‘Keeping the KFPS breeding policy in mind we are faced with the challenge to find the right balance between maintaining breed characteristics and improving sport aptitude. Following up on the long-term policy plan, one of the spear points of the discussions during the spring meeting sessions was how to actually accomplish this’, KFPS Chairman Ids Hellinga opens his column in the November Phryso. ‘From a breeding point of view we evidently have quite some way to go with regard to the improvement of sport aptitude, particularly in terms of mare selection.
Over the past decade stallion selection has undergone a range of changes in a variety of aspects in favour of sport aptitude selection. The policy plan indicates that particularly the mare perspective still needs further attention. The segment containing mare information about sport (aptitude) is still too narrow in spite of the introduction of the Sport- and Crown predicates, even though this has undoubtedly boosted participation in competition sports and aptitude tests (ABFP and IBOP). This generally poses problems in the selection of young stallions for the Performance Test. In the process of stallion selection the quality of the pedigree is crucial. However, the portion of pedigrees listing sport information is far too small.
It has been noted before that the information regarding sport (aptitude) is available for just one out of five dams of stallions selected for the First Viewing. This is more or less equivalent to a selection on breed characteristics (exterior), whereby 80% of the stallion dams have not even been inspected. In the spring we agreed that the policy proposals ensuing from the long-term policy plan will be discussed with the members during the upcoming regional meetings. In the upcoming meetings of this month we are happy to consult with the members about how to put our present predicate system to better use to collect more data regarding sport (aptitude) of our mares. This is not a discussion with a foreseeable outcome but rather a new avenue to explore, suggested by the Breeding Council with several options for use. In short, this offers a nice opportunity to engage in dialogue about a key issue.’
As posted in the November 2015 KFPS Newsletter
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