Female families… patterns of inbreeding… sire line nicks… what really influences the strength of a pedigree? How do conformation and class factor in? The Five-Cross Files explore bloodlines old and new, test the tools, and simplify the science—and art—of successful breeding.

Compatibility of stallions from one male line with mares from other sire lines -- a phenomenon called "nicks" -- has given knowledgeable horsemen an edge for hundreds of years. TrueNicks evaluates the strength of a pedigree by rating its nicking pattern