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Diversifying the Breed: An Introduction
Original article written by Kyasuriin Matsumoto posted 10 years 1 week ago“Diversifying the breed.” We hear the phrase often in all breeds, most especially the Mixed Breeds. From Its a Gamble to Goldmine to Igetmoney and others scattered amongst the breeds and divisions, there is an outcry for more diversity amongst the breeds. However, we all need to remember the breeds are still growing. These big names are among the foundations of the breeds. They have been, and still are, needed to grow the breed and keep it going strong. Diversification is not about eradicating the old blood, but about taking the breed one step further.
In my SIM barn, I don’t see this fake life from the back of the horse, the grandstand, or even the shedrow. I see things from where it all begins, on the farms; or the breeding farms, to be more precise. From my point of view some of my barns are struggling. Not from any standpoint that may quickly come to mind, such as financially or racing results. No, this struggle is in the bloodlines.
There is nothing more frustrating to me than to believe I have found the perfect cross for my broodmare, only to then realize the offspring would be inbred four times over. Don’t get me wrong, I find fun in inbreeding sometimes. Check my barn. They are there. I enjoy craftily playing around with the aspect, but I have my limits.
It is often that I notice people are so focused on results, that they don’t care how they get the horse there. Situations where a star Mixer broodmare (not just in comment, but in results as well) is bred to her own dam-sire and produces a future superstar. A very inbred superstar, but as long as it wins races it’s okay, right? Not quite. What happens once that horse hits the shed later in life? Who is it going to breed to? Well, other inbred superstars, of course, because that is what is available. Before you know it, they are everywhere with only a few mediocre outcrosses around to attempt to save the breed from drowning.
Personally, I find no breed more deserving of a transformation by diversification (Did I just say that?) than Standardbred-Pacers. It is a difficult task to look through any majorly competitive Pacer barn and try to find horses completely absent of Igetmoney and/or Writethisdown. I’ll give you a minute to look. Go ahead. Ready? Oh, you found one? Yes, well, I thought you might. But, answer me this: Is that the best horse in the barn? No? I didn’t think that would be the case.
It is in no way any one person’s “fault” for these bloodlines getting out of hand. We, as SIMsters, wanted the best, and so we bred to the best. It’s only natural. However, we do need to admit there is a problem that needs help. Thankfully there are steps available to assist us on our path to more diverse bloodlines, and I am up to the challenge. Are you?
Throughout the year, I will kick off my part in the diversification process with a series of articles on Standardbred-Pacers entitled “The Pacer Project”. This will include topics such as outcross stallions, broodmares, and racing stock, as well as following the training of some of the over 40 outcross Pacers bred by myself last season. So sit back and enjoy!