Ashley Griffin, University of Kentucky
Purebred horses often are selected and priced based on their pedigrees. A horse's pedigree is a historical record of its ancestors. The value of this pedigree is only as accurate as the performance information on those ancestors.
Conformation and ability of a horse are the most important elements in selection, but the pedigree is particularly useful when selecting young horses or considering breeding stock. The best indication of the quality of a breeding animal is the quality and ability of the offspring it produces.
Unfortunately, that information may not be available prior to selection and purchase, or the animal may not be old enough for such data to exist. Therefore, the pedigree and performance ability of the ancestors is the next best information to use in making an informed decision. The quality and past performance of a horse's ancestors can greatly enhance or detract from its value.
