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Genetic tests for horses – Why are they important?

The first evidence of horse domestication dates back to about 5,000 years ago, and since then horses have played a prominent role in human societies and have greatly influenced human history. Over the last century, horses have lost their role as a means of transportation, but they are still an important part of agriculture, horsemanship, and the sports and recreation industry. Depending on the role they played, breeders in the past began to propagate certain characteristics, which led to the development of more than 600 horse breeds known today. A horse breed usually consists of individuals that share similar fixed esthetic and performance characteristics that distinguish them from other horse groups. Both natural and artificial selection have led to the development of many variants and the accumulation of many mutations that produce some desirable traits such as coat color, texture, and body size, but also some of concern such as various genetic diseases. Genetic testing is a modern tool used in many different fields, including medicine and the breeding industry. It all started with the aim of verifying parentage and validating pedigrees, but today genetic testing also plays an important role in clinical diagnosis and in the detection of phenotypic traits. The goal is to develop controlled reproduction programs that can help improve animal welfare and prevent the transmission of undesirable or harmful traits to offspring.