Patterns of Breeding

Chantal Spleiss - QH pedigree expert says " Ancestors in positions that form patterns are more valuable in a pedigree than simple linebreeding."

Narrowing the lines of descent to a few chosen ancestors only - to the exclusion of others  - is raising the probability that the dna from these close  gene groupings has a higher likelihod of being available to and expressed in the foal.

It is more effective to concentrate groups or clusters of ancestors both sides of the pedigree for maxiumum effect - this is often able to produce excellence in sport.  

Marg Neal " Pedigree patterns that have been successful in the past and have produced top performers and breeders repeat themselves generation after generation  - only the names change"

Clive Harper " It is important to include as many of the same lines as possible in a pedigree and even more important to bring these in through as many different offspring as possible"

Dixiland Delight

You can see both the sire and dam have a Sandro Hit x Donnerhall pattern, making Sir Donnerhall and Donnerlady effectively 3/4  siblings who have 75% of their bloodlines in common 

Franklin

Top sire Franklin. 

His sire Ampere has Ferro Flemmingh and Farn all within 5 generations. 

His dam Warkle has Ferro, Flemmingh, and Farn in a very similar pattern.

Often the patterns are made up of similarly bred horses who have a 'like' pedigree background but are not related on the mother line - they are not full or half brothers and sisters from the same mare.  As in Franklin above each pedigree half has around 50 -  75% of their bloodlines in common and are there fore referred to as half or three quarter siblings . They add complex relationships and gene groupings  and improve the producing power of the pedigree.

It can be a grouping of similar ancestors focused through individuals closer up in the pedigree as in the examples above

Or the ancestors may be focused around  the  5th - 8th generation - where bloodlines merge and assemble their genetic positions.

Deep linebreeding that reinforces large groups of closely related ancestors further back is very effective. 

Alan Porter " This is where or how the genetic breeding arrangements click into place for the progeny to fire" 

If the individuals are superior, this pattern method of breeding has more chance of reinforcing positive gene variants or combining compatible variants than a more out crossed pedigree.

These patterned groupings can be alot more powerful than a duplication of an individual ancestor closer up at 3 x 3 with no other back ground reinforcement.   A duplication to a single horse may not make that much difference

Its great to have a duplication at 3 x 3 but even better if there are 4 or 5 different superior horses each side of the pedigree forming the same pattern - it increases the likelihood that they will be inherited together

Ken Mclean says "Future pedigree patterns in horses will depend upon the strains used by private breeders much more than commercial breeders"

Private breeders who breed to ride themselves, have a wider choice of stallion - they do not have to fall into the fashion or popular stallion trap . They have a great opportunity to create top riding horses and important mares for the future.  If  the horse  later has to be sold under saddle , the pedigree becomes less important to buyers - if they like riding the horse they will buy it

Breeders who are wanting fillies for the future do not have to fall into the fashion trap either -  the right stallion who complements the mare will provide the necessary quality  in the foal -  far more than an incompatible  'name' stallion

Popular stallions can still be utilised  -  chosen from a short list acceptable to the breeder - and a 'best choice' for the mare can be taken from that list

If Ken Mcleans statement above is correct - that future pedigree patterns will depend on private breeders -  then it is even more important for all breeders to attempt to find  the  stallion who provides the complementary  gene groupings and strains  required to upgrade  the mare -  so these successful pedigree patterns from the past do not fall into genetic dilution or disappear altogether

Building in patterns of this nature is a strategy for upgrading the success of your breeding stock - even if the mare is plain and the stallion is not commercial - if you can  use  the  same building blocks and deep genetic patterns that are seen in great horses - it can be successful

Alan Porter " Patterns never fail - the most successful horses frequently share a vital concentration of the same blood - specific proven pedigree patterns are fundamental to superior breeding."

Bold Venture has full siblings Round Table and Monarchy at 4x4, as well as sex balanced duplications or Le Haar and Wilkes at 5 x 5. 

Both pedigree halves show the  the same pattern - one of the full siblings in Round Table and Monarchy, accompanied by a separate line of Le Haar and Wilkes

Both sides have the same pedigree pattern

GP horse Bee in the images above and below Mexico and Furioso II full brothers in the pedigree of Blue Hors Zack. 

lue Hors Zepter by Zack out of a Wolkentanz 1 mare is an example of the brothers Furioso II and Mexico working together in a pedigree, they are found at 6 x 6 x 6 x 5. You can s

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