Friday 23rd, September 2005
Gradings or not - inspired by Leonids comment under mother studbook vs breed registries09/23/2005 12:34 PM
I think Leonids comment where really stimulating to read and again brought
up several issues of importance for the Teke breed.
The question of grading or not, is of course very provocative and
can be looked at from different angles.
I see five different ways to go with breeds today;
1.The closedstud book, to protect a product/trademark with genetical
(breed purity) but no quality qualifications, the performance records,
decides the value of the horse, example the English Thoroughbred, the Trotter.
The user niche (racing) is owned by the stud book, eg no one outside the
studbook is allowed to compete with the breed. Breed
statisics are open and reliable. Successful horses within those breeds
can be of very high valeu for the owners.
2. The closed studbook, created to conserve and improve a certain
breed or strain, with genetical (breed purity) and quality qualifications,
eg individuals that do not fulfil certain breed typical criteria will not
be approved as producers for the studbook. The value of the horse is decided
by the quality and in some cases performance results, the breed can also
belong to a certain sports niche where they compete openly with other breeds,
an example of this is the GB pony breeds, the Gotlandsruss. An example
of a breed with a niche where competitions are only open for this breed
is the Icelandic Horse.
3. The open studbook where quality and performance are criteria for being
allowed into a studbook, a horse no matter pedigree (in most cases, there
are exceptions) is allowed into the studbook as a producer solely on quality
and performance records. The breed compete in open competitions with other
breeds. Eventhough the performance results are important the quality of
breeding animals also decide whether they will be allowed to being entered
into the studbook. Examples are the various sport horse and sport
pony breeds. Successful horses within those breeds can be of very high
value for the owners.
4. The open studbook that is open only to individuals that are already
related to one or more individuals already entered into the stud book,
that can change studbook status by certain performance achievments. The
performance niche is more or less owned and protected by the breed.
An example is the American Quarter Horse.
5. A closed studbook created to conserve and improve a certain breed or
strain with only genetical qualifications for studbook entry. Animals that
have the right genes to be entered are allowed to produce offspring for
the studbook. The breed competes in open competitions with other breed,
compete in breed shows and in certain cases competitions closed to other
breeds. Note that certain national regulations can close out certain individuals
from national studbbooks due to genetical defects. Examples of breeds
are the Arabian horse and the Akhal-Tekes. Successful horses within the
Arabian breed can be of very high value for the owners.
My opinion is that the Akhal-Teke and belongs in group 5. The Akhal-Tekes
can be successful in racing, breed shows and open competitions just like
the Arabian horse. It creates a diversified market and will hopefully lead
to a progressive work with breed improvement.
The possibilites to show and race Akhal-Tekes exist only in Russia and
Turkmenistan today. This is due to hard work from breeders, owners and
breed association. The goal here in the west must be to continue to work
for the improvement of the breed, to work for breed shows and for the racing
of Akhal-Tekes. Considering the circumstances the Russian breeders/owners
have been working under, it is a shame that we cannot do better for the
breed here in the west.
Comments :
1. Leonid09/23/2005 14:23:08
Homepage: http://www.shael-teke.ru
Bravo!
