Carolina Marsh Tacky Association

After three years, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) is happy to announce that the first studbook for the Marsh Tacky horse has been completed as of July 2009.

The Breeders Assistant pedigree program used by ALBC to compile the studbook will produce registration certificates, allow the user to instantly evaluate a population's current status and calculate inbreeding coefficients and help breeders decide the most appropriate breeding strategies that will ensure the long-term genetic diversity of the Marsh Tacky. In the future, the
program will allow owners to access the studbook through the ALBC website.

One of the most common questions is

how does a horse become registered?

First, the studbook is officially closed but there may be exceptions if there is strong supporting evidence that the horse is a Tacky and that it being accepted to the registry would benefit the population by adding vital genetics to the breed. To begin the process a registration application must be completed.

Second, before a horse can be considered, the registry requires a detailed history of the origin and breeding of the horse. Where did it come from? Are the sire and dam known? Who was the breeder?

Third, the horse needs to be visually inspected for breed type and conformation. Good photos of the front and side of the horse must be submitted to the registry. If the horse is visually consistent for the breed standard, the horse will then be inspected by a member of the CMTA
Inspection Team.
For more information see the Marsh Tacky Breed Standards page.

Lastly, if there is still question about the horse being a Tacky, a hair sample may be submitted to Texas A&M for analysis to determine if the horse's genotype conforms to that of the Marsh Tacky breed. This is done at cost to the owner of the horse.

A Registration Application must be completed and sent along with a picture of a front image and a side image of the horse to ALBC. If the horse passes the muster by the ALBC Pedigree Registry to consider it a Tacky, then the horse will be registered.

Acceptance into the registry does not imply an evaluation of animal soundness. A registration may be cancelled or amended by the ALBC Pedigree Registry at any time based on new information. All new foals from registered parent stock must have a registration form filled out by their owners including photos so that they may be entered properly into the studbook and registry.

Presently there is no cost for a horse to be registered as this is the first studbook for the breed and it is vital that all Marsh Tackies be included in order for it to accurately document the population as well as to serve effective management tool for the breed.

Pedigree certificates are signed and embossed and are mailed out to owners upon acceptance of their horse into the registry. If there are any questions regarding the studbook or registry contact Jeannette Beranger at ALBC, PO Box 477, Pittsboro, NC 27312, (919) 542-5704, jberanger@albc-usa.org

We would like to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly thank the Thorne Foundation for their generosity that helped to make the first Marsh Tacky studbook a reality.