Genetic erosion is a topic of international debate found in all sectors of the livestock industry. Selective breeding in food and fiber species is done for specific effect that has an economic value. Alternatively, the same actions are taken in the companion animal industry for less quantifiable, but equally significant reasons. The diversity of the horse industry is testament to our unique position straddling these two worlds, where competitive advantage may be as important as color, size, or temperament. While the national horse population is trending down, the abundance of options available to horse buyers have left some segments teetering on the edge of catastrophic loss.

In 2017, The Livestock Conservancy (TLC) identified an interest in discussing the unique needs of “endangered” breeds, or registries with fewer than 2,000 registrations per year. With a grant from the USA Equestrian Trust, and collaboration between Texas A&M University and Virginia Tech, the TLC brought together representatives from approximately 50 associations and registries to participate in the first national Endangered Equine Summit. Attendees were asked to identify what they believe are the leading causes of breed population decreases and decide what actions may be taken to stabilize that decline.

The concerns addressed at this summit are not unique to the United States. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust based in England monitors the number of rare and native breeds in the UK. Every year they collect data from breed registries and use that information to estimate the total number of breeding females. From this data they produce an annual “Watchlist” that they make available online. Additionally, the group monitors internal threats to breed health. These factors include inbreeding and geographical over-saturation.

In December of 2018, the TLC released a “Manual of Methods for Preservation of Valuable Equine Genetics in Live Animals and Post-Mortem.” The manual was created as an educational resource for owners and veterinarians on how properly to collect vital tissues in ways that minimize loss and preserve significant genetic material for conservation. The manual is available for free to download on the TLC’s website at https://livestockconservancy.org/