Genetic consistency between gait analysis by accelerometry and evaluation scores at breeding shows for the selection of jumping competition horses.
Authors: Ricard Anne, Dumont Saint Priest Bernard, Chassier Marjorie, Sabbagh Margot, Danvy Sophie
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Genetic consistency between gait analysis by accelerometry and evaluation scores at breeding shows for the selection of jumping competition horses Breeding selection for jumping horses has traditionally relied on judges' assessments of gait characteristics at young-horse shows, yet the actual genetic relationship between these gaits and competitive jumping ability remains poorly understood. This large-scale study examined 1,477 young horses using triaxial accelerometers during walk, trot, and canter, cross-referenced genetic data from 702 animals, and compared these objective measurements against both judge scores from 26,914 horses and competition records from 142,682 jumping horses. Stride frequency and dorsoventral displacement showed high heritability (0.53 at trot, 0.41 at canter), but genetic correlations between accelerometric gait traits and jumping competition performance were negligible to weakly negative (−0.19 for longitudinal activity at canter), whilst judge scores demonstrated only modest genetic correlation with jumping success (0.45 for canter, 0.31 for trot, 0.17 for walk)—and this correlation became negative when corrected for parental breeding values already established for competition. For equine professionals involved in selection, breeding and competition evaluation, these findings suggest that current gait-based assessment protocols are limited predictors of jumping performance, and that practitioners should exercise caution when using subjective gait evaluations or even objective gait parameters as primary selection criteria for jumping horses, as successful jumping may rely on fundamentally different biomechanical or genetic traits not reflected in conventional assessments.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Gait evaluations at breeding shows and accelerometer-based gait analysis are poor predictors of jumping performance; don't over-rely on gait scores when selecting breeding stock for jumping ability.
- •Judge scoring at shows reflects parental competition background rather than true gait-related potential; assess competition records directly instead.
- •Young horses with atypical gaits should not be discounted for jumping potential, as diverse gait types can succeed in competition.
Key Findings
- •Accelerometric gait traits showed high heritability for stride frequency and dorsoventral displacement (0.41-0.53) but had essentially nil or negative genetic correlations with jumping competition performance.
- •Judge scores at breeding shows correlated with jumping competition (r=0.45 for canter) but this relationship became negative when corrected for parental breeding values.
- •GWAS identified no QTLs for gait traits beyond height at withers, suggesting gait selection may not improve jumping ability.
- •Different gaits appear suitable for jumping horses, indicating gait characteristics are not reliable predictors of competition success.