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Genetics, selection, evolution : GSE2023; 55(1); 12; doi: 10.1186/s12711-023-00786-2

Adjusted fence height: an improved phenotype for the genetic evaluation of show jumping performance in Warmblood horses.

Abstract: Show jumping is one of the most popular disciplines in the horse sector, which makes success in show jumping competitions an important breeding goal for many studbooks. Therefore, the genetic evaluation of show jumping performance is of major interest and this is the case for two Belgian Warmblood studbooks: the Belgian Warmblood horse and Zangersheide. In this study, first an improved phenotype for show jumping performance was developed, i.e. adjusted fence height based on a new non-arbitrary method to scale ranking and competition level, which are two major components of success in competitions. Second, we assessed the importance of including a rider effect in genetic models for show jumping performance, this effect being under debate in sport horse breeding. Third, genetic models based on elementary performances and one model based on a summarized performance were compared in terms of model fit, heritabilities and the stability of estimated breeding values to define the most suitable one for the genetic evaluation of show jumping performance. Results: In this study, more than 600,000 Belgian competition records and almost 81,000 horses were used. Genetic evaluations were developed based on elementary performances (Blom-transformed ranking and adjusted fence height) and on a summarized performance (highest level achieved). Estimated heritabilities of Blom-transformed ranking, adjusted fence height and highest level achieved were 0.09, 0.12 and 0.39, respectively. Including a rider effect improved the models for genetic evaluations. Estimated genetic correlations between the studied models were moderate to high (rg = 0.60-0.99). With the best fit model, the accuracy of the estimated breeding value (EBV) for adjusted fence height reached 0.70 for a larger number of stallions and for stallions that tended to be younger. Conclusions: We recommend breeders to implement this new phenotype 'adjusted fence height' in breeding programs. It is moderately to highly correlated with Blom-transformed ranking and highest level achieved, a proxy for lifetime success, and is available for selection candidates from an early age onwards.
© 2023. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2023-02-23 PubMed ID: 36823617PubMed Central: PMC9948484DOI: 10.1186/s12711-023-00786-2Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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This study in horse breeding developed an improved method for evaluating the show jumping performance of Warmblood horses. A new phenotype, “adjusted fence height,” was introduced as a performance measurement, and the importance of factoring in the rider effect in genetic evaluations was shown. It included two Belgian Warmblood studbooks and analyzed over 600,000 competition records involving roughly 81,000 horses.

Methodology

  • The researchers developed an improved phenotype for measuring show jumping performance known as “adjusted fence height”. This method is non-arbitrary and takes into consideration the scaling of ranking and competition level, two major factors for success.
  • The study also investigated the relevance of including rider effect in the genetic models for show jumping performance.
  • The team compared different genetic models – one based on elementary performances, such as the new ‘adjusted fence height’ and Blom-transformed ranking, and the other based on summarized performance, such as the highest level achieved in competitions.

Findings

  • Analysis of over 600,000 Belgian competition records and almost 81,000 horses showed that heritability estimates for Blom-transformed ranking, adjusted fence height, and highest level achieved were 0.09, 0.12, and 0.39 respectively.
  • The inclusion of a rider effect in the genetic models was found to improve the accuracy of genetic evaluations.
  • Estimated genetic correlations between the studied models ranged from moderate to high (r = 0.60-0.99).
  • The model with the best fit showed the estimated breeding value (EBV) for adjusted fence height reaching 0.70 for a larger number of stallions and particularly for younger ones.

Recommendations

  • The researchers suggest implementing this new phenotype ‘adjusted fence height’ in breeding programs due to it’s moderate to high correlation with Blom-transformed ranking and highest level achieved – a feature which can be utilized to gauge long-term performance.
  • The advantage of using this method is that it provides information for early-stage selection candidates.

Cite This Article

APA
Chapard L, Van Thillo A, Meyermans R, Gorssen W, Buys N, Janssens S. (2023). Adjusted fence height: an improved phenotype for the genetic evaluation of show jumping performance in Warmblood horses. Genet Sel Evol, 55(1), 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12711-023-00786-2

Publication

Genetics, selection, evolution : GSE
ISSN: 1297-9686
NlmUniqueID: 9114088
Country: France
Language: English
Volume: 55
Issue: 1
Pages: 12

Researcher Affiliations

Chapard, Léa
  • Department of Biosystems, Center for Animal Breeding and Genetics, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001, Leuven, Belgium. lea.chapard@kuleuven.be.
Van Thillo, Anna
  • Department of Biosystems, Center for Animal Breeding and Genetics, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001, Leuven, Belgium.
Meyermans, Roel
  • Department of Biosystems, Center for Animal Breeding and Genetics, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001, Leuven, Belgium.
Gorssen, Wim
  • Department of Biosystems, Center for Animal Breeding and Genetics, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001, Leuven, Belgium.
Buys, Nadine
  • Department of Biosystems, Center for Animal Breeding and Genetics, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001, Leuven, Belgium.
Janssens, Steven
  • Department of Biosystems, Center for Animal Breeding and Genetics, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001, Leuven, Belgium.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses / genetics
  • Animals
  • Male
  • Sports
  • Phenotype

Grant Funding

  • 1104320N / Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
  • 1S37119N / Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
  • CHGS202103 / PaardenPunt Vlaanderen
  • CHGS202103 / Department Landbouw en Visserij, Flemish community
  • C24/18/036 / KU Leuven

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Walz KR, McCormick ME, Fedorka CE. The Thoroughbred Theory: Influence of Breed on Performance at the CCI5*-L Level of Eventing. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 18;15(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15121796pubmed: 40564347google scholar: lookup
  2. de la Cuesta-Torrado M, Velloso Alvarez A, Neira-Egea P, Cuervo-Arango J. Long-term performance of show-jumping horses and relationship with severity of ataxia and complications associated with myeloencephalopathy caused by equine herpes virus-1. J Vet Intern Med 2024 May-Jun;38(3):1799-1807.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.17070pubmed: 38609161google scholar: lookup
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