Genetic Diseases in Horses: HYPP, HERDA, GBED, SCID, OLWS
Genetic Disease Primer The birth of a foal is usually a joyous occasion, carrying with it the hopes, dreams and aspirations of the breeder and the future owner. Reputable breeders therefore put a great deal of effort into matching the right mare to the right stallion, in hopes of creating a foal that will have the qualities most desired in the breed. Unfortunately, that desire to perpetuate certain characteristics, coupled with the tendency to breed as many foals as possible out of horses that have those characteristics, has led to the proliferation of a number of heritable diseases that have very serious consequences. Although the science of genetics has helped us to understand why these diseases occur, and in some cases, provided us with tests to identify carriers, it is up to the horse owning public – especially those involved in breeding – to try to make these devastating diseases a thing of the past. ...