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PeerJ2026; 14; e21369; doi: 10.7717/peerj.21369

Is the walk and trot efficiency a hereditary trait in primitive Konik Polski horses?

Abstract: Performance testing is a critical tool for achieving genetic progress, yet its long-term effectiveness in primitive breeds under conservation programs is poorly documented. The Konik Polski horse breeding program aims to improve utility while preserving primitive characteristics. Unassigned: This retrospective study analyzed a 25-year longitudinal dataset ( = 1,608) from the official Field Performance Test to quantify genetic trends in gait efficiency, using nonparametric methods to assess the effects of test type, year, and age on stride length and speed at the walk and trot. To estimate heritability, a single-trait sire model and a linear mixed model were fitted. Unassigned: A significant positive trend was observed for walk stride length, which increased by approximately 10 cm under saddle and 19 cm in harness over the study period ( < 0.001). In contrast, trot stride length showed high variability but no consistent trend, whereas trot speed declined. A strong negative correlation between trot stride length and trot time ( =  - 0.51) confirmed that longer strides were associated with faster movement, which is a desirable trait. The analysis revealed moderate heritability for walk stride length (  = 0.277). Genealogical line accounted for a negligible proportion of the total phenotypic variance for most traits, and age at testing did not significantly influence performance. Walk- and trot-related performance traits were not highly heritable in Konik Polski horses. Overall, the results indicate that the level of preparation is the most critical factor.
©2026 Siemieniuch-Tartanus et al.
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Publication Date: 2026-05-27 PubMed ID: 42222488PubMed Central: PMC13221987DOI: 10.7717/peerj.21369Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

Overview

  • This study investigates whether the efficiency of walk and trot gaits in Konik Polski horses—a primitive breed—is heritable, using 25 years of performance data to analyze genetic trends and heritability of gait traits.
  • The research found moderate heritability for walk stride length but generally low heritability for gait efficiency traits, suggesting that training and preparation have a stronger impact than genetics in this breed.

Background and Importance

  • Performance testing is essential for genetic improvement in horses, as it measures traits directly linked to utility and functionality.
  • Primitive breeds like the Konik Polski are usually kept under conservation programs aiming to maintain their traditional characteristics, which can limit the intensity and scope of selective breeding.
  • The Konik Polski horse breeding program attempts to balance improving practical performance traits (like gait efficiency) while preserving the breed’s primitive features.

Study Design and Dataset

  • A retrospective analysis was conducted using a longitudinal dataset spanning 25 years with 1,608 individual performance records from official Field Performance Tests.
  • Key traits analyzed were stride length and speed during walk and trot gaits, evaluated both under saddle and in harness.
  • Nonparametric statistical methods assessed the influence of test type (under saddle or harness), testing year, and horse age on these gait traits.
  • Heritability was estimated using two approaches:
    • A single-trait sire model, focusing on genetic contributions from the sire line.
    • A linear mixed model to capture fixed and random effects including genetics and environmental influences.

Key Findings

  • A significant positive genetic trend was observed for walk stride length:
    • Under saddle, stride length increased by approximately 10 cm over the 25-year period.
    • In harness, stride length increased by about 19 cm.
  • Trot stride length did not show a consistent genetic trend and was highly variable.
  • Trot speed actually declined over the study period despite stride length variations.
  • There was a strong negative correlation (correlation coefficient approximately -0.51) between trot stride length and trot time:
    • This indicates that horses taking longer strides tended to move faster, which is a desirable trait in performance contexts.

Heritability and Genetic Contributions

  • Walk stride length showed moderate heritability: approximately 0.277 (where 0 means no genetic effect and 1 means fully genetic).
  • Other gait-related traits, including those related to trot, generally had low heritability, suggesting limited genetic influence.
  • Lineage or genealogical line contributed very little to phenotypic variance in gait traits, implying that differences were not strongly tied to specific family lines within the breed.
  • Age at testing had negligible effects on gait performance, indicating that differences were not due to maturity or aging within the tested age range.

Implications and Conclusions

  • The moderate heritability for walk stride length indicates there is some potential to improve this trait genetically through selective breeding, but this potential is limited in trot-related traits.
  • The lack of strong genetic influence on trot efficiency and speed suggests that management, conditioning, and training are more critical factors for improving these traits in Konik Polski horses.
  • Conservation breeding programs for primitive breeds like Konik Polski should focus heavily on preparation and training to enhance performance, while recognizing that genetic gains might be slow or limited for certain gait traits.
  • The study contributes valuable long-term data documenting how gait traits change over decades in a breed under conservation with limited selective pressure, informing future breeding and training strategies.

Cite This Article

APA
Siemieniuch-Tartanus M, Tomczyk-Wrona I, Tobolski D. (2026). Is the walk and trot efficiency a hereditary trait in primitive Konik Polski horses? PeerJ, 14, e21369. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.21369

Publication

PeerJ
ISSN: 2167-8359
NlmUniqueID: 101603425
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 14
Pages: e21369
PII: e21369

Researcher Affiliations

Siemieniuch-Tartanus, Marta
  • Department of Large Animal Diseases and Clinic, Warsaw University of the Life Science, Warsaw, Poland.
Tomczyk-Wrona, Iwona
  • Department of Farm Animal Biodiversity Conservation and Horse Breeding, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Cracov-Balice, Poland.
Tobolski, Dawid
  • Department of Large Animal Diseases and Clinic, Warsaw University of the Life Science, Warsaw, Poland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / genetics
  • Horses / physiology
  • Gait / genetics
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Breeding
  • Walking / physiology
  • Female
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare there are no competing interests.

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