Horse breed
A horse breed is a selectively bred population of domesticated horses, often with pedigrees recorded in a breed registry. However, the term is sometimes used in a broader sense to define landrace animals of a common phenotype located within a limited geographic region, or even feral "breeds" that are naturally selected. Depending on definition, hundreds of "breeds" exist today, developed for many different uses. Horse breeds are loosely divided into three categories based on general temperament: spirited "hot bloods" with speed and endurance; "cold bloods," such as draft horses and some ponies, suitable for slow, heavy work; and "warmbloods," developed from crosses between hot bloods and cold bloods, often focusing on creating breeds for specific riding purposes, particularly in Europe.
Horse breeds are groups of horses with distinctive characteristics that are transmitted consistently to their offspring, such as
Origin of breeds
Modern horse breeds developed in response to a need for "form to function", the necessity to develop certain physical characteristics to perform a certain type of work.
Purebreds and registries
Horses have been selectively bred since their domestication. However, the concept of purebred bloodstock and a controlled, written breed registry only became of significant importance in modern times. Today, the standards for defining and registration of different breeds vary. Sometimes, purebred horses are called "Thoroughbreds", which is incorrect; "Thoroughbred" is a specific breed of horse, while a "purebred" is a horse (or any other animal) with a defined pedigree recognized by a breed registry.[3]
An early example of people who practiced selective
Some breed registries have a
Other breeds have a partially closed stud book, but still allow certain infusions from other breeds. For example, the modern Appaloosa must have at least one Appaloosa parent, but may also have a Quarter Horse, Thoroughbred, or Arabian parent, so long as the offspring exhibits appropriate color characteristics.[10] The Quarter Horse normally requires both parents to be registered Quarter Horses, but allows "Appendix" registration of horses with one Thoroughbred parent, and the horse may earn its way to full registration by completing certain performance requirements.[11]
Breed registries also differ as to their acceptance or rejection of breeding technology. For example, all Jockey Club Thoroughbred registries require that a registered Thoroughbred be a product of a natural mating, so-called "live cover". A foal born of two Thoroughbred parents, but by means of artificial insemination or embryo transfer, cannot be registered in the Thoroughbred studbook.[8] However, since the advent of DNA testing to verify parentage, most breed registries now allow artificial insemination, embryo transfer, or both. The high value of stallions has helped with the acceptance of these techniques because they allow a stallion to breed more mares with each "collection" and greatly reduce the risk of injury during mating.[15] Cloning of horses is highly controversial, and at the present time most mainstream breed registries will not accept cloned horses, though several cloned horses and mules have been produced.[16] Such restrictions have led to legal challenges in the United States, sometime based on state law and sometimes based on antitrust laws.[17]
Hybrids
Horses can
See also
References
- OCLC 56012597.
- ^ OL 8699719M.
- OL 1020574M. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ISBN 093827600X.
- ^ "Is Purity the Issue?". WAHO Publication Number 21 January 1998. World Arabian Horse Organization. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2008.
- ^ "Andalusian". Breeds of Livestock. Oklahoma State University. Archived from the original on March 12, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2008.
- ^ "History of Thoroughbreds". Britishhorseracing.com. British Horseracing Authority. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2008.
- ^ a b "American Stud Book Principal Rules and Requirements". Jockey Club. Retrieved July 5, 2007.
- ^ "2008 Rules & Regulations". 2008 Rulebook. Arabian Horse Association. Archived from the original on April 9, 2008. Retrieved April 3, 2008.
- ^ "Appaloosa Horse Club Handbook 2007" (PDF). 2007 Rulebook. The Appaloosa Horse Club. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2007. Retrieved July 5, 2007.
- ^ "AQHA Registration Rules and Regulations" (PDF). 2007 Rulebook. American Quarter Horse Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 10, 2007. Retrieved July 5, 2007.
- ^ Bernhold, Suzette. "What Is A Warmblood Anyway?". Warmblood Whisper. American Warmblood Society. Archived from the original on January 12, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2008.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Registration and Membership Instructions". Palomino Horse Association. Archived from the original on June 30, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2008.
- ^ "Registration Procedure". National Pinto Horse Registry. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
- ^ McAfee, Melonyce (January 30, 2007). "Did They Save Barbaro's Semen?". Slate. Retrieved May 1, 2008.
- ^ Mott, Maryann (April 4, 2006). "Champion Horses Cloned by Texas Breeder". National Geographic News. Archived from the original on September 8, 2006. Retrieved May 1, 2008.
- ISBN 978-0-615-90347-7.
- ^ "Mule Information". BMS Website. British Mule Society. Archived from the original on October 10, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
- ^ "Befuddling Birth: The Case of the Mule's Foal". All Things Considered. National Public Radio. July 26, 2007. Retrieved August 16, 2008.