August 8, 2012

Breeds Represented in Endurance

About 80% or better of course are arabian type horses.  The rest are represented below.  The numbers are far lower than I'd ever imagined....so this explains why breed awards are not recognized (besides the $ issue).  The pool is indeed large enough within the Appaloosa, Morgan,  Grade, and Tennessee Walker group.  Just thought I'd post up the numbers, it is interesting to see this cross section of our organization.

Have a great day!


Arabian 2679
Half Arabian 455
Arabian Cross 114
Anglo Arab 90
 ****************
Tennessee Walker 74
Morgan 66
Grade 62
Appaloosa 52
Quarter  Horse 44
Missouri Foxtrotter 42
Thoroughbred 37
Morab  32
Mule 31
Paint 29
Paso Fino  24
National Show Horse  19
Standardbred  17
Rocky Mountain Horse  15
Shagya  15
Spanish Mustang  15
Kentucky Mt. Horse  13
Other  13
Quarab  13
Quarter Cross  13
Appaloosa Cross 12
Akhal Teke  10
1/2 Connemara  9
Pinto  9
Arab/Appy  8
Morgan Cross  8
Thoroughbred Cross  8
Pony 7
TN Walker X  6
Appendix Quarter  6
Saddlebred  6
Spotted Mountain Horse  5
Am Gaited Endurance Horse  4
Friesian Cross  4
Kiger Mustang  4
Standardbred Cross  4
Andalusian  3
Haflinger  3
McCurdy Plantation Horse  3
Shagya Cross  3
Spotted Saddle Horse  3
Arab Pinto  2
Akhalteke Cross  2
Andalusian/Arab  2
Connemara  2
Curly  2
Connemara Cross   2
Friesian  2
Grade Walker  2
1/2 Mustang  2
Icelandic  2
Mustang Cross 2
POA 2
Polish Arabian 2
Racking Horse 2
Saddlebred Cross 2
Welsh/Arab 2
Blazer 1
Canadian Sport Horse 1
Foxtrotter 1
Gypsy Vanner 1
Halfinger 1
Hungarian 1


Irish Sport Horse 1
Lusitano 1
Mangalarga Machador 1
Mountain Pls 1
Nez Perce 1
Oldenburg 1
Pinto-Arabian 1
Shetland 1
Single-Foot 1
Welsh 1
Walkaloosa 1
Welsh/Shetland 1
Welsh Cross 1


8 comments:

  1. No straight mustangs listed? I find that hard to believe. Is this an official AERC document?

    I always found it interesting (but necessary?) that riders get to self-identify breed for AERC. Presumably that is why "Foxtrotter" and "Missouri Foxtrotter" aren't counted together, for instance.

    I ran into the same problem with Otto, of course. I always put "arab cross" on his entries, though there were no papers to prove it. Because there were no papers, I didn't put "half arabian" since that is technically a registerable breed that papers could prove. But honestly, it isn't like AERC could hunt me down and stop me. I could have called him a zebra cross without consequences.

    It gets complex, no? Do you count NSH, Quarab, Welara, etc., among arabs and arab crosses, or do you count them as a different breed? I guess it depends what part of the breeding you want to emphasize.

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  2. Ruth, these numbers came from the AERC data base. They are for 2011. Journey is listed as an Appaloosa, because that is how she ended up registered, but in fact she is an Appy/Arab cross. I call her an Appy because she looks like one, and does not look or act at all as though she has Arab influence. So I see what you are saying.

    I had a veterinarian tell me that when you outcross to a different breed that you spin the wheel and genetically can throw to anything. Meaning a Dachshund and a Chihauhau could end up with whopping big puppies. So as applies to horses I see the cross as a deficit, interesting, but deficit none the less.

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  3. I would make the argument that you're pretty much taking your chances with any breeding. You can do a ton of research and improve your chances, but genetics are a lottery, even within a breed.

    I'm a firm believer in hybrid vigor, myself. Outcrosses aren't great for the studbook or market value because our society values "purity" in a breed. But it seems like you might be doing more for the individual horse by NOT exposing them to recessive traits from inbreeding.

    Unfortunately, these notions of "purity" work against the individual whether they are duds or superstars. If you and Journey end up doing really well, the ApHC will probably point to it as a sign of their breed's versatility just as the arab people will claim that she was successful IN SPITE OF the appy blood. There's just no winning.

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  4. Ahhh...but what the truth may really be is nurture vs. nature. Journey spent most of her early years standing around in a paddock or stabled rather than running with a herd. This one, at least so far, doesn't have the drive for endurance. I'm not throwing in the towel, I think she would dig in an go if put into the fray, but she isn't mentally ready for that (or physically). If I could put Journey's calm and muscle tone, on Phebes 13 mph trot, I'd have it seriously going on :) Long live the Spotted Wonder! She is my ride ☺

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  5. I'd love to see a breed cross section of the larger CTR organizations.

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  6. Breed awards are sponsored by the breed organization in question, not AERC.

    I've seen earlier years of this list. Gaited people are pretty proud that we're so well represented! :D

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  7. Yeah, I know that. Looking at the cross section I understand now why. The numbers in many breeds is so low. I did notice the gaited numbers are growing, especially the TW crowd. That is good to see. It is a shame that more people riding non-arabians don't get the fever, but I can see why. It is just SO MUCH HARDER than riding an Arabian. Even the crosses often just don't have those great recoveries.

    Sadly, many of the breed organizations see no point in representing or giving a true distance award either. The numbers don't support it. I can't change it, but I CAN WHINE ABOUT IT.

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  8. Hi Jacke,
    I just wanted to share a little Appy inspiration for you...

    There's a lovely lady named Sue Todd that rides endurance in here in NSW (Australia). Every ride weekend, she is at a ride somewhere in the state. She's not really known for winning rides (though she does place or come first lightweight at quite a few). She isn't known for selling horses, she is very attached to her horses.

    She is known for being a driving force behind making rides happen (puts in lots of organising hours). She is known for her passion for Shahzada, the 400km marathon ride at St Albans (at which she came first lightweight a month ago).

    And she is known for her spotted horses. She has four appaloosas doing endurance now. I have only ever seen her on a spotted horse!

    To see her ride record, go to http://endurancedb.com.au/listNames.php?qAction=RideHistory&qFrmType=Member&qDisplay=Rides, choose NSW, then click on T, and find Sue Todd. If you then click on the ride name, it shows the results for that ride, including heart rates, etc.

    Here's two pics of Sue and her spotted ponies:
    http://actera.org.au/actera/photos/BushCap09/Todd_and_Pashin.jpg
    http://www.aera.asn.au/teera/2012/pics/Lacey%20Shahzada%20river%20photo%20by%20Jo%20Arblaster.jpg

    Thought you might like to see some spotted horses doing good things in endurance! :)

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