Horse Breeding

Horse breeding is basically a human directed process of reproduction in horses using a concept of matching form into function to bring about a new appearance and enhance the performance of a new breed.

In selective horse breeding, a planned mating is used to produce specifically desired characteristics and traits in tamed horses. It is also a process used by most breeders to improve performance prowess of race horses, particularly so for bloodlines in each breed that excel in their specific tasks.

Bloodlines of horse breeds are recorded in horse breeding registry, classified by breeders, through a shared consensus as to the rules of heredity or standards of character and traits qualify horses, for inclusion in a particular breed. The purebreds, like Arabian horses, are developed to withstand a harsh environment and travel long distances with able speed and endurance. In addition, this breed is tamed and trained to enhance even further its natural capabilities. Horse breeding also produces breeds serves as workforcesin farms that can help farmers do daily chores like pulling the wagon and plow. In ancient times, other breeds were developed to be strong enough to be ridden by knights to do battle in warfares.

Horse breeding has evolved through the years with many selective breeding methods resulting to an outcross, i.e. crossbreeding European and Oriental studs, to foal faster horses required in race horses. This breakthrough led to the birth of the Thoroughbred and Andalucian breeds, both surpassing the speed and stamina of Arabian horses.

Later, as horse breeding took on a more aggressive turn to crossing Arabians and Thoroughbreds with Spanish horses, like the Mustangs, and eventually produced new breeds such as the American quarter horse and the Criollo of Argentina. Selective horse breeding continued to produce more breeds to perform specialized tasks. From farm help to a winner race horse, the new breeds were trained to respond and learn quickly.

The more elegant stallions like race horses and show horses dominate the new breeds. The Thoroughbred, the ultimate race horse leads the elite breed of specialized bloodlines of horses tailored as show hunters or show jumpers. The distinct traits of a hunter, standing tall and smoothly built, is trotting and cantering in a smooth and efficient stance. In show hunter competitions, appearance and overall carriage of the equestrian in a comfortable ride coupled with superbl jumping ability that shows good form, is given more value than speed. A show jumper, on the other hand, has a more massive build than either the hunter or the racehorse and bred more for power over high fences, matched with scope, agility and speed and given lesser  pointsfor overall form. Horse breeding is a success here when a horse is bred with a good gallop stride and sturdy hindquarters with the ability to change speed or direction easily.

To date, the horse breeding industry has flourished producing over a hundred different breeds from horse and pony breeds, color breeds, sports horses to gaited horses.