Selecting the Optimum Stallion for your Mare

First Step

My system works by first evaluating the mare and making the crucial decision if she has the qualities that will produce a better than average foal (there are too many average foals - why breed for that. We must set our sights higher to be competitive in sport). Remember that the stallion only contributes 50% of the gene pool. If the mare has serious faults such as very wide behind, short front legs and long hind legs (downhill conformation), high behind, very poor neck-wither connection, small hooves for size, back at the knees or sickle hocked (predisposition to unsoundness) you might want to reconsider breeding her.

Now that you've analyzed your mares faults and decided that she has potential, you have to select a stallion that can complement her. It is difficult for a mare owner to see lots of foals and the dams that produced them and make a comparative analysis of the outcome of the observed crosses. For this reason one should use the tools available from the Breed organization. For example, the KWPN has two very good tools called the Sports Index and the Exterior Index. The Exterior index quantifies by conformation points and movement scores what each stallion produces: not the stallion himself but what is passed on to his get. Click here to see a sample of the index.

Very young stallions don't have Exterior indexes because their foals haven't reached 3 yrs of age when the index data is compiled. The reliability score is also to be considered because the first foal crop is a limited number of foals. Each year it is updated as more and more get are available and the reliability index becomes a better indicator. Also notice the height score. It is based on the reference horse of 165 cm. A positive number such as 2.0 means that he produces foals 2.0 cm taller than the reference horse, e.g. 167 cm.

Next I make a list of the conformation points that I want to improve in my mares and/or points that I consider essential for dressage performance. for example. I put those in chart format listed vertically and list the stallions horizontally. I then score each stallion and can see which stallion(s) have the most positive points. the stallion with the most positive points is used for that mare or if two are close I further refine the selection as listed below. Click here to see sample chart.

Selection is now narrowed to stallions 1 and 4. Again, I look at my mare and assess previous foals if available.

Final Step

The final step is the stallion's own performance record. If he never made it to Grand Prix then one has to ask why. Is it because of injury or unsoundness and is that injury due to conformation faults that will likely be hereditary? It may also be due to trainability issues (the mind). The most wonderful horse isn't to be considered if he can't produce results. Saleability is a factor and a stallion that has made it to the top in performance sells foals.

Also look at the WBFSH (World Breeding Federation of Sports Horses) book. See if he or his get have produced horses that compete successfully at CDI's (international competition). This is a wonderful tool. The WBFSH lists horses that have made it to the international FEI (CDI) level.

Like the Exterior Index the KWPN has a Sports Index as well and that should also be evaluated for any stallion that you are considering.

This is one breeders methodology and should not be construed as the only system for stallion selection. Merijane Malouin is available for consultation on breeding. You can contact her via e-mail or by phone (951) 849-5530.

About the indexes:

Since 1987 the KWPN calculates these indexes, also called breeding values, on the basis of performance and exterior data (conformation) of KWPN registered horses.

Contact Merijane for more information