Journal of Central European Agriculture (Dec 2013)

THE EFFECT OF AGE ON RESULTS OBTAINED BY MARES DURING STATIONARY AND FIELD PERFORMANCE TESTS CONDUCTED IN POLAND IN THE YEARS 2001-2010

  • Magdalena Drewka ,
  • Monika Monkiewicz ,
  • Dominika Gulda

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5513/JCEA01/14.4.1362
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 4
pp. 1391 – 1400

Abstract

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The study encompassed a population of noble mares, assessed in Poland during performance tests. The statistical analysis pertained to results obtained by warmblood mares within a period of 10 years. Performance tests were conducted in II systems: field and stationary. The analysis encompassed 1490 mares, each of which participated in at least one performance test. The conducted study revealed statistically significant differences between average results obtained by 2-3 year-old mares and 4-year-olds only in the free jumping and rideability categories – in favor of 4-year-old mares. No statistically significant differences were noted between average scores for: walk, trot and gallop. The study did not reveal the impact of age on final scores for warmblood mares for the following traits during performance tests: walk, trot and gallop. Age did impact the results of: free jumping and rideability. The authors believe that the horses’ natural gait (its movements since infancy) is determined genetically and does not depend on age or length of training.

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