Genetic erosion is the loss of genetic variation in a defined population. The most extreme example of genetic erosion is extinction. Another type of genetic erosion that the purebred Irish Draught enthusiast would be familiar with is the loss of genetic material that occurs due to crossbreeding (for example, R.I.D. mares that are used to breed sport horses without ever producing a breeding replacement for themselves in the purebred herd).

Habitat loss is another important cause of genetic erosion. As the archetypal horse enabled man to expand his political and economic horizons, man's continued cultural evolution eliminated the "habitats" that shaped the development of individual horse breeds. For example, the mechanization of the 1950's diminished the unique agricultural niche the Irish Draught filled in Ireland. Years of "on the job" selection pressure that ensured the Irish farmer a hardy, light draught and riding horse of strength, substance, and intelligence, has given way over time to pressure from a modern "habitat" where selection is based on a continental warmblood paradigm where performance testing is the fashion, and commercial success, not utility, is the mantra.

Clearly, habitat loss in this context leads to genetic erosion that can occur both within and between breeds as selection pressure is applied to produce the widely marketable, but generic, "sport horse type". This "between breeds" genetic erosion phenomenon has already effectively obliterated variations between the continental warmblood breeds and is now making dangerous inroads into the native breeds.

The trend in breeding and inspection practices that selects for lighter boned, taller horses (often of specific bloodlines) pushes the Irish Draught breed away from traditional breed type, creating genetic erosion within the breed. This brings the Irish Draught horse ever closer to convergence with the uniform type, style, and function of the generic warmblood sport horse. Transformation to the commercially successful generic sport horse type may contribute to the survival of the Irish Draught breed, but not without a loss of phenotypic and genotypic elements that make the breed unique. Such a horse would be Irish Draught in name only.

The take home message is this: Genetic erosion between and within horse populations blurs the distinction between different breeds and, not surprisingly, destroys the unique phenotypic and genotypic foundation of the original breed. The Irish Draught breed is undergoing genetic erosion at a critical level. We must endeavor to protect what we hold dear in our horses before it is too late.

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