Dumb Question on Female Families

[vineyridge]

When one is planning a breeding, do wise breeders deliberately double up on the female family?

I was just looking at Relaxing's pedigree, and both her sire (Buckpasser) and her dam were family 1x. She was a great success as a racer, and then produced EasyGoer. Did the double of 1x, which is one of the most successful families, make a difference? And would one consciously attempt to duplicate the female family when making breeding decisions.

How high up on the list of important choices would choosing the "right" female family be?

[Dave C]

If you are breeding to sell, doubling up on female families will do absolutely nothing for you at the sale. Most buyers no nothing about pedigrees other than what is currently fashionable.

In terms of breeding to race, there are hundreds of pedigree theories out there, including ones on linebreeding to particular mares, but the evidence about how well the theories work is anecdotal at best. Therefore it is difficult to say what is wise and what is not. If you produce a stakes winner it is because of the brilliance of the theory and wisdom of the breeder. If the horse can't win for bottoms it is quickly forgotten about and it doesn't even make it on to the catalogue page.

[Rick]

http://www.pedigree.me.uk/Articles/rf.htm

http://www.equicross.com/Inbreeding_to_ ... _Lines.htm

http://www.reines-de-course.com/hancock_patterns.htm

[Old Goat]

If you are breeding to sell, doubling up on female families will do absolutely nothing for you at the sale. Most buyers no nothing about pedigrees other than what is currently fashionable.

I couldn't disagree with you more. Doubling female family lines is looked at. The larger buyers do research pedigrees and the crosses you know.

[imnumberjuan]

Rick - thanks for the websites... now I have something else to consider.... ARGH!?!?!??!?!? Just when you think you have a handle on breeding.