PERFORMANCE HORSES:
How Much is Riding on their
X-Chromosomes
by Andrea Laycock Mattson
As a student of pedigrees (OK ... I confess, I'm a
pedigree junkie) I'm very convinced that disposition is influenced
strongly by the female gene, or X-chromosome. In recent years, there has
been a lot of information surface about the X-chromosome, including (of
special interest to horsemen) the inheritance of the large heart. Human
studies have shown that intelligence is carried on the X-chromosome.
Wouldn't you think, In terms of disposition and trainability,
intelligence must play a large part?
What this means, as a Performance horse breeder, is that
you should be taking a good look at the dams of stallions you
consider. The genetic giant you seek may well be located on the
distaff side of the pedigree. The discovery of the inheritance of
genetic material found only on the X-chromosome is fascinating, and of
particular importance to breeders interested in intelligence and/or the
large heart.
The large heart is not just a racehorse consideration. It
can influence a horse's growth and development, strength, stamina and
endurance, and longevity. Many large-hearted horses live to be 30
or beyond. A large hearted horse feels better and physical work is
easier, and therefore more fun. If a horse inherits more intelligence
via the X-chromosome, and a breeder is selecting for this gene, doesn't
it stand to reason that a Western Pleasure, or Cutting or Reining
horse has much to gain by inheriting a superior X-chromosome?
If you would like to learn more about the X-factor in
Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds and other breeds influenced by
them, I have quite a bit of information on our web site.
Included are complete reprints of the 2 articles published in the
Quarter Racing Journal in June and July, 1998, written by Marianna Haun,
titled "Heart
of the Matter." After a year of study, Haun discovered
the trail of inheritance, pedigree-wise, of the large heart as far back
as Eclipse. The Journal editor told her they had more reader response to
the articles than anything they had ever published! These
articles explain what it is, how it is inherited, some of the horses
racing today who have it, and gives a long list of large-hearted sires
of Quarter Horses whose daughters have passed the trait along to their
offspring. Not surprisingly, included among them is Three Bars, Leo,
Depth Charge, Azure Te, Dash For Cash, Easy Jet, Go Man Go, Hempen,
Jackstraw, Mito Paint, Moolah Bux, Piggin String, Raise Your Glass, Tiny
Charger, Top Deck, etc.
Many modern Pleasure Horses, Reiners, Cutters
and other performance horses trace back to these large hearted
individuals. It makes me itch to set aside all my "real"
work and do some serious investigation! If anyone has been doing
their homework on this subject and would like to share observations and
theories ... please share! We'd like to hear from you.
Copyright © 2000 by Andrea Laycock Mattson. All rights
reserved. Note: If you would like to reprint this article on your web
site or in a printed magazine or horse-related newspaper, please contact
the webmaster
for permission.
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