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Topic:Horse Breeds
Horse breeds represent the diverse genetic and phenotypic variations found within the species Equus ferus caballus. These breeds are categorized based on characteristics such as size, conformation, coat color, and temperament, which have been selectively bred over centuries to fulfill specific roles and functions. Common classifications of horse breeds include light horses, draft horses, and ponies, each serving different purposes ranging from riding and racing to work and companionship. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the genetics, history, and functional attributes of various horse breeds, as well as their impact on equine management and breeding practices.
Genetic characterization of Japanese native horse breeds by genotyping variants that are associated with phenotypic traits. Concerns have been raised about the loss of genetic diversity in Japanese native horses because of their declining populations. In this study, we investigated the genetic variation of four genes, myostatin (MSTN), ligand-dependent nuclear receptor corepressor like (LCORL), doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor 3 (DMRT3), and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1A (HTR1A), which are associated with horse phenotypic traits, in six Japanese horse breeds (Hokkaido, Kiso, Noma, Misaki, Tokara, and Yonaguni). MSTN, LCORL, DMRT3, and HTR1A showed polymorphisms in the Kiso; Hokkaido and Noma; Hokk...
Breed predispositions to congenital and juvenile cataracts in horses at two academic institutions. Determination of horse breeds predisposed to congenital and juvenile cataracts will enable investigations into potential genetic mechanisms for cataracts in horses. Objective: To investigate horse breed predispositions to congenital and juvenile cataracts in two academic referral populations. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Medical record identification of horses diagnosed with congenital or juvenile cataracts at the Cornell University Equine Hospital (2000-2022) and the University of California-Davis (UCD) Large Animal Clinic (1990-2021). Signalment, examination findings and trea...
DMRT3 Allele Frequencies in Batida- and Picada-Gaited Donkeys and Mules in Brazil. In Brazil, the production of mules with a comfortable gait primarily involves the breeding of marching saddle mules. This is achieved by crossing gaited Pêga donkeys with horses from the Mangalarga Marchador and Campolina breeds. The :g.22999655C>A SNP is implicated in regulating gait phenotypes observed in various horse breeds, including the batida (CC) and picada (CA) gaits found in these horse breeds. We aimed to determine if genotypes influenced gait type in 159 mules and 203 donkeys genotyped for the SNP by PCR-RFLP analysis. About 47% of mules had the CC-genotype, while 53% had the ...
Geometric morphometrics of face profile across horse breeds and within Arabian horses: Horse face geometric morphometrics. Horse traits under selection are largely quantitative and affected by multiple genes. Horse face shape is an example of a continuous trait, which due to the reliance on observational assessments, is classified into; "dished", "straight", and "roman-nosed". This categorization is often inadequate to convey the full spectrum of the face shape variation especially for genetic studies. The first objective of the current study was to use geometric morphometric methods to quantitatively phenotype face shapes and examine its variation across horse breeds. The second objective was to analyze the face ...
Common and atypical presentations of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in equids with emphasis on neurologic and muscle disease. Comprehensive descriptions of equids with granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA) with neurologic or muscle disease and other atypical presentations are scarce in the literature. Objective: Describe the clinical signs, laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome of equids with EGA with emphasis on neurologic and muscle disease. Methods: Thirty-eight horses, 1 donkey. Methods: Retrospective study. Equids with EGA were included. The electronic data base was searched from January 2000 to December 2022 using the words anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, granulocytic, and rickettsia. Signalment and clinical data w...
The Genetic Diversity of Horse Native Breeds in Russia. Horses were domesticated later than other farm animals. Horse breeds have been selectively developed by humans to satisfy different needs and purposes. The factory and indigenous breeds are of particular interest, having been bred in purity for many centuries without the addition of foreign blood. Data from 31 stud farms, as well as ranches, located in fifteen regions of the Russian Federation were used in this work. DNA was sampled from 102 stallions of 11 breeds: Arabian, Akhal-Teke, Don, Orlov Trotter, Vladimir Heavy Draft, Russian Heavy Draft, Soviet Heavy Draft, Kabardin, Yakut, Tuva, and...
Genome-wide copy number variation detection in a large cohort of diverse horse breeds by whole-genome sequencing. Understanding how genetic variants alter phenotypes is an essential aspect of genetic research. Copy number variations (CNVs), a type of prevalent genetic variation in the genome, have been the subject of extensive study for decades. Numerous CNVs have been identified and linked to specific phenotypes and diseases in horses. However, few studies utilizing whole-genome sequencing to detect CNVs in large horse populations have been conducted. Here, we performed whole-genome sequencing on a large cohort of 97 horses from 16 horse populations using Illumina Hiseq panels to detect common and breed-...
Identification and comparison of milk fat globule membrane and whey proteins from Selle Français, Welsh pony, and Tieling Draft horse mare’s milk. Horse's milk, with a high nutritional value and few allergenic proteins, could substitute cow's milk for infant consumption. Herein, a label-free, proteomic method was used to identify and compare milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) and whey proteins from three different horse breeds: Selle Français (SF), Welsh pony (WP), and Tieling Draft Horse (TDH). In MFGMs, 16 (SF), 66 (WP), and 45 (TDH) unique proteins were identified, which are involved in the endocytosis, ribosome, and staphylococcus aureus infection pathways, respectively. In whey, 31 (SF), 75 (WP), and 23 (TDH) unique proteins were ide...
Single nucleotide polymorphisms for parentage testing of horse breeds in Korea. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the usability single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for parentage testing of horse breeds in Korea. Unassigned: The genotypes of 93 horse samples (38 Thoroughbred horses, 17 Jeju horses, 20 Quarter horses, and 18 American miniature horses) were determined using 15 microsatellite (Ms) markers (AHT4, AHT5, ASB2, ASB17, ASB23, CA425, HMS1, HMS2, HMS3, HMS6, HMS7, HTG4, HTG10, LEX3, and VHL20) and 101 SNP markers. Unassigned: Paternity tests were performed using 15 Ms markers and 101 SNP markers in Thoroughbred horses and Quarter horses. AHT5, ASB2, ASB17, ASB2...
Novel polymorphisms in the prion protein gene (PRNP) and stability of the resultant prion protein in different horse breeds. Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders in which the main pathogenic event is the conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrP) into an abnormal and misfolded isoform known as PrP. Most prion diseases and their susceptibility and pathogenesis are mainly modulated by the PRNP gene that codes for PrP. Mutations and polymorphisms in the PRNP gene can alter PrP amino acid sequence, leading to a change in transmission efficiency depending on the place where it occurs. Horses are animals that are considered to be highly resistant to prions. Several studies have attempted to identify po...
Additional evidence supports GRM6 p.Thr178Met as a cause of congenital stationary night blindness in three horse breeds. Congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) is an ocular disorder characterized by nyctalopia. An autosomal recessive missense mutation in glutamate metabotropic receptor 6 (GRM6 c.533C>T, p.(Thr178Met)), called CSNB2, was previously identified in one Tennessee Walking Horse and predicted to reduce binding affinity of the neurotransmitter glutamate, impacting the retinal rod ON-bipolar cell signaling pathway. Thus, the first aim was to identify the allele frequency (AF) of CSNB2 in breeds with reported cases of CSNB and breeds closely related to the Tennessee Walking Horse. The second aim ...
Genetic Diversity of Kazakhstani Equus caballus (Linnaeus, 1758) Horse Breeds Inferred from Microsatellite Markers. Understanding the genetic diversity and structure of domesticated horse () populations is critical for long-term herd management and breeding programs. This study examines 435 horses from Kazakhstan, covering seven groups in three geographic areas using 11 STR markers. Identified are 136 alleles, with the mean number of alleles per locus ranging from 9 to 19. VHL20 is the most variable locus across groups, while loci HTG4, AHT4, AHT5, HTG7, and HMS3 are variable in most populations. The locus AHT5 in the Emba population shows the highest frequency of rare alleles, while the lowest frequency, 0...
Unravelling of the genetic diversity, population structure, and phylogenetic relationships of the indigenous horse breeds of Pakistan. The current study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity, level of admixture, and phylogenetic relationship, of the Pakistani horse breeds, along with their morphological characterization. Data for the body measurements showed that Morna horses had the highest values of body height, body length, chest girth, leg length, and head length, whereas the Baluchi horses had the lowest values for these traits. For the genetic diversity 64 animals, 15/breed except for Baluchi(14) and Topras(05), were genotyped by using the 17-plex equine genotyping kit. The AMOVA results showed that 13% of genetic div...
Plasma melatonin concentration during the early post-partum period in Thoroughbred mares and their foals. The authors aimed to determine the plasma melatonin concentration in mares and their new-born foals in the early post-partum period. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of 53 mare-foal pairs within twelve hours after parturition. Plasma melatonin levels were measured by ELISA. The melatonin concentration, adjusted for the moment of parturition using a generalised linear model, was 34.58 pg mL-1 in mares. It was significantly lower (27.63 pg mL-1) in the new-born foals. However, the melatonin concentration declined differently by the end of the twelve hours, it decreased less in...
Atrial fibrillation as a risk factor for exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage following a standardised exercise test. Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been proposed as a risk factor for exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) due to increased pressure in the left atrium. Objective: To evaluate if AF was associated with EIPH following a standardised exercise test (SET) to fatigue. Methods: Two-arm controlled experiment. Methods: Ten untrained Standardbred mares mean (standard deviation [SD]) age 6 (2) years performed a SET on the treadmill in sinus rhythm (SR) (SET1) and 25-44 days after induction of self-sustained AF (SET2). AF was induced by tachypacing using a pacing device. Endoscopy, including trachea...
Assessing the predictability of racing performance of Thoroughbreds using mixed-effects model. The inheritance of racing performance in Thoroughbreds is of interest to breeders and geneticists. Therefore, the genetic parameters of racing performance have been investigated in various populations of Thoroughbreds. However, the predictability of the racing performance of a racehorse has not been assessed well. In this study, we built mixed-effects models for Japanese Thoroughbreds and assessed their predictability of racing performance. We used the average velocity as an index of racing performance and treated each category of racecourse and distance as different traits. Model selection us...
Rotation of liquid-preserved artificial insemination doses on roller benches affects sperm quality during storage in stallions. Appropriate stallion semen handling is of great importance in equine artificial insemination (AI) industry. Optimal treatment of AI doses is aiming for best sperm preservation by excluding strong environmental influences and adding media that favour sperm survival. One method widely used in stallion sperm handling is the rotation of liquid-preserved semen samples on roller benches during storage. As previous studies in boars give rise to the fact that rotation should not be considered beneficial for spermatozoa anymore, the present study investigated the influence of continuous rotation of dil...
CKM intron: an appropriate marker for the determination of the genetic relationships among horse populations and breeds. To date, the origins, domestication, and genetic structure of Chinese Mongolian horses (CMH) are poorly understood. Furthermore, there have been sparse reports on the genetic differences between CMH and Thoroughbred. In order to determine their genetic structure, understand their genetic relationships, and explore their domestication processes, we performed an extensive survey of creatine kinase (muscle isoenzyme; variations among six populations of indigenous CMH, cultivated Sanhe horses, and imported Thoroughbred. Twenty-three single-nucleotide polymorphisms were found among the 343 horse s...
Genetic characterisation of the Connemara pony and the Warmblood horse using a within-breed clustering approach. The Connemara pony (CP) is an Irish breed that has experienced varied selection by breeders over the last fifty years, with objectives ranging from the traditional hardy pony to an agile athlete. We compared these ponies with well-studied Warmblood (WB) horses, which are also selectively bred for athletic performance but with a much larger census population. Using genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and whole-genome sequencing data from 116 WB (94 UK WB and 22 European WB) and 36 CP (33 UK CP and 3 US CP), we studied the genomic diversity, inbreeding and population structure of th...
Flow cytometric detection and identification of different leukocyte subpopulations in stallion semen. To improve accuracy in evaluating stallion ejaculates, an antibody-based, flow cytometric assay for the detection and identification of leukocyte subpopulations (CD4-, CD8-, CD21-, CD172a-positive cells) in stallion semen (n = 12) was established. For establishment of the assay, native semen was supplemented with blood leukocytes (control: 20% leukocytes, 80% sperm cells) and analysed by flow cytometry. Adding antioxidants (ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluol) to semen immediately after collection inhibited rapid death of lymphoid cells in sperm leukocyte mixtures. In control set-ups...
Genome-Wide Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism-Based Genomic Diversity and Runs of Homozygosity for Selection Signatures in Equine Breeds. The horse, one of the most domesticated animals, has been used for several purposes, like transportation, hunting, in sport, or for agriculture-related works. Kathiawari, Marwari, Manipuri, Zanskari, Bhutia, Spiti, and Thoroughbred are the main breeds of horses, particularly due to their agroclimatic adaptation and role in any kind of strong physical activity, and these characteristics are majorly governed by genetic factors. The genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of these Indian equine breeds using microsatellite markers have been reported, but further studies exploring the SNP d...
Electrocardiographic Reference Values in Clinically Healthy Lusitano Horses. The Lusitano horse is gaining popularity in the equestrian world, and as a result, the significance of applied sports medicine for this breed is growing. As cardiology plays a crucial role in this field, numerous studies have been conducted to establish electrocardiographic reference values in various breeds to ensure a more accurate evaluation. However, studies regarding healthy Lusitano horses are lacking. So, this study aimed to establish electrocardiographic reference values for Lusitano horses, utilizing a sample of 82 clinically healthy animals. The evaluation involved lead II and base-a...
Genomic screening of allelic and genotypic transmission ratio distortion in horse. The phenomenon in which the expected Mendelian inheritance is altered is known as transmission ratio distortion (TRD). The TRD analysis relies on the study of the transmission of one of the two alleles from a heterozygous parent to the offspring. These distortions are due to biological mechanisms affecting gametogenesis, embryo development and/or postnatal viability, among others. In this study, TRD phenomenon was characterized in horses using SNP-by-SNP model by TRDscan v.2.0 software. A total of 1,041 Pura Raza Español breed horses were genotyped with 554,634 SNPs. Among them, 277 horses ge...
Y-Chromosome Haplotype Report among Eight Italian Horse Breeds. Horse domestication and breed selection processes have profoundly influenced the development and transformation of human society and civilization over time. Therefore, their origin and history have always attracted much attention. In Italy, several local breeds have won prestigious awards thanks to their unique traits and socio-cultural peculiarities. Here, for the first time, we report the genetic variation of three loci of the male-specific region of the Y chromosome (MSY) of four local breeds and another one (Lipizzan, UNESCO) well-represented in the Italian Peninsula. The analysis also inc...
The Characteristics, Distribution, Function, and Origin of Alternative Lateral Horse Gaits. This article traces the characteristics, origin, distribution, and function of alternative lateral horse gaits, i.e., intermediate speed lateral-sequence gaits. Such alternative lateral gaits (running walk, rack, broken pace, hard pace, and broken trot) are prized by equestrians today for their comfort and have been found in select horse breeds for hundreds of years and even exhibited in fossil equid trackways. After exploring the evolution and development of alternative lateral gaits via fossil equid trackways, human art, and historical writings, the functional and genetic factors that led to...
Genetic structure and genome-wide association study of the traditional Kazakh horses. Horses are traditionally used in Kazakhstan as a source of food and as working and saddle animals as well. Here, for the first time, microarray-based medium-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping of six traditionally defined types and breeds of indigenous Kazakh horses was conducted to reveal their genetic structure and find markers associated with animal size and weight. The results showed that the predefined separation between breeds and sampled populations was not supported by the molecular data. The lack of genetic variation between breeds and populations was revealed by t...
Genetic History of the Altai Breed Horses: From Ancient Times to Modernity. This study focuses on expanding knowledge about the genetic diversity of the Altai horse native to Siberia. While studying modern horses from two Altai regions, where horses were subjected to less crossbreeding, we tested the hypothesis, formulated on the basis of morphological data, that the Altai horse is represented by two populations (Eastern and Southern) and that the Mongolian horse has a greater genetic proximity to Eastern Altai horses. Bone samples of ancient horses from different cultures of Altai were investigated to clarify the genetic history of this horse breed. As a genetic mark...
Mitochondrial DNA sequencing illuminates genetic diversity and origin of Hunagrian Nonius horse breed and his relatives – Danubian horse and Serbian Nonius. From a historical perspective, horse breeding in Bulgaria has been very well developed since the time of the Thracians (early Bronze Age c. 3000 BCE). Archaeological discoveries from this era present us with an extremely rich type diversity, including wild and local primitive horses, the prototype of heavy draft horses, and fine riding horses.The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic structure of unexamined populations of three closely related horse breeds - the Danubian Nonius Hungarian Nonius and Serbian Nonius horses. A 608?bp long fragment of the mtDNA D-loop region was am...
The Genetic Diversity of Stallions of Different Breeds in Russia. The specifics of breeding and selection significantly affect genetic diversity and variability within a breed. We present the data obtained from the genetic analysis of 21 thoroughbred and warmblood horse breeds. The most detailed information is described from the following breeds: Arabian, Trakehner, French Trotter, Standardbred, and Soviet Heavy Horse. The analysis of 509,617 SNP variants in 87 stallions from 21 populations made it possible to estimate the genetic diversity at the genome-wide level and distinguish the studied horse breeds from each other. In this study, we searched for heter...
Heterologous Seminal Plasma Reduces the Intracellular Calcium and Sperm Viability of Cryopreserved Stallion Spermatozoa. Despite the vital role of seminal plasma (SP) in maintaining sperm function and aiding gamete interaction in many species, SP is usually removed before cryopreservation of stallion sperm to improve cryosurvival of sperm. The present study assessed if the vital sperm functional parameters of genetically superior stallions producing poor quality semen can be enhanced by the supplementation of heterologous SP from the stallion producing high quality semen. Spermatozoa from poor quality semen producing stallions were divided into three aliquots: two aliquots were supplemented with SP obtained from...
