HYPP in horses

[Chickerdoodle13]

HERDA I've heard of before. It causes problems with the skin I think, where the tissues that connect the skin to muscle deteriorate. I remember seeing pictures of horses with huge lesions. Some of the more severe horses can't be ridden because the rubbing of the saddle causes the skin to rip. As I recall, not all of the cases are quite so serious, but it's another huge genetic problem in QHs!

 

[welsummerchicks]

When that was first reported, I was just - I was horrified. I couldn't imagine not putting the animal out of its misery when it is going through that.

 

[FlashPointFarm]

Having worked at a "Halter Horse Show barn" before, you are probably not going to see AQHA disallow N/H horses any time soon. The majority of H/H horses have to be medicated just to function. A lot of N/H horses need meds, others are non symptomatic, never tying up once that you notice their entire lives.

I was at a man's barn that was big in the Halter Horse business, one of the biggest names you see winning constantly. He breeds to get N/H horses on purpose because they win. AQHA makes a lot of money off of these breeders. As long as these "big name breeders/showers" are making AQHA so much money, I don't see why the association would make these changes.

 

[welsummerchicks]

The problem is the way they are handling it, won't get the gene out of the gene pool. The N/H horses keep putting the gene back in. Even if they're all totally symptomatic, they're keeping the gene in the gene pool. But from what I read, the asymptomatic horses can suddenly fall at any time.

The breed organization has a responsibility to manage the gene pool of the breed. Otherwise, they are running the risk that one of these animals is going to fall and injure or kill someone.

 

[RabbitMage]

Quote:
You're assuming they're actually concerned with ethical breeding and not money, which is the reason it wasn't stopped outright.

 

[welsummerchicks]

That is really a shame, Rabbit. But it sure sounds like you are right.

 

[FlashPointFarm]

Exactly. Lots, but not all, halter people love the HYPP horses.

Quote:
You're assuming they're actually concerned with ethical breeding and not money, which is the reason it wasn't stopped outright.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Is there a particular reason halter people have a tendency to use HYPP horses, or is it just because they are more typically affected by HYPP?

 

[welsummerchicks]

bigger muscles.

Though when I look at some of those halter horses, they don't look hypp, they really look like they are being given steroids. They look extremely weird.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Well clearly they are not TRYING to get it out of the gene pool.

They are just trying to throw a sop to the whiners so the bad publicity will die down and they can go back to business as usual. It's just windowdressing, pure and simple.


Pat