Linear Scoring as a Tool for

Selecting Breeding Stock

Norman Storey B.Agr.Sc.

Equine Specialist Adviser

What is linear scoring?

Dictionary

Linear relating to a line

Scoring a system of
units for measurement

This is a grey horse

These are grey horses

Shades of Grey

Grey Scale

Grey Scale

Grey Score

Condition Score

Thin

Fat

Look at these Front Legs

Describe Them

Good

Bad

Score Them

umping

umping

umping

A Linear Score more accurately

describes the trait

Linear Score
Identify the traits
- Conformation traits
- Performance traits
- Economic traits
- Heritable traits

Identify Traits
Body shape
Angle of shoulder
Hoof shape
Knee
Walk - length of stride
Jumping - Technique of front leg
Scope

Linear Score

Identify the traits

Describe the trait
Define the extremities
Present results

Describe the trait

Jump - technique of back
The measure in which the
neck and back follow the
arc over the jump;
bascule

Define Extremities
Body shape
Angle of shoulder
Hoof shape
Knee
Walk length of
stride
Technique of front
leg
Scope

Rectangular Square
Upright
Sloping
Wide
Narrow
Over
Back

- Long
- Folded
- Much

Short
Stretched
Little

Define Extremities
Body shape
Angle of shoulder
Hoof shape
Knee
Walk length of
stride
Technique of front
leg
Scope

Rectangular Square
Upright
Sloping
Wide
Narrow
Over
Back

- Long
- Folded
- Much

Short
Stretched
Little

Traits two types

Optimal average score is most
desired
e.g. Knee, hock angle, length of back
Maximum the higher the better or the
optimum clearly lies above the average
e.g. slope of shoulder, technique of front
leg, length of stride

The Results

Long

Av

Short

Length of back
Long

Av

Short

Jumping technique of
back
Round

Av

Hollow

Linear Scoring Chart

Colour

Dark

Body
Thin
condition
Knee
Over

Light
Fat
Back

Results

Long

Av

Short

Traits
1
2
3

65

85
123

5
6
7

74

8
9

87

10

95

11
12
13
14

78

Linear Scoring as a Tool for

Selecting Breeding Stock
Accurate description of your mare
Accurate description of stallions
Aids selection
Improvement in progeny
Breed improvement
Industry improvement

Breed Improvement
With more accurate assessment of
breeding stock we can select the better
one and cull the bad ones
There is correlation between performance
and conformation but not very strong.
It is much stronger between young horse
testing and competition results in later life

Linear Scoring as a Tool for

Selecting Breeding Stock

Compatible with other systems

We must understand it