ARTICLES

Animal science (zootechnics) deals with animal husbandry and breeding. It encompasses not only such disciplines as genetics, reproduction and feeding, but covers also animal improvement. Thus, animal science provides scientific foundations for actions undertaken by horse breeders. These actions entail continuous efforts to improve the genetic structure of the animal population – here horses – reared in given environmental conditions through the application of various breeding methods. Animal improvement, or breeding work can be divided into stages: choosing animals for breeding (mating pairs), recording their production value  and evaluating the breeding value of individuals qualified for further breeding. The last of these stages, involving the proces of evaluating and selecting a given individual for breeding, consists of three selection levels. These levels ultimately enable us to find the required stallion that qualifies for further breeding. In order to do so, initially one has to determine the value of a stallion assigned for reproduction. In the proces, distinction has to be made between two fundamentally different terms used in breeding: production value and breeding value. 

The races test the bravery of Polish Arabian horses, photo R. Reed

Production value denotes the level of performance set by the environment that can be measured, horse racing being an excellent example of same.  Breeding value, on the other hand, is a genetically determined ability of a farm animal to transmit to his offspring certain revealed trait or  traits. Such ability results from an aggregate effect of genes upon a certain quantative trait – with respect to horses such traits being speed and bravery. A sufficiently valid indicator of an animal’s breeding value is the difference between his own quality and the average quality of his native population achieved in average environmental conditions, which constitutes the so called selection differential. Information about the breeding value of a stallion is very important, as it serves as an excellent criterion upon which efficient selection can be made, thus leading to selection response.

Druid (Wojsław - Dalida by Probat), photo Irina Filsinger

Unfortunately, a breeder is unable to assess directly the breeding value of a given individual, as it resides in the phenotypic value of a given trait. Therefore, he needs to use data referring to a specifically defined trait. These traits under consideration are performance of ancestors, own performance, performance of his offspring and collateral, as well as a combination of these sources. The efficiency of such analysis depends on the quality and accuracy of data at the breeder’s disposal originating from the control of a given animal’s performance results, as well as these of his collateral. As regards the Arabian horse, it is extremely difficult to obtain such results, as we lack breeding activities  that could fulfill the function of such control. Additional difficulty stems from the fact that the bravery trial has been abandoned (bravery trial being an objective, though not a determinant method of evaluation) as well as from the bonitation of horses before their incorporation into the herd (meaning phenotypic compatibility with the standard adopted by the breeding program). The lack of credible methods of controlling (evaluating) performance has a negative impact upon the pace of the selection response (breeding progress) within a herd of Arabian horses. Contemporary horse shows do not fulfill that controlling function either, since the evaluation methods applied there are subject to many variables, starting from subjective view based on personal preferences, through the play of contraditory interests among judges, till the lack of professional knowledge, such as no understanding of the relationship between the horse’s anatomy and his performance, as well as  striking ignorance as to the purpose of breeding and the  native (Polish) breeding program. Despite all those limitations and difficulties, the only proper  method to select a sire is the three level selection based upon the following criteria:

I   -  pedigree

II   - individual performance

III -  performance of offspring and collateral 

Equator, photo Ewa Imielska-Hebda

Simple service registers compiled already in the 18th century not only enabled to arrange first shallow pedigrees, but first and foremost, they marked the beginning of modern and concious breeding. With the addition of new generations, pedigrees became so extended, that today horses with the oldest pedigrees, such as thoroughbreds or trakehners, boast of pedigrees counting thousands of ancestors. Not many less generations can be traced among the Polish Arabian horses, whose known ancestors date back to the first decade of the nineteenth century. Thus, the pedigree of a contemporary stallion consists of thousands of ancestors known by their name, but often also by their individual traits, inluding performance. Additional valuable information revealed by the pedigree include affiliation to a given breeding line, methods of mating used or possible relation (kinship) with the population where the stallion is to be used. Such data present in the pedigree allow us to draw conclusions regarding what to expect from a given individual. However, the majority of breeders ignore that aspect of a horse’s pedigree. Instead, the pedigree is used mainly to identify valuable horses present in that pedigree. Simply speaking, at this stage of selection, the knowledge (but mainly from heresay) of famous horses by known names may constitute a decive factor in the usefulness of a pedigree for a given breeding. Nowadays, pedigrees of most solid breedings fulfill the analysis of pedigree so understood, and all of them  have in their  pedigrees famous ancestors. Unfortunaly, the fame of several ancestors in an extended pedigree is not enough. Such approach often results in a distorted and erroneous view of an individual’s quality, but primarily of his usefulness in a given herd. The availablity of qualitative data including the performance and achivements of ancestors of an individual under evaluation increases the accuracy of conclusions that may be drawn to assess properly the breeding value.

Etien MJ (Cyclone OS - Eleanor MJ by Empire), photo Glenn Jacobs

Initial information about the individual performance of a stallion can be obtained already in the early stages of his life. Successive information appear as the individual achieves reproductional maturity (primarily regarding fertility, quality of semen, build or character). While evaluating the breeding value of an individual upon criteria not related to his sex, where the source of information lies in his own performance (quality), it is necessary to take into consideration the difference between own performance and average performance for the population, as well as the trait heritability rate. The term performance denotes any given trait or a combination of traits revealed in the phenotype related to production value, build or other that are preferred by the breeder. Evaluation of performance constitutes an important element in the process of selecting stallions for breeding (especially in  half-breds, but neglected in purebred arabian horses in Poland) as well as  quality assesment of a male individual in the case of pure races. Evaluation of performance also entails the assessment of individual characteristics of a given horse, such as build, character or aptitude for a given usage. This is a very important level, as  performance in sports, racing or even shows (as in the case of a segment of Arabian horse population) determines future utility of a stallion as sire. In the case of Arabian horses, only a limited number of candidates manage to pass that  evaluation  positively: not more than very few of them can become in a given year a champion of the most important shows, the world championships, european championships or winners of classical prizes. Basically, stallions from outside of this elite are beyond any interest, as the use of a sire that does not fulfill the quality criterion confirmed by a/m victories (if these trials are the proper criterion) is connected with the risk of a breeding failure.

Star Farid (RFI Farid - EKS Star of Africa by Marwan Al Shaqab), photo Ewa Imielska-Hebda

Certainly, phenotypic traits not revealed in a given individual may appear in the subsequent generation despite their lesser frequency, but such a probability is very limited. Yet, for a variety of reasons, for example the lack of access to the desired stallion, this chance is being exploited, and quite often with success.  This was the situation faced by private breeders in Poland years ago, as they were limited by the lack of cooperation from the state studs and a simultanous lack of possibility to use artificial insemination.  Despite the fact that those breeders had to use stallions with lesser frequency of certain genes revealed phenotypically, quite often they obtained spectacular effects of their work.  

Sahm El Arab (WH Justice - Om El Excella by Al Lahab), photo Gigi Grasso

To a certain extent, these successes are to be linked with the general level of the Polish breeding and the quality of herds from where originated the stallions used by private breedings. Therefore, while evaluating a given stallion and his utility, one has to take into account a very important factor, namely the level of breeding represented by that individual, The said level of breeding conditions his utility, i.e. his breeding value to a greater extent than individual characteristics.  The most recent such example in the Arabian horse breeding in Poland is the use of Sahm El Arab, a stallion not without flaws in his individual traits (characteristics). Sahm El Arab is the son of a highly acclaimed and highly valued sire WH Justice and an extremely valuable dam Om El Excella  (among others, she is the dam of a mare Om El Erodite by EKS Alihandro, currently holding the record in the auction sale result, being 1,55 million dollars achieved during the Marquise Invitational Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona in February 2017).  Sahm El Arab came from the high level Om El Arab breeding, and so he carried more with his genotype than with his own presentation. Though the sire was used on a limited scale – barely several breedings – Sahm El Arab proved to be the right choice, as confirmed by the fact that his offspring born in 2018 in Michałów  turned out above the average in the herd, to mention El Esmera, Emarella, Florissima, Pointer, Egoista or Goltemma. However,  it is very easy to succumb to superficial knowledge, as shown by the following opinion about the stallion Salm El Arab expressed publicly: „ He is a stallion  not of the second quality, but of the tenth quality and nobody wants to look at him”. One can only speculate whether that opinion resulted from ignorance about breeding or intentional wish to harm the Polish breeding by efforts to belittle all breeding activities undertaken at that time. Seemingly, fulfilling the condition of high individual performance is the measure of the high level attained by the breeding. However, at this point we need to stress the word „seemingly”.  Frequently, the effect of heterosis in breeding is confused with the phenotypic effect achieved in connection with a perpetuated and consolidated genotype.  That is not to say that exploiting by the breeder the effect of heterosis is an error, but it tells only about the individual value of an animal and in breeding, that feature is not an end in itself, but only an initial step for further combinations (breeding work). Consequently, knowledge resulting from an analysis of pedigree in level I is extremely important, due to the fact that it answers the question whether the phenotypic value of features analysed in level II arises from features anchored in the genotype or from the effect of heterosis. 

D Kaheel (FA El Rasheem - D Muwadah by QR Marc), photo Ewa Imielska-Hebda

Has Rasheed (FA El Rasheem - Sahara by Royal by Royal Colours), photo Alessio Azzali

The last and decisive level that determines the future of a stallion is the evaluation of the quality of his offspring, performed preferably at their early age. To do so in half-breds, stallions receive a license to breed a limited number of mares, and the renewal of such license depends on the quality of offspring born during that trial period. Similar view that evaluation upon offspring was also important in the Arabian horse breed probably triggered the decision to organize Białka Junior Spring Show, a yearly event taking place in Białka since many years. In case of horses,  the source of information on their breeding value is the offspring constituting groups of half siblings, meaning individuals out of many mares but by one sire only.  In order to increase the reliability of such evaluation, a hitherto unproven stallion gets the opportunity to breed a variety of broodmares, and the greater number of offspring, the greater the accuracy of evaluation. The said accuracy will also be influenced by the environment and the choice of mares – random or by defined key.  Such approach was possible in the Polish state studs, as for many years they enjoyed the huge advantage of  having at their disposal numerous herds of mares.  However, as a rule it is more appropriate to mate  a stallion with broodmares according to a specified breeding concept that is implemented in a consistent manner. It should be noted that the „advantage of  numerous herds” was effectively eliminiated by the recently founded studs in the Middle East, with even bigger herds serving to their advantage. Additionally, these studs have gained dominance through wide application of  biotechnology, based on the concept of getting numerous offspring from few outstanding broodmares. Only III level of selection enables us to claim that „a sire was born”, as a stallion with even the most prominent pedigree (I level passed), world champion or winner of derby (II level passed) may not produce valuable male offspring (III level failed).  For that very reason, even old and distinguished lineages become extinct, and the fame of champions remains only in show or race statistics. 

Further information concerning the breeding value of an individual derives from evaluation upon collateral. The accuracy of same  is measured in genetics by the heritability coefficient, being no higher than 0,71 in  case of full siblings and no higher than 0,5 in case of half siblings. Consequently, the accuracy of breeding decisions made on that basis ( or decisions to acquire collateral of a given individual for breeding purposes) are compatible with the value of these coefficients. 

Pogrom (QR Marc - Pętla by Visbaden), photo Ewa Imielska-Hebda

Insistent use of fashionable stallions, sometimes  unquestionably superb on the show ring, but with an unproven breeding value by offspring is an example of how principles formulated long ago by animal science are disregarded and misunderstood by self-righteous practitioners.  In the Polish breeding, there are many examples to that effect. At the time, high hopes were raised by such stallions as  Pogrom or Equator. Yet, at the end, they failed to pass the last level of selection. Unfortunately, they did not deserve the term sire, unless we consider as sire any stallion that produced any offspring. Both Pogrom and Equator are stallions with excellent pedigrees (suffice to mention the presence therein of Gazal Al Shaquab) and wonderful performance. Pogrom, triple champion in the USA, and Equator, gold medalist of the World Championships, both failed as sires. That negative opinion is true to a lesser extent with reference to Pogrom, as he managed to produce several very goods mares, unlike Equator so far. It is highly probable that the stallions in question will die not without offspring, but without a successor equalling father, and most of all, a successor bringing new quality to the breeding. Father and son Gazal – Marwan may serve as a suitable example that such a case is possible. A recent example to that effect in Poland  is the career of  Złoty Medal. Contrary to his name, always „bronze”, he managed to produce a son better than father, namely Ptolemeusz. 

Gazal Al Shaqab (Anaza El Farid - Kajora by Kaborr), photo Gigi Grasso

Marwan Al Shaqab (Gazal Al Shaqab - Little Liza Fame by Fame VF), photo Ewa Imielska-Hebda

Hariry Al Shaqab (Marwan Al Shaqab - White Silkk by Dakar El Jamaal), photo Ewa Imielska-Hebda

A striking example of how all the selection levels have been ignored is the use of the stallion Haash: his parents are hardly recognizable, he lacks any own achievements and due to young age, Haash has not produced any worthy offspring. Nevertheless, a Polish state stud placed him in the box of chief sire. Very wide use of Haash, reaching 80 % of all mares available for breeding, may indicate the intention to prove  him upon  very numerous offspring born. That is a highly commendable idea from the point of  view of his owner, giving credit to his power of persuation. And yet, it is difficult to find in this situation any activity  in line. with the established breeding rules and principles, nor any benefit to the state owned breeding. 

Złoty Medal (QR Marc - Złota Orda by Pesal), photo Ewa Imielska-Hebda

Ptolemeusz (Złoty Medal - Parmana by Al Maraam), photo Ewa Imielska-Hebda

In breeding, activity that seems to contradict common sense and the established schemes is frequently explained by intuition, a faculty allegedly reserved to few gifted ones. The so called intuition often justifies actions and proceedings resulting from the lack of knowledge and the lack of any breeding concept. Undoubtedly, breaking schemes often brought spectacular effects, but in order to break schemes one has to know them. Therefore, success attributed to intuition may frequently be the consequence of the law of large numbers. In this case, the law of large numbers applies to breeding results obtained under the policy of persistent and even thoughtless breeding of large number of broodmares. Same is true about the breeding approach of the Polish state studs. Considering the fact that in a stud like Michałów 80 arabian foals are born every year, it is hardly impressive that  Michałów produced two world champions (Emandoria and Eqator) out of 1600 horses born in 20 years.  This result may be the effect of the law of large numbers and not any concious breeding work. So at this point, we are faced with the question whether a service plan made by dice roll would not be equally or even more efficient? Small private breeding establishments have a potential of merely several broodmares, so the rule of large numbers does not apply there. So how come that for some time now, these small private breedings manage to enter into competition with the big ones, winning the championships or derby? Maybe the effects of the law of large numbers can be countered even in small herds by the application of new ideas based on the knowledge and enthusiasm on the part of private breeders? Overall efforts undertaken by the breeder, including the right choice of sire in accordance with the breeding principles may result in a succesful implementation of the breeding concept adopted and ultimately in the desired selecton response. 

photo. Ewa Imielska-Hebda

A perfect illustration of the life path of a stallion put to all  selection levels described above is a wonderful scene in the film entitled „The Horse Whisperer” turned in 1998.  While visiting the ranch of Tom Booker, the Horse Whisperer (played by Robert Redford), Annie Mac Lean (Kristin Scott Thomas) was enthused about the happy life of a stallion enjoying pasture. Her enthusiasm meets with the following comment of the Horse Whisperer;  „Yes, he is happy but for that he had only one chance in a hundred”.

Still from "The Horse Whisperer", source: Filmweb