Improving BR

[UnpredictableDragon]

Hey all, so I really want to improve the strength BR in my connemaras, but the highest BR I've gotten is "With a little training, he'll/she'll grow into quite a strong colt/filly. What's the method for improving this? Should I just breed the horses with this BR together? Or do I need to incorporate other breeds? It seems that when I incorporate other breeds the BR just gets back to the original by the time I get back to the purebred and the only thing that really changes is the confo stat.

Thanks!
~Dragon

[FantasyRanch3]

Hey all, so I really want to improve the strength BR in my connemaras, but the highest BR I've gotten is "With a little training, he'll/she'll grow into quite a strong colt/filly. What's the method for improving this? Should I just breed the horses with this BR together? Or do I need to incorporate other breeds? It seems that when I incorporate other breeds the BR just gets back to the original by the time I get back to the purebred and the only thing that really changes is the confo stat.

Thanks!
~Dragon

Here are all the BR comments
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=7149
I believe if you just keep breeding the good BR to good BR they should start getting better as far as I know.

[BlackOak2]

Hey all, so I really want to improve the strength BR in my connemaras, but the highest BR I've gotten is "With a little training, he'll/she'll grow into quite a strong colt/filly. What's the method for improving this? Should I just breed the horses with this BR together? Or do I need to incorporate other breeds? It seems that when I incorporate other breeds the BR just gets back to the original by the time I get back to the purebred and the only thing that really changes is the confo stat.

Thanks!
~Dragon

Body form and your bloodline (your's personally) may both be having quite a 'sticky' effect on your program.
If your COI is really high, this will increase that stickiness. So anything at 80% and above will be having a very strong impression on maintaining that same comment.

If high COI is the problem: There are two options I could suggest. First and foremost, find or breed a grade stallion (mare too, but a stallion has a longer breeding-life), that's focused almost solely on that strength stat. Regardless of what he (or she) looks like. But do take height into the equation somewhat. If you take belgain stock and breed your grade, height might end up being overly sticky.
Then use that grade stallion every third generation to at least two mares, and no more than five. Depending on the size of your herd. Less than ten mares, stick to just two grade breeds, every third generation. Over 20 mares, up to five. It'll take some time to get those wanted strength genes in and time also to bring that COI back down.
The second option is to breed up a separate line of conne's that are only dedicated to that strength gene and to... 'hay' with the rest of the stats. Then when developed, introduce the secondary line to the primary. But always keep a couple of the best producing ones from that secondary line to fix the primary.

If you don't want to do either of these, there is one other option, though if you have high COI, it'll be a much longer road, because your bloodline simply lack the necessary genes. Favor the body style that favor's strength. You'll need to follow the conformation scores, make sure they at least hold steady. Then only keep any foal that meets their parent (same gender) with that strength comment, stat and score. Replace that horse when you get that. Early producer parents, say in the first three breeding attempts, try to get another keeper foal or two. These would be the ones that are favoring the genes you want.

In the end, high COI or not, either of those three options can work. But high COI is a likely reason that they're sticking to that one comment. Also, weight type can have an effect, but since the conne is supposed to be a medium light to medium heavy style, that shouldn't be an issue. You could help to maximize the comment, through the confo-score by making your bloodline favor the medium heavy style. But that will only give you so much.

Does that help at all?