[lvmypnt]

I think some of us hijacked another thread so I started this one. Let's hear some opinions.

[Kicks]

I have diverse opinions on 'in-breeding'/'line-breeding'. I only have somewhat close experience with one group of horses that are 'line-bred'/'in-breed' and they all come from the herd of the late Dave Hoffman who was an App breeder since in the '50's or '60's until his death in 2002.

All of the horses that I have known from his herd are/were incredibaly sane and sensible and decent confo. though their 'family tree' is not very branched. Kicks (Kicks Appaloosa) is from that breeding program. Somehow Old Dave knew what he was doing - I won't try - his knowledge died with him.


The first time I saw Buck Shott was when Kristine brought him to the barn and I knew that I wanted one of his foals based on what I saw. Found out that there were still some mares in the estate sale and Hubby bought Rague who was carrying Kicks. Because of them being 'tied up' in an estate sale we didn't see any papers at the time of purchase. It came to light that there was in-breeding/line-breeding when papers were sent.

I do understand why people are opposed to in-breeding/line-breeding and I am also to a degree. BUT!

[Top Dun]

Well I've stated this before, but without line breeding NONE of my horses would exist exactly as they are now. some of them have lines futher back, some have one side of the pedigree line bred and one is even the product of a half brother/half sister cross. But all of mine have linebreeding to some degree.

[doublebarr]

Originally Posted by Kicks

I do understand why people are opposed to in-breeding/line-breeding and I am also to a degree. BUT!

ROTFLOL!!!!! Thanks Kicks

ETA: Looked at Kicks ped. and I LOVE how they came up with his dam's name, LOL!

[Lady barth]

I heard a saying once, it may have been here actually that LINEBREEDING means everything turned out good, and INBREEDING means it didnt

[Sandra-A1]

Here is an example of a horse's pedigree that I consider linebred: Dreamazon Arabian

Here is an interesting article: Mike Brookes - Inbreeding & Linebreeding in Arabian Horses - Arabian Lines

[Lexy]

Originally Posted by Lady barth

I heard a saying once, it may have been here actually that LINEBREEDING means everything turned out good, and INBREEDING means it didnt

ROFL!!


About inbreeding. I myself have done some inbreeding.

Back in 1991 we bought a yrl stud colt from a lady whose husband had died. She was selling off all her stock. She got down to her last few horses. One of them was the colt's dam. The mare was an older mare and she had not settled for a 91 foal. Being that the mare was 25 yrs old and her fertility was in question, Becky just gave us the mare.

Since we got her mid 91, we decided to wait until the 92 breeding season to breed her. We sent her out early 92. Luckily she settle with one breeding cycle, but she came home not looking so good. Then in 93 we again sent her out for breeding (different stallion owner). Again she settled without a hitch but again came home quite a few pounds lighter. That is when we decided we weren't going to send her out anymore. BUT around here...... horses have to earn their keep so next 2 breeding season we bred her to her son.

She produced two very nice foals. A colt in 95 and a filly in 96. Both of them are in the top of my favorites. The colt was sold as a yrl, but was killed in an accident as a 2 yr old. The filly I still have out in the pasture.

Conformation wise, both of them are exceptional. Much better than their sire and dam. Mentally..... the colt was a bit high strung but that could have been due to his environment vs his genetics. The filly is so laid back she almost falls over.

Would I advise anyone to do such intense inbreeding....... NO. The only reason I did it was because other stallion owners didn't seem to take it to heart that the mare was old and needed special care.

[ryu2832]

I think that Linebreeding/Inbreeding can be powerful tools to preserve genetic diversity and further a breeding program...if used correctly.

If you abide by the two most important rules, you greatly decrease your chances of getting into trouble. 1) Linebreed to at least two different lines. 2) Never exceed a COI of 12.5%.

Here's the definitions if anyone is wondering:
From Genetics and Horse Breeding by William E Jones

Inbreeding: "...the breeding of animals more closely related than the average of the breed, or population."

(I think people get stuck on thinking Inbreeding has to come from one animal. Inbreeding is not about increasing an individuals contribution--it is breeding within a genepool.)

Linebreeding: "...is the attempt to get as much blood of a particular stallion or mare into the animals of the herd as possible while at the same time keeping inbreeding as low as possible."

(Linebreeding has to do with the 'blood' a specific individual. Line breeding is a refined form of inbreeding.)

[doublebarr]

Originally Posted by Sandra-A1

Here is an interesting article: Mike Brookes - Inbreeding & Linebreeding in Arabian Horses - Arabian Lines

EXCELLENT ARTICLE!!!! Copied because this deserves to not be overlooked.

Thanks for sharing Sandra

[ryu2832]

I think that COI 0.04% is a little low to consider an animal linebred, but the article is good.