Breeding for Bloodlines or Type?

[Michelle Clarke]

Talking about the Columbian Paso breeders putting in Lusitano every nine generations(and the fact the foals are registered as purebreds), brought a question to mind.

When do you think a breed should register on the fact that a horse comes from pure bloodlines or when should a breed register based on type? What are the positives and negatives of each? Do you see any benefit in bringing in "new blood"?

I know of a Lusitano breeder that uses a PRE mares in his program. He uses this mare because the Lusitano gene pool in the USA is small (700 horses), and essentially all the Lusos are very related. However, he works hard at "improving" on that mare and making sure the stallions he uses covers up her weak points. He quickly breeds back in the Luso type, but valueing the diversity the mare brings into the blood.

There are Kigers and other spanish mustangs included in the Sorraia stud book.....

[DianneC]

I think it should be on type and bloodlines, pure ones. Its great to cross out and call it that. And it exposes a whole other group of people to Kigers to register them as half Andalusian, etc. and show them as such. But after all that has happened in the Kiger world it would be a mistake in my opinion to bring in outside blood and call it purebred.

[Michelle Clarke]

Dianne, I agree, I don't think the Kiger needs anymore messen' with!!!!

[desperatehorsewife]

While an occasional outcross, especially early on in a breed's development, may be beneficial, I think one look at the current Morgan horse should be enough to scare any responsible, Kiger loving person into being very careful in that regard.

[JoanMRK]

Yes, Tracey, good point. The 'new' Morgans are nothing like their older counterparts. My mom has a stout little morgan mare who is built like a brick... she's 28 years old now.

[fantasykiger]

I have to agree I own/ride a foundation Lippett Morgan and she is not pretty nor flashy. When my daughter showed her in 4-H the judge refered to her as a nice gelding...LOL. She is big and 26 yrs old and going strong still. There may be a place for the slight flashly Morgan in the show ring. I have more use for the heavier built foundation, long lasting Morgan ,myself.
I am proud to say my half Kiger comes from foundation Kiger Mustang lines, be they gray, with Mestana. I do believe we need to hang on to those foundation lines and breed for type from there. You can still have your half breeds if your looking for something extreme spanish type or lustino type or even Arab type for endurance riding or QH type for reining.

[desperatehorsewife]

I'm a huge fan of the old morgan. My first horse was half, and he was nice and broad. No mistaking his morgan heritage, even here in quarter horse country. Quiet Storm had that same old morgan look, and as she came from Coyote Lakes that would stand to reason (lots of cavalry horses there.)

There are times when I look at Firecracker and think of the old morgans as well...but maybe that's because she 'parks' whenever she's nervous about something new? I've wondered if there was a bit of Spanish something mixed into those old morgan horses, though, as I often catch little glimpses of similarities.

[JoanMRK]

I think it should be both. What attracted me to my now gelding, Sunnie, was his bloodlines at first then his type. I received an impressive video from his breeder (his movement at a few months old was awesome) that really sold me. He grew and was a dorky looking foal, yearling and even two year old. I was really second guessing my pick in him as my breeding stallion... then he turned three... wow! He was everything I hoped for, balanced, gorgeous, fluid movement, his body parts all came together and flowed. But, I knew that given his bloodlines in the beginning, I had really something that could blossom and become amazing, and he is. He even has a big fan, Gin of Hilltop Farms, after training him for a few months. ;D
So, I think that both are important in selecting breeding stock. Neither should be taken for granted.

[desperatehorsewife]

Poor boy was just going through those teen age boy years where they're soooo appealing, lol! The AKC finally developed a class for dogs during that stage of their lives because they obviously weren't puppies, but completely unable to compete with those who'd matured. Sometimes it's really hard to see what's going to develop, let alone wait it out.

[DianneC]

Girls get those teenage awkward stages too. All the parts may be nice but they don't quite go together. A friend and I were talking about a couple of our long yearlings turning homely and she said "let's put bags over their heads and hide them behind the barn until they're three". It stuck with me. I like to look at foals at three days when they've fluffed out, at three months and again as they lose their winter coat as a yearling. If that looks good then I have the faith to wait until they are three.

[fantasykiger]

I have to say I really thought that Fantasy was an ugly baby, then she was OK about 3mths old. Then as a 2 yr old she was down right awkward with a giant head and slight body at least it appeared that way. I took up educating myself about Kiger Mustangs after she was born, I learned about bloodlines first as that was easiest to trace, then started asking questions about type. Developing my own personal preferences in the proccess, as it was a long one. Fantasy came together as a 4yr old and pretty much lived up to her name in appearance as Tiffany's Fantasy.

[lwood92]

We always tease around the barn that all the foals go through really awkard stages, and sometimes look really awful! My horse Solana is the true acception! She has not had one ugly day in her life! And I am not just saying that because she is mine, everyone says it!

[nightangel]

Lana does have the most beautiful face and the sweetest look in her eye. I agree Lynn, she has NEVER had a bad day. ;D

[lwood92]

Thanks, Em!