Thoroughbred horses – A genetic analysis of the population in Germany

The actual population of Thoroughbred horses in Germany comprising 2333 animals has been analysed concerning the origin of the horses, the generation interval and the degree of relationship and inbreeding with regard of six generations of ancestors. About 68 % of all the horses have been born in Germany, the rest is originating from foreign countries (mostly from Ireland, Great Britain, France and USA). The average generation interval parents-current animals amounts to 10.6 years. The mean relationship has been found out with 2.3 %. The mean coefficient of inbreeding has been estimated with 1 %, in the course of which only 4% of the stallions and 9% of the mares are not inbred. The rate of inbreeding of 0.11 % in the last generation would have to give rise to consider the population as a lightly endangered one, if it wasn’t be intensively mixed up with the international Thoroughbreds.

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