Research identifies genetic link to horses' inclination to exercise

The answer to why so many horses fail to make it to the track may lie in genes associated with behaviour rather than physical attributes, according to new research conducted by scientists at University College Dublin and equine science company Plusvital.

Previous studies have shown that less than half of thoroughbred foals born actually race, with durability or the ability of the horse to withstand the rigours of a training regime seen as a critical factor.

But the peer-reviewed research, published this week in the scientific journal Animal Genetics, has established that there is a genetic contribution to whether a horse is likely to race and identified genes associated with behaviour that may be key influencers.

One of those genes is PRCP and, because it is believed to transmit an inclination to exercise, has been dubbed the ‘Motivator Gene’ by the research team, which was led by UCD professor of equine science, Emmeline Hill, who is also chief science officer with Plusvital.

The high proportion of thoroughbred foals that do not make a racecourse start, despite being specifically bred for the purpose, has a big economic impact on owners, trainers and the wider racing industry, and Professor Hill said the identification of key genes opened up exciting possibilities for the sector.

“Our study of 4,500 horses, some that raced and some that did not, has established a measurable genetic link to future racing potential and identified several genes of particular importance,” she reported.

“The most important genes appear to be involved in neurological or behavioural traits. This is fascinating in the context of trainers’ assessments that a horse’s ‘attitude’ to their exercise regime is among the most important aspects to a positive outcome on the racetrack.”

Shedding more light on the 'Motivator Gene', she added: “One of the genes, known as PRCP, has previously been shown to be associated with voluntary wheel running in mice. Our findings support the theory that, just as with humans, motivation to exercise may be a critical factor in maintaining a training regime and achieving a high level of fitness.

“Some horses are just naturally keener for their job than others. This may manifest directly in the training environment, but it is also possible there are more subtle effects from a younger age.

“The more naturally active foal or yearling in a paddock is likely to strengthen better than others that are less naturally motivated to play and move around, and this could have knock-on effects later in life.”

Having established a genetic link, a new predictive test for determining the chances a thoroughbred has of making a racecourse start in their two- and three-year-old racing seasons has been developed.

“The prediction model analyses the DNA of a horse and then categorises them as having a high, medium or low chance of making a racecourse start,” Hill continued. “Horses categorised as high are more likely to have a racecourse start, more likely to run in more races, more likely to have higher earnings but curiously do not have a significantly different sales price.

“This is therefore valuable information that even the most astute in the market currently cannot assess from the pedigree or by physical assessment of the horse.

“Of course, genetics cannot on its own replace the current tools,” Hill continued. “There are many other reasons a horse may not progress to race, through injury or the presence of performance-limiting disorders. But while there are veterinary screening tools for those, there is currently no other means to determine a young horse’s motivation to exercise other than long-term observation, and by then it may be too late to get the best out of them.”

The genetic test arising from this research, known as the ‘Raced/Unraced' test, is available from Plusvital.

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