European vs American Horse Breeding Practices
The European Advantage in Breeding Horses
Oct 22, 2009
A Cultural Misunderstanding
When it comes to breeding sport horses, Europeans definitely have an edge.
European Breeding Practices
According to breeder Suzette Bernhold in her article, What is a Warmblood Anyway? ,“because the [European state-appointed local breeding] directors had so much control over the local population [of horses] and they stayed in their positions for…many years, they could control numerous generations [of horses] within the area's breeding stock. These…areas would take on a…definite ‘flavor’….A ‘type’ became identified with the breeding area.”
However this did not preclude introducing new blood from outside of that area. The driving force behind European breeding practices was to “improve the quality of the local stock, direct its evolution along the director-chosen path, and continue to keep the small gene pool from becoming in-bred,” says Bernhold. Simply stated, when it comes to breeding practices, Europeans continue to be task oriented just as they were in the past, not hesitating to cross breed bloodlines to produce the best horses needed for particular tasks.
North American Breeding Practices
On the other hand, Americans, who were just as task oriented in the past (let’s say before the mid 20th century or so), became breed oriented, i.e. loyal to preserving the purity of bloodlines. Crossing of breed bloodlines was (and still is for the most part) discouraged (witness the rules and regulations of the vast number of breed registries in this country). True, In the United States bloodlines within a registered breed are developed to meet the demands of certain sports or work, but breed bloodlines are generally not crossed.
In contrast to European breeding programs, breeding practices in the United States are not subject to strict local regulation. In keeping with traditional 20th century American practices, various breed registries in this country are focused on keeping breed bloodlines pure.
Of course, many conscientious breeders in the U.S. are working to produce quality horses. Unfortunately, many breeders in this country are not as conscientious and backyard breeding abounds. True to the American way, no one is imposing restrictions or regulations on these breeders; they are for the most part self motivated and self regulating.
When European breeds hit North American shores in the 1950s, people on this continent used their own perceptions of what a breed was to understand the newcomers. Take for example the Oldenburg. As The International Sporthorse Registry (ISR) - Oldenburg Registry North America explains, the Oldenburg was a horse bred within a certain area (what was then the kingdom of Oldenburg in Germany) and developed from stallions of various breeds from around Europe with no regard to specific bloodlines but rather to desired traits. These traits were determined by the local breeding director’s needs, in the case of the Oldenburg a coach horse. The Oldenburg had little to do with purity of bloodline.
However, according to Bernhold, when Americans were introduced to the European breeds, they thought they were dealing with separate breeds and so kept them separate to keep the lines pure.
“A few Americans have caught on to the process [European] and how it works,” says Bernhold. “[They] have understood the idea that these horses represent a ‘type’ rather than a ‘breed’, and select breeding stock from a wide variety of bloodlines [across breeds].”
Sport Horse: A Classic Example
Let’s take a quick look at a sport horse that clearly illustrates a European type: the Oldenburg.
The Oldenburg often dominates in the dressage arena. In breeding these horses, the finest stallions from among many breeds are sought, according to Holly Simensen, director of The Oldenburg Horse Breeder's Society, under the auspices of The North American Division of the Verband der Zuchter des Oldenburger Pferdes.
In a private interview, Simensen points to Sandro Hit, an elegant, light, elastic, easy to ride, sensitive (i.e. in the hot-blooded sense) but willing Oldenburg, who set a new standard. As more women than men are riding in the dressage ring, the needs have shifted to a more elegant, lighter boned, longer legged horse, self propelled, elastic, and a touch hotter-blooded. These willing but demanding partners need a would-you-please on the part of the rider.
The breeding of these German horses is strictly regulated both abroad, and in the United States through the Oldenburg North American division. Breed bloodlines are crossed to produce the best of the best. However, few breeders in this country follow the strict German standards.
The Europeans Advantage
The increasing need and desire for sport horses in today's world has prompted the breeding that produces horses with characteristics best suited to the conformation, temperament, and movement needed in the English disciplines, especially in the international ring. Since the gene pool from which Europeans choose is much wider, they have a definite advantage. This advantage has allowed them to dominate in the sport horse market.
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