“Heritage-breed horses are not just useful and beautiful—they are an irreplaceable reservoir of equine genetic diversity,” says Charlene R. Couch, PhD. “These animals offer valuable traits that were developed over centuries, such as stamina, unique gaits, hardiness, sound feet and good skeletal structure.”
The ancestral sources of many of the heritage breeds no longer exist meaning that breed cannot be recreated. They are a true genetic treasure.
Source: Horse Illustrated, March 23, 2023. Link. 29 horse breeds are listed as endangered including: Clydesdales, Lipizzans, Shires, traditional Morgans and more . . .
Also see: Archaeology and genomics together with Indigenous knowledge revise the human-horse story in the American West, The Conversation, March 30, 2023. Link.