Lineage in horses refers to the genetic heritage and ancestry that influence a horse's characteristics, performance, and breeding value. It encompasses the study of pedigrees, genetic markers, and inheritance patterns to understand traits passed from one generation to the next. Lineage analysis is utilized in breeding programs to enhance desirable traits such as speed, endurance, temperament, and conformation. This topic includes investigations into the genetic diversity within horse populations, the impact of selective breeding, and the identification of genetic disorders. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methodologies, findings, and implications of lineage studies in equine genetics and breeding strategies.
STORMONT C, SUZUKI Y.WHEN a registered Thoroughbred mare in the United States is bred to two registered Thoroughbred stallions, the resulting foal can be registered only as the offspring of both stallions. This method of double registry has obvious disadvantages when it comes to keeping records of pedigrees. The Jockey Club, which is the registry organization for Thoroughbred horses in the United States, would like to keep the number of double-registered horses at a minimum. In that connection certain tests have now been developed in our laboratory which will permit exclusion of one of the two stallions in abou...
The Estonian Native Horse (ENH) is a medium-size pony found mainly in the western islands of Estonia and is well-adapted to the harsh northern climate and poor pastures. The ancestry of the ENH is debated, including alleged claims about direct descendance from the extinct Tarpan. Here we conducted a detailed analysis of the genetic makeup and relationships of the ENH based on the genotypes of 15 autosomal short tandem repeats (STRs), 18 Y chromosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), mitochondrial D-loop sequence and lateral gait allele in DMRT3. The study encompassed 2890 horses of 61 b...
Feral horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) represent an iconic era of the North Dakota Badlands. Their uncertain history raises management questions regarding origins, genetic diversity, and long-term genetic viability. Hair samples with follicles were collected from 196 horses in the Park and used to sequence the control region of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and to profile 12 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) markers. Three mtDNA haplotypes found in the TRNP horses belonged to haplogroups L and B. The control region variation was low with haplotype diversity of 0.5271, nucleotide...
Karlau A, Azcona F, Molina A, Trigo P, Sánchez-Serrano JP, Demyda-Peyrás S.The Peruano de Paso is a horse breed renowned for its smooth gait, traditionally selected based on breeders' empirical knowledge. Recently, the frequency of chestnut horses, a recessive trait, has increased substantially within the official studbook. This study evaluated whether preference for chestnut coat colour has influenced morphological traits and genetic diversity within the breed. A total of 8376 records of seven morphological traits, collected by the Peruano de Paso Breeders Association over eight years, were analysed, along with a pedigree including 41,357 individuals. Morphological ...
Pepper B, North E, Culwell J, Nicodemus MC, Cavinder C, Harvey K, Williams T.Due to the incorporation of the Golden American Saddlebred Horse Association (GASHA) into the American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA), breeding for coat color has become more challenging for horse breeders. However, with this merger, pedigree tracing can be of value in pinpointing foundation bloodlines within the GASHA that influence production of the golden coat phenotype. Objective: The study objective was to document the historical origins of the GASHA through pedigree tracing to determine the influence of dilution alleles that produce the golden coat phenotype. Methods: ...
Jlassi M, Dhifalli I, Ouled Ahmed H, Lasfar F, El Gtari M, Jemmali B.The genetic diversity and population structure of Tunisian Arabian horses were assessed using highly polymorphic microsatellite markers, which are critical for conservation and breeding programs. Despite the cultural and economic importance of Arabian horses in Tunisia, molecular data supporting their management remain limited. In this study, DNA from 130 horses was genotyped with 17 ISAG-FAO-recommended microsatellites to evaluate diversity within Eastern and Western Arabian lineages and their relationship to Thoroughbreds. Eastern Arabians showed an average of 5.176 alleles per locus, observ...
Błaszczak A, Stefaniuk-Szmukier M, Długosz B, Musiał AD, Olczak K, Ropka-Molik K. The Hucul horse breed formed in the region of the Eastern Carpathians, likely through the natural crossbreeding of oriental horses. After World War II, their population significantly decreased, leading to the breeding being based on only 14 female lines, whose founders often had unknown origins. To preserve the breed's unique characteristics, it is now part of a Genetic Resources Conservation Program, which prioritizes the maintenance of genetic diversity. This study aims to clarify the maternal relatedness of founder mares and assess genetic diversity using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The hy...
