A study of the relationship between temperament of thoroughbred broodmares and performance of offspring.

The research conducted by Betsy Worth Estes, Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, explores the connection between the temperament of Thoroughbred broodmares and the performance of their offspring. The study investigates whether high-spirited mares produce offspring with better racing performance than offspring of more calm and phlegmatic mares.

Research Objectives

• The study investigates a common assertion among experienced horse breeders and handlers that nervous or high-spirited broodmares typically produce better performing racing offspring compared to their calmer, or ‘phlegmatic’, counterparts.
• The author aimed to empirically test this widely held belief, studying whether offspring from high-spirited dams perform better in races than those from phlegmatic dams.
• Additionally, the research sought to determine how close the relationship is between the racing class of high-strung mares and their offspring compared to the relationship between phlegmatic dams and their offspring.

Foundation and Significance of the Study

• A better understanding of the correlation between a mare’s temperament and the future racing performance of her offspring could significantly impact the Thoroughbred breeding industry.
• The study also offered the possibility of unravelling psychological characteristics in one of the larger animal species, the Thoroughbred horse, which may be linked to its performance abilities.

The Temperament-Performance Theory

• There is a widely held belief in the Thoroughbred breeding sector that high-spirited horses are often strong runners with a tremendous will to win, suggesting a close connection between a horse’s disposition and its ability to win races.
• This belief has led to a theory that a horse’s temperament could significantly influence its racing prowess. However, the study emphasizes that this relationship is not fully substantiated and requires empirical evidence.

Horse Breeds and Temperament

• Among different horse breeds, it seems there may be a connection between temperament and speed.
• Thoroughbred horses are known as a ‘hot-blooded breed’ as opposed to ‘cold-blooded breeds’, suggesting a higher level of nervous tension in Thoroughbreds.
• This higher ‘nervous energy’ could be a contributing factor to their racing abilities making them outrun other breeds.