A horse's performance can be viewed as the sum of its genetic ability plus environmental factors (e.g. training, rider skill, and health care). Horse breeding, however, is solely about genetic ability, as only this can be passed on to offspring. For this reason, KWPN breeding values are an estimate of genetic ability. Breeding values are calculated for the following traits: sport, movement, conformation and health. The new Stallion Breeding values can now be found online.

Breeding values provide a means of comparing the genetic ability of an individual horse with the average genetic ability of all KWPN horses. As a result, breeding values allow us to view a horse’s standing in the KWPN population at a glance. Breeding values are calculated using three different groups of information: information about a horse’s sire and dam (plus all relatives), information about the horse itself, and information about the horse’s offspring. This last source of information is by far the most important for obtaining a breeding value, as it clarifies the traits which can be passed on to offspring with respect to genetic ability. Breeding values and reliability percentages for the most important traits per breeding direction are summarized in the Genetic Profile, a tool used to observe at a glance how a stallion or mare passes on traits relative to the population. The most important trait in the genetic profile is the primary breeding goal trait of sport (dressage, jumping, driving) in the following respective breeding directions: dressage horses, jumpers, and harness horses. In the Gelder horse breeding direction, both dressage sport and jumping sport are represented, given the versatile nature of this type of horse. 

YBF for KWPN