Pedigree matters: more than promotion, more than instincts, more than most people admit.

If you’re breeding, buying or pinhooking Thoroughbreds and still relying on gut instinct, nick ratings or farm gossip, you’re not alone.

But you’re probably not getting ahead either.

Too many breeders waste time and money-making decisions without a framework. The good news? There’s a better way. A clear, practical strategy that cuts through confusion and helps you make smarter matings and sharper buying decisions.

Here’s how to do it with seven time-tested principles you can start using today.

Start With the End in Mind

Before you choose a stallion or short-list a yearling, get clear on your goal.

Are you trying to breed a two-turn turf runner? Are you pinhooking to sell in 10 months? Are you building long-term broodmare value?

Write it down.

That decision shapes every move you make from selecting stallions to evaluating pedigrees. It narrows your options and eliminates wasted time. If you’re planning to sell, your stallion choice needs commercial appeal. If you’re breeding to race, performance comes first.

Don’t start a mating without knowing what “success” actually looks like.

Inbreeding and Linebreeding: Use Carefully

Inbreeding and linebreeding are tools. They’re not magic and they’re not dangerous. Unless you use them wrong.

Here’s what matters: the quality of the ancestor and the type of duplication.

Start by identifying which ancestors show up in both the sire and dam. Are they proven? Sound? Consistent producers?

Then look at how they appear.

You want to see male and female progeny of that ancestor duplicated across the pedigree. Not just sons. Not just daughters. Both. That’s called gender-balanced linebreeding and it matters.

Think of it as reinforcing a strong foundation. But if the ancestor had issues, like unsoundness or mental quirks, don’t double it up.

Use inbreeding to add strength. Not risk.

Outcrossing: Only Works If You Know What’s Missing

Outcrossing gets praised as a safety move. But it’s not a solution. It’s a tool just like inbreeding.

The real question is: What’s missing from the mare?

If your mare is tight on one line, say full of speed and temperament, then yes, an outcrossed stallion with a quieter, more durable background might help. But if you outcross just to avoid duplication, you might lose consistency.

Here’s a smarter way:

Start with a pedigree that’s too “hot.” Add cool. Got a slow mare with duplication of pedigree but no turn-of-foot? Bring in a stallion who’s quick and clean of heavy linebreeding.

Outcrossing isn’t about avoiding risk. It’s about solving problems.

Female Families: Your Hidden Pedigree Advantage

Some female families just get the job done. Over and over. They produce runners, sires or both.

Your job is to know which is which.

Find your mare’s female family number (FF#). Then check if it’s one of the top 1st or 2nd tier lines. There are 27 major ones. These lines carry generations of proven performance.

If your mare’s family is a strong runner-producer, reinforce it with sires that trace to the same line. Or better yet, double it up through inbreeding to a great mare within the first six generations.

Female family stacking isn’t trendy. It’s smart. It adds depth. It creates staying power. It’s the hidden engine behind many great pedigrees.

Use it.

Physical Compatibility Isn’t Optional

Pedigree won’t fix poor physical matches.

If your mare is short-backed, upright and downhill, don’t breed her to a heavy-topped, short-legged stallion just because the paper looks good. You’ll get a mess.

Instead, assess each horse like a builder picks materials. You want balance. Strength. Structure that makes sense.

Here’s what to look at:

• Front end to hind end ratios
• Shoulder angle
• Hip length and slope
• Pasterns and knee set

Then breed to correct the weaknesses without doubling up on flaws.

You don’t need a carbon copy. You need a complement.

Start with the body. Then confirm it with the pedigree.

Forget Nick Ratings as a Pedigree Shortcut

Nicking systems are popular because they’re easy. But easy doesn’t mean useful.

Most nick scores measure just the stallion line and broodmare sire line. That’s two pieces of a seven-generation puzzle.

Here’s a better idea:

• Run a full seven-generation analysis.
• Check for meaningful linebreeding.
• Look for female family reinforcement.
• Make sure the physicals actually work.

Then, if everything checks out, see what the nick says. If it’s positive, great. If not, ignore it.

A high nick won’t save a poor mating. A low nick won’t ruin a smart one.

Don’t outsource your decisions to a shortcut.

Your 5-Step Pedigree Framework

Here’s how to pull it all together. Use this on your next mating or buying decision:

1. Set your goal. Race, sell or long-term value?
2. Study the mare. Female family, prior foals, conformation.
3. Shortlist stallions. Based on structure, pedigree depth and FF compatibility.
4. Run a 7-gen pedigree review. Look for smart linebreeding, gender balance and reinforcement.
5. Cross-check for risk. Don’t duplicate known flaws. Confirm balance. Then make your pick.

That’s your playbook. Simple, clear, repeatable.

Breeding Smart Isn’t About Being Flashy. It’s About Being Right.

There’s no prize for being trendy. No points for guessing right once in a while.

The best breeders, the ones who produce runners year after year, follow a system. They don’t gamble. They don’t chase. They design.

You can too.

Know your goal. Understand your mare. Use seven-generation depth, not surface-level shortcuts. Focus on compatibility, reinforcement and balance.

And above all, stop waiting for luck. Start building for results.

Your next great foal won’t be an accident. It’ll be a product of clear thinking and sharp decisions.

That’s how you win. Not just once. But over and over.

Clark Shepherd Bloodstock Agent, Sales Consultant & Pedigree Analyst

Clark Shepherd stands as a beacon in the thoroughbred world, renowned for his unyielding integrity and deep-seated expertise. Growing up on the racetrack, he transformed his lifelong passion into a thriving career as a trusted bloodstock agent. Clark's profound knowledge in equine management and keen eye for racehorses have led numerous clients to victory, including the pinnacle of designing the mating of a Kentucky Derby winner. Dedicated to both industry stalwarts and newcomers, he offers personalized, insightful guidance in every equine venture. Clark's ethos is encapsulated in his mantra: "Empowering Equine Success with Integrity and Insight!"

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