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Equine veterinary journal2009; 41(2); 139-143; doi: 10.2746/042516409x366130

Heritability of foot conformation and its relationship to sports performance in a Dutch Warmblood horse population.

Abstract: Warmblood horse studbooks aim to breed horses with a conformation that will enable elite future performance, but reduce the risk of injuries and lameness. Negative conformational traits, such as asymmetrical or 'uneven' forefeet would possibly diminish performance. Objective: To assess the prevalence and heritability of uneven feet and its genetic relationship to other conformation traits as well as to sporting performance later in life in Warmblood riding horses. Methods: The databases of the Royal Dutch Warmblood Studbook (KWPN, n = 44,840 horses) and Royal Dutch Equestrian Sports Federation (KNHS, n = 33,459 horses in dressage and n = 30,474 horses in showjumping) were linked through the unique number of each registered horse. Therefore, heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic correlations could be estimated from the scores of the jury at studbook admission and the sports performance of that population in dressage and jumping over the period 1990-2002. Results: The prevalence of uneven feet was 53% on average, and increased from under 4.5% during the first 3 years of recording to over 8% in the years from 2000 onwards. Heritability estimates of foot conformation traits were moderate and ranged from 0.16 for heel height to 0.27 for hoof shape. The genetic correlation between the trait of uneven feet and performance in competition was negative but weak: -0.09 with dressage and -0.12 with showjumping. Conclusions: Predisposition to uneven feet can be reduced by selection. Because of weak genetic correlations, the increased prevalence is not directly associated with selection for better sports performance or higher conformation grade. If the trait 'uneven feet' arises from a disproportionate relationship between height at the withers and neck length, then selection on conformation grade might result in development of uneven feet. In general, limb conformation has a moderate genetic relationship to conformation grade and foot conformation traits have a genetic relationship to sporting performance. Reducing occurrence of uneven feet by selection is possible, without limiting progress in sport performance.
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Publication Date: 2009-05-08 PubMed ID: 19418741DOI: 10.2746/042516409x366130Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research paper delves into the investigation of heredity factors concerning foot conformation in Dutch Warmblood horses and draws a connection to their sports performance. The researchers found moderate heritability for foot traits, and a weak negative correlation between uneven feet and performance. The paper ends by suggesting that selection can reduce uneven feet prevalence without hurting sports performance.

Methods

  • The researchers amassed data from the Royal Dutch Warmblood Studbook, which had information on 44,840 horses, and the Royal Dutch Equestrian Sports Federation, that had records of 33,459 dressage horses and 30,474 showjumping horses.
  • By linking the two databases using the unique numbers of each registered horse, the researchers were able to estimate heritabilities, as well as genetic and phenotypic correlations, by examining the jury scores at studbook admission and the corresponding sports performance scores between 1990 and 2002.

Results

  • The researchers noticed that unevenly formed feet were prevalent in an average of 53% of horses.
  • Despite this, the heritability estimates for foot conformation traits were only moderate, ranging from 0.16 for heel height to 0.27 for hoof shape.
  • Furthermore, the correlation between uneven feet and sports performance was found to be negative but slight, being -0.09 with dressage and -0.12 with showjumping.

Conclusions

  • The researchers concluded that selection breeding could reduce the predisposition for uneven feet.
  • However, the paper also argued that the increased prevalence of uneven feet cannot be directly linked with selection for better sports performance or a higher conformation grade due to weak correlations.
  • A caution was also issued if uneven feet came as a result of disproportionate relationships between the horse’s height at the withers and neck length, due to potential development of uneven feet if selection was based on conformation grade.
  • In summary, the researchers concluded that limb conformation has a moderate genetic relationship to the conformation grade, and foot conformation traits maintain a genetic connection to performance in sports. Therefore, selecting for reduction of uneven feet can occur without limiting advancements in sports performance.

Cite This Article

APA
Ducro BJ, Bovenhuis H, Back W. (2009). Heritability of foot conformation and its relationship to sports performance in a Dutch Warmblood horse population. Equine Vet J, 41(2), 139-143. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516409x366130

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 41
Issue: 2
Pages: 139-143

Researcher Affiliations

Ducro, B J
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Bovenhuis, H
    Back, W

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Bone and Bones / anatomy & histology
      • Bone and Bones / physiology
      • Breeding
      • Female
      • Forelimb / anatomy & histology
      • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
      • Hoof and Claw / anatomy & histology
      • Hoof and Claw / pathology
      • Hoof and Claw / physiology
      • Horses / anatomy & histology
      • Horses / genetics
      • Horses / physiology
      • Male
      • Netherlands
      • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
      • Quantitative Trait, Heritable
      • Selection, Genetic
      • Sports

      Citations

      This article has been cited 18 times.
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