Page 32 - IDHSNA 2016 Annual Blarney
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Linear Profiles & Breeding
Utilising Linear Profiling Information in Breeding Programmes -
BY CHARLOTTE MOORE
linear profiling is widely utilised by many breeders worldwide consistently produce useful offspring even when bred to a range of
to assist with their breeding decisions. first used by cattle stallions.
breeders in the 1970s, it was investigated by some horse the breeding objective of the Irish Draught studbook is to breed
breeders in the late 1980s, introduced by some equine studbooks sound Irish Draught horses with correct conformation, type, move-
in the 1990s and developed for use by the Irish Draught horse ment and action, calm and willing temperaments with sufficient
studbook in 2010. athleticism, that conform to the Irish Draught Breed standard.
the linear profile of an Irish Draught horse provides a very useful Individual breeders will set their own priorities and goals.
description of a number of traits which are assessed on a 9 point I believe that it is important to select stallions which do not share
scale. these comprise 26 conformation traits, an assessment of the same weaknesses or faults as the mare. however, I do not
breed type, 10 movement traits and 8 traits associated with ath- recommend using a stallion which has very different traits. for
leticism which are all currently assessed in stallions. the assess- example if a mare is very square in her body shape (short or close
ment of athleticism traits is optional for mares and geldings. It is coupled) I would not breed her to a stallion which is very long
likely that two thirds of the animals inspected will have traits which or rectangular in his body shape. I would look for a horse which
are described as average. only 2% of the population are likely is marginally rectangular or average in body shape. I might also
to have traits which are described as extreme. Provision is also expect my square mare to be a little stiff through the body, so I
made to note additional information through up to 24 additional would look for a stallion with good elasticity in his movement.
comments. overall scores are provided for each animal which
reflect the linear profile utilising the experience of the inspectors to there is ongoing concern amongst Irish Draught breeders
decide where to classify each animal within the studbook. about loss of bone in the breed. thankfully the situation
It is important to remember that the purpose of this evaluation sys- appears to have stabilised. If the mare is fine boned and
tem is not to rank horses but rather to identify the qualities which light bodied it may seem desirable to breed her to the strongest,
each individual animal has in relation to the breed standard. heaviest stallion available, hoping to produce a foal with more
the strength of the system is the information which is derived from substance and bone. however, be aware you could produce a foal
the linear profile, combined with the inspectors’ comments. this which combines the extremes of both parents. a better choice
gives a picture of the horse’s strengths and weaker areas. With may be to find a stallion which is just a little stronger than the aver-
this information it is possible to make informed breeding decisions. age and aim to move by smaller steps through each generation,
concentrating on trying to produce the offspring to be as correct,
Before starting to breed, you need to know what type of active and balanced as possible.
horse you wish to produce from your mare. the starting although half of the genes come from each parent, some stallions
point will be the mare which you are intending to breed will stamp their foals or reliably pass on certain traits, as will some
from. It is important to assess the mare critically and it is useful mares. If linear profiling of Irish Draughts is given the opportu-
to have the independent evaluation which experienced inspectors nity to be further developed, as it has been for some other horse
can provide. It is also helpful if you know the characteristics of the breeds, then we could look forward to having profiles based, not
dam and sire line of the mare and what type of progeny she has al- only on the individuals which have been inspected, but also on
ready produced. this includes not only their appearance but also their progeny. this would be particularly useful, as it tells us about
their character, soundness and quirks. Very good dam lines can the type of foals which a stallion produces.
30 IrIsh Draught horse socIety of North amerIca | 2016 aNNual BlarNey eDItIoN
