SCOPE OF ARTIFICIAL-INSEMINATION IN THE H ANOVERIAN RIDING HORSE POPULATION

The present paper deals with developing a breeding programme for the H anoverian riding horse population considering the increasing usage of artificial insemination in riding horses. The genetic parameters of ex terieur and performance traits as estimated by SCHADE (1996) were used in the definition of an overall breeding value taking the antagonisti c relationship between dressage and jumping into account. The main que stions such as the degree of increased genetic progress by selecting s tallions based on their own and their progenies' performance and by se lecting mares based on their own and their sisters' performance were s tudied in model calculations. The results indicate: considering the pe rformance of mares as progeny information of stallions increases the p recision of their estimated breeding values to .80 (20 progenies), the generation interval compared to the current situation can be reduced by controlling and limiting breeding of stallions and mares. Selection of stallions' sires based on the performance of their progenies in th e mares' test can increase genetic progress by 200% as compared to the present situation. Selection of stallions based on the performance of their progenies in tournaments is less effective due to the delayed a vailability. Selection of stallions' dams based on their own and their sisters' performance can further increase selection progress by 40%. Use of artificial insemination allows to more intensively use young st allions in breeding (up to 100 - 150 matings in the first breeding sea son) and to improve the accuracy of their estimated breeding values by considering relatives' performance without enlarging the generation i nterval. Usage of proven stallions should be delayed for 4 years until their progenies' performance is available, but thereafter it should b e more intense (about 300 matings per breeding season).