, were status symbols of wealth, strength, and power as they are today.  As battles and wars resided, and people continued to modernized, they used horses for labor along with oxen for everyday travel.  They also may have eaten their horses during a drought, financial hardship, or simply because the horse could not “earn his keep”.  So a horse was still not a companion animal while it was a part of the lower income brackets of modern man.

Perspective is EVERYTHING!  We love our horses and have the means to provide humane intervention for them to lead comfortable lives into retirement , with the least amount of suffering and the same honor we gave the kings and emperors who fought the battles of the land. We honor our best horses still,  ……….building statues and monuments  to honor our Great Equines.

Ok-Here is the wrap up!  You find your horse in the pasture with a catastrophic injury.  He can no longer be the messenger, and could no longer help you fight a war.  You know that humane euthanasia is the only option …for no more suffering, with a bullet or with a knife …which means nothing unnatural or chemical.  Do you waste the horse to earth ….or do you feed your family.  Though I’m not in favor of euthanasia. …..There are times when we must consider it as the logical answer.

To eat or to ride ….or?  If only our modern day overpopulation could be so sensible and so simple.

Read the book!  “The Nature of Horses’ by  Stephen Budiansky

What do you guys think?

*The Fawor Foundation does not want to eat horses.

The Natural Horse

The Fawor Foundation was not only created to assist Arabian horses, but also to help explain the importance of Equine Wellness.  There is so much debate about what is “natural” for the Horse.

Equine Wellness should focus on the needs that support the domestic horse.  So often the idea of what is “natural” for a horse is not pertinent to a domestic horse, but perhaps what is more relevant to a wild horse.  Each horse, wild verses domestic, will have totally different needs because of the environment that has been provided for them to survive within.

Wild horses need to adjust to the balance of the earth’s rhythms.  For example, these patterns are where the water is available, and where the grass may grow best.  In times of drought, horses dig for springs, eat cactus or any other available forage to meet their basic nutritional needs.  Because of natural selection, and the survival of the fittest, the genes of the strongest wild horses prevail in the hard times.

In the case of the domestic horse, he has the exact opposite.  If they are well cared for, the human supplies all the best feed, which usually includes a brand name commercial feed that has spent millions of dollars studying the nutritional needs of the domestic horse.  Domestic horses have automatic waterers or water tanks or in large ranch situations spring fed stock tanks.  These horses also “work”, have jobs, be it ranching, dressage, racing etc. Ultimately, the human also has the power to select the mate of the domestic horse.  The human is the one responsible for the genetic patterns and offspring in most of the domestic horses.  This means no choice for the horses,” natural selection” is no longer responsible for survival, human intervention has taken control.

Think about it!  Genetically, we have controlled natural selection not for survival but for competitive edge!  As breeders, do we look at  the importance of survival selection verses just color, speed, or worse yet, ….just breeding one winning name to another winning  name, who both have bad ankles at the age of five! What are we thinking!!!!!!

How do we create wellness for our domestic horses? 

Start with the obvious balance.  Fresh water, good forage, vitamin and minerals.  Take advantage of the good feed companies, ……..seek out good farriers …there are no disguises in a healthy foot.  This means no contracted heels, no cracks, no fungus and no hoof pain.

When we discuss what is “natural” to a horse we also must admit it is because we are” domestic” as the human counterpart. We are what we breed/create so if you, BREED SMART, TRAIN THEM WELL and see them succeed …….or if you do not see the desired results…..geld your studs and do not breed to the average, or below average mare. 

Guidelines:

1. CONFORMATION:    For breed standard and ability

2. TEMPERMENT:     Everyone loves a likeable horse.

3.    ABILITY:    In 95% of breeding for the above……you will have the success of pedigree, conformation    and athleticism.

 Thank you !

THE DOMESTIC HORSE!

Letter from the President

….A Letter from the President, and thoughts for the New Year!

Preventive Intervention

It has been brought to my attention that a horse I met at the race track, (and was subsequently surrendered to a great Horse Rescue Facility), had to be humanely euthanized after months of extensive x-rays,  vet visits, supplements, and supportive care.

His history was that of a very well bred TB line, …selling at the Keeneland Premium Yearling Sale, which made his price go far further then the “average market”. He, as a yearling, was not to be a letdown.   Knowing this horse personally, I witnessed his spirit, and it far surpassed what the immature bones in his legs could produce. As a three year old, he only raced twice before his knee gave out. He was a fast grower, with growing pains for good reason!  His body said “I am not ready”… but his trainers and his brain said “Go”!  A slab fracture and a bone chip in his knee said “STOP”.  His trainer then said “no more”!  She did what was best, and asked that the Rescue see where he might fit in to rest and heal.  The Rescue spent more money, lots of time, and eventually decisions were made to patch him up and fix his growing pains. This three year old would have been an exceptional race horse, if only he had been given the extra time to mature.

So, instead of a race career, he enjoyed the farm, the special attention, and all the good things a horse may experience if given to a Rescue that has the knowledge, and know how, to see to it that rehabilitation would make life more comfortable.

During his final months, he lived like a horse should live!  He used his feet, stretched his legs and felt proud, if only for a moment, until the adrenaline wore out, and he was reminded of his aches and pains!    Surgery was an option, but it would do nothing more then put him in a state of recovery, whereby, the body would fill the open spaces with scar tissue, and with limited activity, the end result would be ongoing arthritis and pain. All things came to a stop when he was humanely euthanized, due to his severe arthritis taking over, and he was never comfortable or sound, even after being on all the supplements a horse can take.

Breeders/Owners/Trainers: ….what will it take to have you recognize the worth of your investments.  What will it take to ask you to wait 6 months, or one more year (preferred), to not use animals up and destroy them!  The case of this one horse, coming from the Race Industry, is the same as it is for the Show Industry Futurities. It’s just never exposed!  The Show Industry doesn’t display as much brutality as the race industry, but the desire for the trophy, and the almighty dollar, brings about the same sad results.  Reining, and Hunter Futurities, to name just a few, impose the same early pressure.

 A horse is not physically grown or fully mature by age 5!  Possibly, some mentally, not until they are 10!  Talk to the Spanish Riding School!  It is deplorable what we do to the exceptional athletes we have spent so much money breeding and trying to prove. They deserve so much more! They give all of their heart with effort, and we continue to throw them away to unknown spaces, and be heartless, when all along they were physically too young to be ready for such demanding careers.

Stop, and think about this for a while! It is such an old subject for futurity programs and maiden races!  What great horses we would all have if we ……..JUST LET THEM GROW UP!