Preservation of Primitive Dutch Konik Horses

The Dutch Konik is valued from a genetic conservation perspective and also for its role in 12 preservation of natural landscapes. The primary management objective for the captive breeding of 13 this primitive horse is to maintain its genetic purity, whilst also maintaining the nature reserves on 14 which they graze. Breeding selection has traditionally been based on phenotypic characteristics 15 consistent with the breed description, and the selection of animals for removal from the breeding 16 program is problematic at times due to high uniformity within the breed. With the objective of 17 identifying an additional non-invasive selection criterion with potential uniqueness to the Dutch 18 Konik, this study investigates the anatomic parameters of the distal equine limb, with a specific 19 focus on the relative lengths of the individual splint bones. Post-mortem dissections performed on 20 distal limbs of Dutch Konik (n = 47) and modern domesticated horses (n = 120) revealed significant 21 differences in relation to the length and symmetry of the 2nd and 4th Metacarpals and Metatarsals. 22 Distal limb characteristics with apparent uniqueness to the Dutch Konik are described which could 23 be an important tool in the selection and preservation of the breed. 24