What is it about?
This study used geometric morphometrics to quantify horse facial-profile shape from lateral photographs. We compared 21 breeds spanning small, light, warmblood, and draft horses, and then examined variation within Arabian horses, where facial profile is a particularly prominent and selectively valued trait.
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Why is it important?
Horse facial profiles are usually described using broad categories such as dished, straight, or roman-nosed, but these categories do not capture the full continuous variation in shape. More than 70% of breeds showed relatively straight profiles, while Arabian horses displayed the greatest diversity and formed three distinct shape groups. Quantitative phenotyping provides a better basis for future genetic studies and standardized assessment.
Perspectives
One practical value of this approach is that it converts a familiar but largely subjective visual trait into a quantitative phenotype. This is especially useful in Arabian horses, where facial shape is actively selected and extreme forms may also have implications for health and breeding.
Bader H. Alhajeri
Kuwait University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Geometric morphometrics of face profile across horse breeds and within Arabian horses, Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, January 2024, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104980.
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