Random Thoughts on Equine Wholeness

He really loved people...an honest to goodness "live-in-your-tent-horse," Haliluyah MH (El Halimaar x RDM Maar Hala) with Melissa McCarty Raulerson

For 20 years or so, I have blogged about individual Arabian horses, like many other similarly-minded breed enthusiasts you will find currently on Facebook, Instagram and other forms of social media. Despite the great storytelling, are we using this shared knowledge to make better, more informed breeding decisions? Have we incorporated the genetic influences of the horses presented in social media outlets or am I placing more weight on what may be just "feel good" stories solely meant to entertain us?

A few weeks ago, I was listening to an interview that Paul Kostial had with Joel Desmarteau of Markelle Arabians. Joel, the breeder of the celebrated stallion, Marajj (Marwan Al Shaqab x RGA Kouress), repeatedly stressed the value of the matriline throughout the interview.

"And when you have a strong proven tail female line, you can start seeing patterns and consistencies with structure and presence and look that they give and that gives you something to rely on." - Joel Desmarteau

It's not that what Joel was saying is brand new, never before said; it's just that in our current breeding culture, the role of the stallion is so unrealistically over-stated, which is a bit weird when you stop to consider that the breed has always been matriline-focused. It's like we want to tell whomever will listen that we honor the Bedouin tradition, while still grasping a western sire line perspective, especially if you own and stand a stallion.

When my friend, Gari Dill-Marlow was alive, she helped raise awareness for and appreciation of elite mare lines, across all breeding groups. She treasured mares who reproduced their equal or better, especially in male form. She felt that in this way, a breeder could dominate a pedigree faster and more completely with a particular matriline, both top and bottom. 

These days, I find myself thinking a bit differently about Arabian horse breeding and I can't help but wonder over a fractured understanding of the breed, through segregation by bloodline. Maybe the breed would be better served if our breefing focus would be on equine wholeness (to borrow a holistic concept) instead of horses who by virtue of their pedigree, fit within the parameters of a highly favored bloodline group. Equine wholeness promotes horses who are sound of mind, body and spirit, that is, mentally stable, emotionally balanced individuals, with a spirit that is loyal to the breed, desirous of human connection, possessing the correct structure (conformation) and free from systemic  diseases, which allows said horse to function within an intended discipline free from pain, lameness or medication needed to treat said conditions.