GENETIC-PARAMETERS OF LINEAR SCORED CONFORMATION TRAITS AND THEIR RELATION TO DRESSAGE AND SHOW-JUMPING PERFORMANCE IN THE DUTCH-WARMBLOOD RIDING HORSE POPULATION

In this study genetic parameters of linear scored conformation traits of the Dutch Warmblood Riding Horse were estimated in relation to perf ormance in competition. Observations on 10 665 mares were analyzed wit h an animal model including the fixed effects age, classifier, locatio n and percentage of thoroughbred. Using restricted maximum likelihood algorithms, heritabilities of 26 linear scored conformation traits wer e estimated in the range 0.09-0.28, Several conformation traits had hi gh up to very high mutual genetic correlations. Competition results of 3476 horses with performance in dressage and 3220 horses with perform ance in show-jumping were linked to the conformation data to estimate the genetic relationship between conformation and performance in compe tition. The model for the evaluation of the competition results includ ed the fixed effects riding club, age and sex, Estimated heritabilitie s for dressage and show-jumping were 0.17 +/- 0.05 and 0.19 +/- 0.04, respectively, Genetic correlations between conformation and performanc e were low to moderate. The length of the neck, length and position of the shoulders, shape and length of croup and muscularity of the haunc hes had a significant moderate genetic correlation with dressage. Musc ularity of the neck, shape of the croup and muscularity of the haunche s had a significant genetic correlation with show-jumping. The results indicate that due to the low genetic correlations with performance tr aits, indirect selection for performance using conformation results is of limited value.