opinions

[loz9]

Would you ever just choose a stallion for your mare based purely on his conformation (inc height, build, type), temperament & genetics for colouring? How much does competition record come into it? Would you immediately discount a stallion if it/its parentage only had low level competition success, ie your average RC horse?

 

[bigboyrocky]

for me, it would depend on the mare your putting it to..

 

[loz9]

say your standard RC mare to produce a RC type foal.
Would it be any different for you if your mare was a successful competition horse?

 

[Storminateacup]

Scientific research shows that the mare brings slightly more genetic material to the gene pool than the sire, in the form of mitochondrial DNA inherited from the maternal genes.

Therefore the features of the mare are extremely significant.

Some performance breeders use the evidence that mtDNA is particularly significant as the mitochondria are the "powerhouses of the cell" where energy release occurs. So performance traits in mares (speed and power, say in racehorses) are very much taken into account.

You can do your own research by typing in "Inheritance and mitochondrial DNA in equine breeding " etc in your search engine.