09/03/2024
The American Sugarbush Harlequin Draft is a breed known for its Clean Genetics, Conformation, Versatility and Temperament, but the thing it is the most recognized for is its (usually) loud spotted coat. And yet, while this trait is the most commonly recognized when referring to the horses of ASHDA, it is actually the least important. Thanks to our strict registration requirements in terms of conformation and genetics, and our public encouragement of breeding for temperament and versatility, usually the end defining factor of difference in value for ASHDA foals falls to pedigree, and yes, color. But, no other "color breed" registry in the world has the strict requirements for breeding stock that ASHDA does, which allows something as trivial as color to be a deciding factor on value, and sets a foal apart from his peers. Even so, ASHDA would value a horse with Clean Genetics, Conformation, Versatility and Temperament that was solid far more than a horse with color that lacked even one of the other traits, and that is what helps to set our breed apart from others known for their flashy coats.
Solid ASHDA horses are a valued section of our breed. As such, they require no special permissions to breed (even to other solids!) or to show against their spotted brethren. Solids (or LP horses) may come in any base color, with any dilution or dilution(s) present. ASHDA believes a good horse is a good horse, regardless of the color of their coat, and our solid horses are definitive proof of that! Our most common solid horses are Black or Bay, but there are also many chestnuts and even palomino, dun and champagne solids in ASHDA's ranks.
The American Sugarbush Harlequin Draft is a horse with Clean Genetics, Correct Conformation, Versatile Ability, Kind Temperament an, of course, a great many possibilities when it comes to Color!
One of the things we most often hear from people skeptical about the American Sugarbush Harlequin Draft breed, is that the horses are bred JUST for color. It's all about color. Color, color, color. Funnily enough, color makes up a very small percentage of what horses in ASHDA represent. Let's take a closer look:
ASHDA horses are well known for their flashy coats. The image of Sugarbush Harley Quinne standing regally in the woods has been shared to hundreds of thousands of people. It definitely makes a statement to have a big horse with big color. So where does ASHDA stand on color?
First and foremost, color is NOT required! Horses born without a spotted coat or carrying the LP gene are not treated like second class citizens like they are in most every other color registry. Many breeds divide their registries into two parts: color, and no color. Horses with color get to show, breed and enjoy all of the regular benefits of the club, while horses without, must either have their way into the show ring purchased for an extra fee, or sometimes they are banned completely.
In ASHDA, clean genetics come first and foremost. In fact, there are several ASHDA horses that do express LP, but are listed as Non-Breeding stock due to carrying disallowed genetic defects. If we were all about color, those defects would be dismissed and horses with LP, regardless of how they tested, would be allowed to breed forward. In some breeds that focus solely on pattern or coat dilutions, some defects have become very wide spread as a result of trying to breed for color or homozygosity in color genes. ASHDA has put a halt on that, only allowing tested clean horses to breed, whether they are patterned or solid.
Solid horses can be bred to solid horses, which is disallowed in every other color breed we know of. Color can always be added back, and the creation of a genetically clean foal with correct conformation is always paramount to spots. Solid horses can show in the same classes as patterned ones and are eligible for all the same awards and programs. The only event in which a spotted horse will be given some preference is if, in a test against the breed standard (such as a halter class), if two horses are equal in every way, the horse exhibiting coat pattern would be considered closer to the breed standard.
All new outcross and Improvement horses must meet our strict conformational and genetic testing requirements. While some breeds might leap at the chance to introduce new color genes or world champion bloodlines into their pool and look the other way in the case of defects, we enforce these requirements on every horse no matter who owns them or what their accomplishments are. It has certainly ruffled some feathers along the way, but a healthy gene pool is of the utmost concern to us.
There is even a market just for the solids in our breed. Many people who desire the versatile conformation of the ASHDA horse, the clean genetics, and the trustworthy nature, deliberately seek out ASHDA horses, even if spots aren't to their taste. Many people seeking conservatively marked horses have leapt at the chance to bring home a solid ASHDA horse, as they appreciate the strict requirements the registry enforces that they can rarely be sure of elsewhere.
We at ASHDA love all of our horses, solid or color and no horse is a second class citizen just because they were born without spots.
Pictured is the lovely O My Sweet Angel, a solid black ASHDA E-Designation mare owned by Boisvert Farms.
