# 純種馬

日本的纯种赛马
**純種馬**（英語：Thoroughbred）是一種為了賽馬而刻意培育出來的馬的品種。雖然廣義的“純種馬”也可以指任何同一品種交配所生的馬，但在育馬和賽馬中所稱的“純種馬”一般只指這一種在英國人工培育的馬種。

純種馬的血統誕生於17世紀至18世紀的英國，由英國當地的牝馬與阿拉伯種的種馬配種而成。所有现代纯种马的血统都可以追溯到17和18世纪最初进口到英国的三匹种马，以及更多的主要由英国人饲养的基础牝马。在18和19世纪，纯血马的品种遍及世界各地；它们从1730年开始被引进北美，并在19世纪进入澳大利亚、欧洲、日本和南美。

四百年間經過不斷的配種人為的淘汰，使得純種馬成為最適合用於競速的品種，一匹健康的純種馬可以在背負50公斤的情況下以60~70km/h的速度奔跑數分鐘。目前全世界每年約生產11萬頭的純種馬，主要用於賽馬以及馬術競技，世界上純種馬的主要生產國有英國、愛爾蘭、法國、美國、加拿大、澳洲、紐西蘭以及日本。

## 特徵

目前純種馬的平均高度約為160~170公分之間，體重從450~500公斤之間。與其他品種的馬比起來純種馬頭部較小且輪廓分明，頸部與四肢較長，胸部與臀部的肌肉也比較發達。常見的毛色有棗色、栗色、棕色與灰色，一般常說的白馬其實大多數都是灰馬，真正的白馬是患有白化症的白子，且其成功誕生之機率只有1/4，（因白子化基因對純血馬而言是百分之七十五的致死基因）因此相當稀有。

## 歷史

達利阿拉伯（Darley Arabian），纯种马的三个传统基础父系之一
目前世界上所有的純種馬的血統都可以追溯到17世紀至18世紀時的英國，根據育馬大全（General Stud Book）記載，英國從中東引進102匹阿拉伯馬，巴布馬及土耳其馬等的東方種馬與英國當地的牝馬配種，生產出第一代純種馬。

四百年間經過育馬者不斷的人為的淘汰，現今的純種馬直系父線都可追溯到三頭種馬（三大始祖），分別是拜耶爾土耳其 （1680年左右）、達利阿拉伯 （1704年）與高多芬阿拉伯 （1729年），近年來的研究發現全世界約有95%的純種馬直系父線都是源自達利阿拉伯的血統，賽馬史上有名的大種馬日蝕就是達利阿拉伯的玄孫。

其他著名的東方種馬包括聖維特巴布（St. Victor Barb），卻雲棗巴布（Curwen's Bay Barb），艾閣阿拉伯（Alcock Arabian），費法斯摩洛哥巴布（Fairfax Morocco Barb），布朗洛土耳其（Brownlow Turk），達歷黃土耳其（Darcy's Yellow Turk），李斯特土耳其（Lister Turk），及列斯阿拉伯（Leedes Arabian），雖然牠們直系父線已被淘汰，但仍可在母線中找到其血統。而近年來的研究發現，如用父母線所有祖先血統分析，原來現代純種馬有24%來自高多芬阿拉伯 ，比11%的達利阿拉伯還要多。

## 參考來源

* Arthur, RM; et al. North American Thoroughbred. Ross MW, Dyson SJ (编). Diagnosis and Management of Lameness in the Horse. St. Louis, MO: Saunders. 2003: 872. ISBN 0-7216-8342-8.
* Barakat, Christine. Why Size Matters. Equus. October 2007, **361**: 36–42.
* Barrett, Norman (编). The Daily Telegraph Chronicle of Horse Racing. Enfield, UK: Guinness Publishing. 1995.
* Bongianni, Maurizio. Champion Horses: An Illustrated History of Flat Racing, Steeplechasing and Trotting Races. New York: Bonanza Books. 1983. ISBN 0-517-43933-6.
* Bongianni, Maurizio. Simon & Schuster's Guide to Horses and Ponies. New York: Fireside. 1987. ISBN 0-671-66068-3.
* Bourke, JM. Fatalities on racecourses in Victoria: a seven year study. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference of Racing Analysts and Veterinarians. 1994.
* Bruce, S.D. The American Stud Book, Vol. 1, Revised Edition. New York: Sanders D. Bruce. 1884.
* Buecker, Thomas R. Fort Robinson and the American century, 1900–1948. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society. 2002. ISBN 0-933307-29-2.
* Cunningham EP, Dooley JJ, Splan RK, Bradley DG. Microsatellite diversity, pedigree relatedness and the contributions of founder lineages to thoroughbred horses. Animal Genetics. December 2001, **32** (6): 360–4. PMID 11736806. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2052.2001.00785.x.
* Derry, Margaret Elsinor. Horses in Society: A Story of Animal Breeding and Marketing, 1800–1920. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. 2006. ISBN 0-8020-9112-1.
* Equine Research, Inc. Breeding Management and Foal Development. Grand Prairie, Texas: Equine Research. 1982. ISBN 0-935842-04-7.
* Erigero, Patricia. New Research Sheds Light on Old Pedigrees. Genetic Markers. Thoroughbred Heritage.  [2008-02-17].  which cites Hill, E. W.; et al. History and Integrity of Thoroughbred Dam Lines Revealed in Equine mtDNA Variation (PDF). Animal Genetics. 2002, **33** (4): 287–294  [2008-02-17]. PMID 12139508. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2052.2002.00870.x.
* Erigero, Patricia. Who's Your Momma II: Some Lines Converge. Genetic Markers. Thoroughbred Heritage.  [2008-02-17].  which cites Hill, E. W.; et al. History and Integrity of Thoroughbred Dam Lines Revealed in Equine mtDNA Variation (PDF). Animal Genetics. 2002, **33** (4): 287–294  [2008-02-17]. PMID 12139508. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2052.2002.00870.x.
* Erigero, Patricia. Who's Your Momma III: Some Lines Misplaced. Genetic Markers. Thoroughbred Heritage.  [2008-02-17].  which cites Hill, E. W.; et al. History and Integrity of Thoroughbred Dam Lines Revealed in Equine mtDNA Variation (PDF). Animal Genetics. 2002, **33** (4): 287–294  [2008-02-17]. PMID 12139508. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2052.2002.00870.x.
* Evans, Warren J; Anthony Borton; L. Dale Van Vleck; Harold Hintz. The Horse Second. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman. 1990. ISBN 0-7167-1811-1.
* Finley, Bill. Sadly, No Way to Stop Deaths. New York Daily News. 6 October 2006.
* Glyn, Richard. The World's Finest Horses and Ponies. London: Harrap. 1971. ISBN 0-245-59267-9.  含有內容需登入查看的頁面 (link)
* Grady, Denise. State of the Art to Save Barbaro. The New York Times. 23 May 2006  [2008-02-17].
* Hedge, Juliet; Don M. Wagoner. Horse Conformation: Structure, Soundness and Performance. Globe Pequot. 2004. ISBN 1-59228-487-6.
* Henry, Marguerite. All About Horses. Random House. 1967. ISBN 0-394-80243-8.
* Jones, Caroline. Fox Hunting in America. American Heritage Magazine. October 1973, **24** (6).
* Kluger, Jeffrey. Bred for Speed...Built for Trouble. Time Magazine. 28 May 2006  [2008-02-17]. （原始内容存档于April 6, 2008）.
* MacKey, Valorie S.; Trout, Donald R.; Meagher, Dennis M.; Hornof, William J. Stress fractures of the humerus, radius, and tibia in horses: clinical features and radiographic and/or scintigraphic appearance. Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound. 1987, **28** (1): 26–31. doi:10.1111/j.1740-8261.1987.tb01719.x.
* Merriam-Webster. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of English Usage. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster. 1989. ISBN 0-87779-132-5.  含有內容需登入查看的頁面 (link)
* Miller, Robert M. And They Call Us Horse Lovers. Cowboy Magazine. Fall 2006  [2008-02-17].
* Milner, Mordaunt. The Godolphin Arabian: The Story of the Matchem Line. London: J. A. Allen. 1990. ISBN 0-85131-476-7.
* Montgomery, Edward E. The Thoroughbred. New York: Arco Publishing. 1971. ISBN 0-668-02824-6.  含有內容需登入查看的頁面 (link)
* Morris, Tony. Thoroughbred Stallions. Swindon, Wiltshire: Crowood Press. 1990. ISBN 1-85223-331-1.
* Napier, Miles. Blood will tell: Orthodox breeding theories examined. London: J. A. Allen. 1977. ISBN 0-85131-254-3.
* Nimrod. The Turf. London: Gay and Bird. 1901.
* Oikawa, M; et al. Effect of restructuring of a racetrack on the occurrence of racing injuries in thoroughbred horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 1994, **14** (5): 262–268. doi:10.1016/S0737-0806(06)81951-9.
* Oke, Stacey. Understanding and Preventing Catastrophic Injuries. The Horse. July 2008.
* Patten, John W. The Light Horse Breeds: Their Origin, Characteristics, and Principal Uses. New York: Bonanza Books. 1960. OCLC 403717047.
* Pedulla, Tom. Injury steps up scrutiny on Triple Crown schedule. USA Today. 4 June 2006  [2008-02-17].
* Phifer, Kate Gilbert. Track Talk: An Introduction to Thoroughbred Racing. Washington, D.C.: Robert B. Luce Co. 1978. ISBN 0-88331-098-8.
* Pickrell, John. 95% of thoroughbreds linked to one superstud. NewScientist.com news service. New Scientist. September 2005  [2008-02-17].
* Robertson, William P. The History of Thoroughbred Racing in America. New York: Bonanza Books. 1964. OCLC 1028160.
* Rosenblatt, Richard. Barbaro's Legacy: Better Life for Horses. Washington Post. 2007-04-23  [2008-02-17].
* Walker, Childs & Bill Ordine. Barbaro's injury highlighted problems, medical advances. Baltimore Sun. 30 January 2007  [2008-02-17]. （原始内容存档于October 11, 2008）.
* Wall, John F. Famous Running Horses: Their Forebears and Descendants Reprint edition from Kessinger Publishing (2007). Washington, DC: Infantry Journal Press. 1949. ISBN 1-4325-9386-2.
* Willett, Peter. The Classic Racehorse. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky. 1982. ISBN 0-8131-1477-2.
* Willett, Peter. The Thoroughbred. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. 1970. ISBN 0-297-00225-2.  含有內容需登入查看的頁面 (link)

* 香港賽馬會 （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆）
* Jockey Club (UK) （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆）
* The Jockey Club (USA) （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆）
* Thoroughbred Bloodlines （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆）
* Australian Stud Book （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆）
* Royal Ascot Bloodline Interactive Tool （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆）