an Apendix registry??

cristy · an Apendix registry??

This idea was brought to my attention and I would like other opinions on it.

Do you think an Apendix registry would help or hurt the breed?

For instance the apendix registry would register 15/16 pr horses, which then could be bred to PPR horses and the offspring could be registered as PPR.

but you could not breed 2 apendix registered horses to each other and register the offspring.

this could open up the genepool without outcrossing. So tell me what you think.

stella

I think that having an appendix registry would help in recognizing PR blood in horses, which I'd start with 3/4PRs, but not necessarily use them to cross with PPRs and then call the resulting offspring "pure"......even with 15/16 blood.....at least not yet.
That could be considered WAY in the future, if necessary(and then yes, at least 15/16 horses), but meantime, appendix horses could help promote the PR phenotype and special characteristics/contribution to quality bred horses that are, in fact, more PR blooded than not, but not "puros."

I think there still needs to be greatest incentive to breed and enlarge the population of Puros. (I breed mixes, btw! but I still feel the need for those dedicated to enlarging the population of puros, to be motivated to keep on keepin' on! at this point)

Kerry W

I have to wonder who you would register them as PPR with. I know of no PPR registry that would accept them as puros.

I also think one would need to be very careful doing something like this, as some lines from other countries of origin are VERY dominant in a pedigree. With a horse that was the result of an inbreeding, or linebreeding, it can be especially influential for many generations. That being the case, one would have to question how this outside influence changes the type of the offspring. Will it be typical of a PPR, and will it BREED true as a PPR?

cristy

my thoughts on this subject are this... and let me first say the PR breed is very near and dear to my heart.

First with only 13 or 14 PPR being foaled every year in this country the already limited gene pool is getting narrower and narrower by the year. If someone does not look foward a little, in the not too far off future this breed will have bred itself into a corner...then what?

I would rather see something like this happen as opposed to true outcrossing.

Also would it really be that much different than breeding those horses with big blanks in their pedigrees?

For instance, and I am going to use this horse as an example because he is dead and I know his owner would not oppose. I am not downgrading him in any way, He was one of my ALL time favorite horses to ride. I loved him like he were mine.

http://pasoregistry.com/db/Tree.asp?ID=89539

The entire bottom side of his mother's pedigree is blank. could be quarter horse (not likely) but knowone knows. He produced very well. Very Puerto Rican. Really what is the difference between breeding him or breeding a horse with a Colombian horse 5 generations back in his pedigree to a PPR mare and calling the offspring PPR? Some genetic specialists say it takes 5 generations to get back to pure.

This idea came to me from some PPRPFFA members, so I am ASSUMING they are wanting to work with the PPRPFFA to get the offspring of the apendix registered pure.

caliber

Cristy some thoughts from the Article above! (STICKY). Not my PERSONAL OPINION! since I am far from being a Genetic expert!

Saludos!

Richard D. Squire, PhD (Genetics)
Professor of Biology
University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus

The Puerto Rican Paso Fino is the unique product of a selective breeding program within a primarily closed population. The current Paso Fino gene pool (genetic make up of the population) is thus distinctly different from all other current breeds, including its own ancestral strains. The physical characteristics, disposition and temperament, and style and performance are the sum product of many different pairs of genes interacting with each other to form the genetic background which yields the Paso Fino of today. The expressions of the major genes (which have the greatest effects on these characteristics) are modified by their genetic background, they are not completely independent of the other genes of the organisms. This is why selective breeding continues to improve a strain over generations, even after the main characteristics are set. Selection for the best (most harmonious, or enhancing) modifier genes improves the final characteristics.

Any large scale uncontrolled infusion of "foreign" genes into the pure bred Paso Fino gene pool (Registry A) would in all probability undo years of careful breeding, because it would break up the necessary genetic background and adulterate it with genes which are unsuitable due to their inability to act harmoniously with the Paso Fino gene combinations. Such a contamination of the Paso Fino gene pool might be impossible to correct unless all horses of "contaminated" (outbred) ancestry were then removed from Registry A. Such a loss could seriously reduce the size of this registry and therefore reduce the amount of desirable genetic variation within the Paso Fino Registry A population. Such a reduction in genetic variation could seriously limit the further improvement of breed characteristics by selection for the best gene combinations within the Paso Fino genetic background.

All of this has direct bearing on the question of whether or not to permit the inclusion of the Paso Colombiano into the Paso Fino Registry A. Although both breeds were developed from early imports of horses by the Spanish, the genetic "mix" of the breeds varied in the imports which went to Puerto Rico, and then later to other sites in South America and California. The Paso Colombiano was developed independently from the Paso Fino of Puerto Rico. The gradual selective process which independently produced each of these two breeds must have incorporated different gene combinations over time. Uncontrolled large-scale crossing of the two breeds would therefore result in the destruction of both gene pools. The unique characteristics of each would be lost as special gene combinations were broken up. I should emphasize that apparent similarities or alleged similarities, in animal strains and even closely related species, are often the product of uniquely different gene combinations. Thus their apparent physical "identity" is an illusion. The uncontrolled merging of the Paso Fino of Puerto Rico with the Paso Colombiano is therefore a "disaster waiting to happen". Evidence of this is seen in the large amount of segregating variability of traits in the PRPF-PC F2 and later generation hybrids.

All of this should not be seen an attempt to dissuade all hybridizations between the two breeds, however. Carefully conducted crosses should be made in order to determine the genetic bases responsible for the characteristics of each breed. Selective breeding over many generations might in time produce a new "Paso Americano" with its own characteristics. Such a new "Paso" might even be superior in some ways to one or both of the "Pasos" of today. However, such hybrids and their descendents should be barred from both the Paso Fino and the Paso Colombiano registries. These uniquely valuable gene pools need to be protected from adulteration.

Richard D. Squire, Ph.D. (Genetics)
Professor of Biology
University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus
rickmart@coqui.net

caliber

Also Cristy if you have any Pictures of ALICANTE IMPERIAL that could share with us!!!

Saludos!

cristy

Sure I have tons of pics of Ali.

cristy

In the Post above I said nothing of "Uncontrolled large-scale crossing of the two breeds"

What I am talking about is taking horses with the PPR Phenotype and gait that have one Colombian horse in their pedigree 5 generations back or more and incorperating them into a registry that would when bred to a pure PR would allow the offspring to be registeres as such.

The rules for PPR registration with our registry are as such...

If the applicant Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Horse is imported:

1. Application for registration must be accompanied by the registration from a registry of the country of origin stating that the pedigree of such horse is Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Breed for the last three generations.

2. Application for registration must be accompanied by copies of the Declaration of Importation of the United States Department of Agriculture or Agriculture Canada Offical release from quarantine of the horse for which application for registration is made.

3. Application for registration must be accompanied by copies of the Registration of the Dam and Sire of the country of origin stating the numbers of registration of both, or verification of such registrations, stating that the Sire and Dam are Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Breed for the last three generations.

4. Application for registration must have a complete Breeding Certificate, signed by the owner of the Sire and the owner of the Dam at the time of the breeding, specifying dates and conditions of the service.(Natural, Artificial or Pasture Breeding).

5. Application for registration must be accompanied by four (4) pictures (two of the mane side, one of opposite side and one full face picture. All pictures must be in color of good quality and showing all markings.

6. All applicant horses born after Jan. 1, 2001 must qualify as offspring of the reported sire & dam by genetic testing by approved laboratory.

If the applicant Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Horse came to the United States in utero:
The application for registration must be accompanied by items 2, 3, 4,5 and 6 (if applicable).

If the applicant Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Horse was born in the United States of America:
The application for Registration must be accompanied by items 3, 4 , 5 and 6 (if applicable).