The importance of the dam line in a show jumper's pedigree

When reading a pedigree, attention often goes to the sire — but breeders also give great weight to the dam line. Here is why.

What the dam line is

It is the mother's family: dam, maternal granddam and so on. Many studbooks track actual mare families (for example the Holstein «stems»), regarded as indicators of quality and consistency over time.

Why it matters

The dam line transmits traits important for sport and tends to «consolidate» a pedigree's value: a strong dam line increases the reliability of expectations. This is why the damsire (the dam's father) is often noted in a pedigree.

How to use it in evaluation

The dam line should be read together with the sire line and — above all — actual results. See how to read a pedigree and how to evaluate a horse.