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Preservation Breeding
What is it? What can I do? This article may be downloaded for personal use only. For information on reprint rates please send me e-mail at oogiem@desertweyr com
What is it?
The Arabian breed is blessed with a large number of different genetic populations. There are horses that are best suited to dressage, to endurance, to saddle seat riding and to western events by physical conformation and other genetically controlled factors. This genetic wealth is the main reason the Arabian is the foundation for all the light horse breeds. Without the variation in the Arabian there would be nothing to use to improve or create other breeds.
Preservation breeding is a description of the practice of preserving genetic variability by breeding animals within specific bloodline groups. The Arabian breed may be descended from as few as 250 ancestral Arabian horses from the late 1700's. This is a very small population and denotes rather significant inbreeding. Preservation breeding can be used to keep our already limited genetic variability around for later generations. Who knows what styles of riding will be popular in 100 years? If we eliminate some particular type of animal now just because it does not fit into the current popular styles we may be crippling ourselves in the future. Just as preserving a rainforest is important because of the number of species that live there preserving all the bloodlines of Arabians is important because of the role of the Arabian in improving riding animals world wide.
There are many different preservation breeding programs being carried on at this time in the United Stated. Straight Davenport, CMK, Crabbet, Jockey Club, Al Khamsa and straight Egyptian are examples of specific programs that fall under the preservation umbrella. The hallmark of these programs is generally that the animals and bloodlines are relatively small in number compared to the overall Arabian population. Bloodlines that are numerous may also be bred in a strict fashion but rarely need preserving.
The preservation breeder first considers all animals in light of a well defined breeding goal. Without knowing where you are headed it is impossible to know when you arrive so a clearly defined goal is necessary. Within the context of the overall goal a preservation breeder will consider the genetic contribution of the specific animal. Sire or dam lines that are endangered are noted and special effort is made to breed the replacement fillies and future stallions to carry on the tradition. Cooperative agreements with other breeders working in the same group are common.
What Can I Do?
Without the breeders who continue to produce animals that cover the wide range of ancestral types the Arabian breed would be doomed to a bland sameness. Much of the charm and glory of the will be lost if we do not seek to perpetuate the differences that made the breed great. When you consider breeding your mare or stallion evaluate your actions as a steward of the genetic gift your inherited. If your mare or stallion falls within a rare bloodline or a special group then consider providing breeding opportunities within that group as well as outside breedings. Only if all breeders are aware of what the preservation programs offer can we meet the challenges that our horses will face in the next hundred years.
I am an Arabian breeder. It is my firm belief that within the Arabian exists all horses. Somewhere in the Arabian breed are the seeds for performing whatever task or discipline you desire. The Arabian is versatile and this versatility comes from genetic variation. If you do not find what you are seeking in the blends or currently popular show horses then consider doing some research into preservation lines. You just might find that some small breeder with only a few mares has the exact type of animal for you.
Remember extinction is forever and it can happen to bloodlines as easily as species.
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