 |
Re: [RC] Selecting for longevity in endurance competition - Sisu West Ranch"....Actually, you would have a hard time in actually selecting for the ability to do 10,000 miles of competition starting when they are 5..." Of course you are right, but that was not my point. The point is you only get the modern TB by single-mindedly selecting for short track performance. If you select and breed on those horses you think have the most chance of being good endurance horses you will get good endurance horses, not TB's. For example, it is generally acknowledged that the modern TB has poor feet (on the average). Any breeding program for endurance horses would have eliminated sires with bad feet. Your comments about geldings is very true. The TB breeding programs have kept the vast majority of race horses intact for exactly that reason. You have pointed out two real problems in breeding for endurance. First, it is always harder to cull and select when the desired traits are not obvious until the animal is old. Second, a great endurance horse needs many independently inherited traits to be great. It is extremely much harder to select for more than one trait at time. (Bad grammar deliberate for emphasis). Ed Ed & Wendy Hauser 2994 Mittower Road Victor, MT 59875 (406) 642-9640 ranch@xxxxxxxxxxx =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|