Skip to main content
SLU publication database (SLUpub)

Conference abstract2015

The DMRT3 “Gait keeper” mutation affects harness racing performance and riding traits in Finnhorses

Jäderkvist, Kim; Johansson, Lisa; Mykkänen, Anna Kristina; Mäenpää, Minna; Andersson, Lisa; Andersson, Leif; Árnason, Thorvaldur; Lindgren, Gabriella

Abstract

The DMRT3 "Gait keeper" mutation is well known for its effects on gaits and locomotion patterns in horses. Previous studies have shown the mutation to have a strong favorable effect on harness racing performance in Standardbreds, French and Nordic trotters. The mutation also affects riding traits in Icelandic horses and in Standardbreds. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the DMRT3 mutation on harness racing performance and riding traits in Finnhorses. We genotyped for the DMRT3 mutation 180 Finnhorses of trotting type and 59 Finnhorses used for riding. For the trotters the genotypes were evaluated for association with racing performance traits (number of starts, victories, placings, earnings and race times) at different ages. For the Finnhorses used for riding the owners answered a 12 question survey about their horse and had to score how well the horse performed the gaits walk, trot and canter on a scale from 1 to 6. T€olt and pace ability was also reported. These scores were then tested for an association with the DMRT3 genotypes. Racing performance analyses were performed usingWald tests in PLINK. Fisher's exact tests in R were used for analyses on t€olt and pace ability, while pairwise t-tests were used for gait score analyses. The results showed that the DMRT3 mutation strongly influenced racing performance in Finnhorses. Between 3 and 6 years of age AA horses had a significantly higher proportion of victories (P ¼ 1.4 106) and placings (P ¼ 4.1 107) compared with C- horses. Additionally, they also had better race times (P ¼ 0.01) and earned more money (P ¼ 0.009). Despite CA horses not performing as well as AA horses, they still performed better than CC horses. Thus supporting an additive genetic effect of the DMRT3 mutation on racing performance. Similar results were found when comparing performance at different ages (4, 5, 6 and 10 years), except for 3 years of age where no significant differences were present. Although AA horses were more successful as racehorses, the C- horses appear more adapted for classical riding disciplines. This is supported by significantly lower gait scores for AA horses compared with C- horses for the majority of gaits. With the exception of rhythm in extended canter (P ¼ 0.05), no significant differences were present between CA and CC horses for gait scores. A significant association (P ¼ 0.006) between DMRT3 genotype and the ability to show t€olt was present; however, no significant association was present for pace (P ¼ 0.21). This study shows that different genotypes are optimal for different disciplines and the DMRT3 mutation clearly influences the pattern of locomotion in Finnhorses.

Published in

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
2015, Volume: 35, number: 5, pages: 399-399
Publisher: Equine Science Society

Conference

2015 Equine Science Society Symposium