Grade horses

[Charlibarlie]

So I've accidentally turned most of my line into Grade horses, but I was then wondering - in terms of competition success is there any real advantage to a horse being a specific breed? Or can you have top competing grade horses perfectly easily?

[Dj01122024]

OK, so as far as I'm aware, Grade horses are those that their entire pedigree is not known, or there's just two big of a mix. Now, my second grade horse ever has a master champion title in saddle seat. and I kinda bred him by accident, but with training and a little experimentation, I figured out what works and I use this horse as a grinder. I have discovered however that if you have a grade horse that is doing well in championships, consider what discipline you are trying to specialize in and breed your grade horse to a breed that works well for that discipline. The breed 'Grade Horse' will not change, it just helps breed in the features that you might want, like the shorter legs and rounded nose for log pull, or the slim-fit look of an endurance horse. I suppose it doesn't matter so much about the breed as the training and features. pay close attention to your COI% and your Horse Genetic Potential when breeding as well. The higher the COI%, the higher the HGP typically is, and the better your horse may do in competition

[BlackOak2]

So I've accidentally turned most of my line into Grade horses, but I was then wondering - in terms of competition success is there any real advantage to a horse being a specific breed? Or can you have top competing grade horses perfectly easily?

As what Dj01122024 said.

Here's your proof:
Nether Sentinel


Grades can be super useful. And can be bred back to purebred relatively easily. Keeping a number of great grades around can help balance out a purebred herd and also can super-infuse them right into competition areas with just a little oversight.

I have one additional comment.

The higher the COI%, the higher the HGP typically is, and the better your horse may do in competition

This can be useful, but can also cause problems. Be careful if you use this recipe. Just as viable a statement as it is, you can also ruin a line by using it. And, low COI can be just as high HGP and just as good in competitions. It's just much harder to get to, because many of us either use high COI breeding practices or haven't paid much attention to it because it doesn't directly cause any bad things (yet).