A new genetic test to identify Traditional Irish Horses has been developed in response to concerns over the dilution of the Irish Sport Horse gene pool by European warmblood horses. The research behind the test was published this week in the peer-reviewed Journal of Genetic Resources in a paper entitled “The genetic composition of the…
The modern domestic environment of the racehorse is much different from that of the wild habitat the horse once adapted to survive in. Prior to domestication, as a prey animal, horses relied on being vigilant to potential threats and having quick reactions to escape danger. The ‘fight or flight’ response is responsible for assessing and…
Temperament is often referred to by winning connections as a crucial element of a racehorse’s success. Temperament reflects patterns of thought, behaviour and emotion and includes the ability to cope with the demands of training. Horses that do not easily adapt to the training environment may have extended periods out-of-training and unsuitable temperament is responsible…
A critical set of genes linked to successful racehorses has been identified by an international research team. Scientists from Asia, Europe, North America, and the Irish equine science company Plusvital compared the genomes of Thoroughbred, Arabian and Mongolian racehorses to horses bred for other sports and leisure, and were able to pinpoint a set of…
