When delving into the world of horse breeding and pedigrees, understanding the specific language used is crucial for accurate interpretation and informed decision-making. From the fundamental terms describing parentage to more complex concepts like linebreeding and nicks, each word carries specific meaning within the equine industry. This guide aims to clarify common pedigree terminology, providing a solid foundation for anyone interested in equine ancestry.
The terminology in the horse industry can vary significantly between different disciplines. What might be called a “leg-yield” in English riding circles could be referred to as a “two-track” or “half-pass” in the western discipline. Similarly, terms like “chute fees” and “farm fees” on a stallion contract can have different meanings depending on the breeding farm. This distinct language extends to pedigree analysis as well, with specialists in equine bloodlines, sale catalog creation, and breeding consulting services using a unique set of terms.
Core Pedigree Terms
- Sire and Dam: A horse’s sire is its father, and its dam is its mother.
- To Produce and To Sire: A mare produces foals, while stallions sire foals. Stallions do not “produce” foals.
- Out of and By: A horse is always “out of” a mare (its dam) and “by” a stallion (its sire). For example, a horse named Hollywood Dun It is by Hollywood Jac 86 (his sire) and out of Blossom Berry (his dam).
- Half-Sister or Half-Brother: This term specifically refers to horses that share the same dam. Horses that share the same sire but have different dams are not considered half-siblings.
- Brother or Sister: These terms indicate horses that have both the same sire and the same dam, meaning they are full siblings. In pedigree discussions, stating “sister” or “brother” implies a full genetic relationship.
- Broodmare Sire or Dam’s Sire: This refers to the sire of a horse’s dam, making it the horse’s maternal grandfather.
Ancestral Lines and Generations
- Tail Male Line: This traces a horse’s male ancestry exclusively through its sire. For instance, Hollywood Dun It’s tail male line would be listed as: Hollywood Dun It by Hollywood Jac 86, by Easter King, by King, by Zantanon, by Little Joe, by Traveler.
- Tail Female Line: This traces a horse’s female ancestry exclusively through its dam. For the same horse, Hollywood Dun It, the tail female line would be: Hollywood Dun It out of Blossom Berry, out of Regina Bella, out of Tina Regina, out of Little Dunny 2, out of Anna’s Little Dunny, out of Anna Wilkens.
- First Dam, Second Dam, Third Dam, etc.: The “first dam” is the horse’s mother. The “second dam” is the mother of the horse’s mother (maternal grandmother). The “third dam” is the mother of the horse’s maternal grandmother, and so on. This always refers to the tail female line.
- Top Side: This is a colloquial term for the sire’s side of a pedigree page.
- Bottom Side: This is a colloquial term for the dam’s side of a pedigree page.
Advanced Breeding Concepts
- Blue Hen: A mare that has had a significant and enduring influence on a breed across multiple generations, often through both male and female descendants. Notable examples in Quarter Horse circles include Royal Blue Boon in cutting and Do Good in racing.
- Inbreeding: This involves breeding closely related individuals.
- Inbreeding Quotient: This numerical value indicates how often a horse traces back to the same ancestor within its pedigree. In genetic pedigree analysis, the first generation includes the horse’s sire and dam. For example, stating “Leo is 2×2 to Joe Reed” means Joe Reed P-3 appears twice in Leo’s pedigree within the second generation (grandparents). Leo’s sire is by Joe Reed P-3, and Leo’s dam is also by Joe Reed P-3. Learn more about linebreeding here.
- Linebreeding: This refers to breeding individuals that are more distantly related, typically beyond the fourth generation.
- Outcross: This is the practice of breeding two unrelated individuals, or individuals whose common ancestor is very far back in their respective pedigrees. Learn more about outcrosses and hybrid vigor here.
- Nick: A “nick” occurs when certain bloodlines consistently produce outstanding performers when crossed together. These successful crosses can often remain consistent through several generations, with a stallion’s sons and grandsons performing well with another stallion’s daughters and granddaughters. Learn more about nicking here.
Reading a Pedigree Chart
Pedigree charts are typically presented with the sire on the top and the dam on the bottom. The chart reads from left to right, with each successive generation branching out. For instance, a pedigree might be written as “Freightrain B-Sinuous by Mr Jess Perry.” This notation indicates the sire (Freightrain B), the dam (Sinuous), and the dam’s sire (Mr Jess Perry). The dam’s mother is referred to as the second dam, and her mother as the third dam, and so forth. The American Quarter Horse Association provides resources for understanding these charts. The American Quarter Horse Association offers free pedigree records, as well as pedigree research reports from QData.
