Pedigree Knowledge-Why We Need It

Why should you have as much knowledge of your horse's pedigree as you can? Pedigree knowledge is essential when fulfilling one's breeding goals, and it is equally important when marketing horses and stud services.

It is the seller's responsibility to share accurate information, be it the specialized bloodline group to which a horse belongs (Polish, Egyptian, Al Khamsa, etc.) or the show records of its parents and grandparents. We have all seen advertising that is misleading or just plain incorrect--claiming a horse is pure something when it is not, or has wins it does not, or that its ancestors were winners when they are not. Such misrepresentation, whether deliberate or accidental. can result in loss of reputation and/or litigation.

On the positive side, showing that you care enough to know as much as you can about your horses is often the deciding factor in securing a sale. When marketing foals having available full information on both sire and dam will help sell their offspring. Many owners recognize the importance of having good photographs and video available, but pedigree data is equally important to show prospective buyers that the animal being considered has good genetics as well as good looks, performance ability, etc. Owners standing stallions should be able to give mare owners indications of what to expect with a prospective mating, so that the best possible foal is produced. Without solid information about the good and less desirable points of the ancestors of both horses, it is much more difficult to assess the value of a particular cross. Pedigree-knowledgable owners who demonstrate expertise sell more horses and breedings, raise better foals, and make more intelligent decisions with their horses.