Considerate
Breeding.
Investment in horses and in particular breeding of horses
is financially and emotionally an expensive venture at the best of times. It should
not be entered into lightly without consideration of the possibility of factors
out of our control playing havoc with the best laid plans.
Breeding is a game of juggling genetic possibilities and
we endeavour to produce the best foal possible my matching stallions and mares
for their physical, mental and proven or potential capabilities to create a
horse to meet whatever the breeder’s vision into the future may be.
What of the invisible ingredients in our mix? The genetic
codes that actually create our foal, the map that really charts the creation
and engineering of everything the horse breeder sets in motion. Mostly we apply
our best skills as a judge of those horses in our various fields of expertise
and then cross our fingers perhaps confident we do know what the mix will
create but praying nature does not have a hidden agenda. Which she does.
Genetics and nature are a fluid part of evolution; essential
to the survival of any species is diversity created by selection of genetic
codes carrying changes. Sadly not all those genetic changes have a role that
meets the needs of the species and some are just outright destructive. These we
tag as ‘Genetic Disorders’ and generally thank whatever we believe in that they
mostly only manifest occasionally. But even that is just an evasion of facing
the truth.
The Hispano-Árabe, while essentially an old established
breed dating back hundreds of years (as previously discussed to the days of the
Moor invasions of the Iberian Peninsula) is undergoing a breed preservation and
regeneration programme which by necessity means the introduction of genetic
codes from new sources.
Specifically the increase of new Arabian blood lines and
with the modern world diversification of Arabian ‘types’ a far greater range of
genetic phenotype (physical characteristics); all of which in the last 30 years
the Spanish Hispano-Árabe Stud Book has taken into consideration in developing
its grading and testing of the ‘new’ Pure Bred Hispano-Árabes.
However, there is another implication of the re-introduction
of Arabian lines to the Hispano-Árabe at
the genetic level. The Arabian horse carries with it known breed specific genetic
disorders which Arabian breeders are alerted to by WAHO:
The probability of the manifestation of these disorders
within Pure Arabian breeding programme is higher than in its partbreds
(generally) as the chances are that the carrier partbred horses are less likely
to be bred back to other carriers. But the Hispano-Árabe is not a partbred, it
is a derivative breed and our F1 (PRE x Arabian) are bred back with other F1
stock and by the very fact that the breed is critically low in number the
incidence of manifestation of the transmitted Arabian genetic disorders is as
high a probability (if not higher) than in the Pure Arabian.
The decision to test or not for these disorders (where
testing is available) and then to breed or not (when tested positive as a carrier)
has been left to the integrity of the Arabian horse owner. So in effect while some breeders elect to
endeavour to eliminate genetic disorders from their breed programme, others
elect to continue breeding. They consider the odds for now might be in their
favour with limited losses of foals from the devastating consequences of these
disorders but they ignore the future when their action has resulted in the
compromise of all Arabian horses as the number of silent carrier’s increases.
The Hispano-Árabe breed protection programme is barely in
the gateway in its development. It would be devastating if the work of the past
30 years to protect this breed was to be shattered for want of a moment’s
consideration before breeding. If we view our-selves competent to breed horses then
we should have the integrity to think not just of our short term desires but of
the long term consequences of our choices and decisions.
The Spanish Government has taken stock of the
implications of the introduction of Arabian breed specific genetic disorders
being carried into the Hispano-Árabe breed and accordingly the Ministry on 18
June 2012 amended the Hispano-Árabe Breed Rules to adopt measures to deal with
this. Details of these measures will be published as soon as I receive exact
copy.
However, there is no reason on earth for Hispano-Árabe
horse breeders to not exercise common sense. Check the Arabian horse you intend
to breed from. If it is a carrier : Don’t breed! It is in the interests of both
the Arabian and the Hispano-Árabe owners to ensure before breeding that the
Arabian horse is tested clear of those disorders we have tests for.
These
are:
- Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disorder (SCID) (test available)
- Cerebellar Abiotrophy (CA) (indirect marker test available)
- Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS) (test available)
- Occipital Atlanto-Axial Malformation (OAAM) (test not yet available)
The company that developed the test for SCID at present
is playing a greed game and withholding ease of access to the test as they
intend patenting it as well as apparently charging high fees! So at present this test can only be obtained through
Vet-Gen and Laboklin :
The CA and LFS disorder tests are available at most
laboratories carrying out equine DNA testing so owners can shop around for best
prices and labs they feel suit their needs. Hispano-ÁrabeUK uses Animal
Genetics Uk for our DNA testing and this lab apart from being sensible on costs
provides a superb service for horse owners.
A little thought and integrity and there is no reason for
the worry that maybe all your hopes and plans for a perfect foal are going to
be shattered. A bit of consideration for the future and the integrity to not
breed if a test is positive and you will not be the founder of the future
destruction of the lines of horses you elected to contaminate.
Hard truths but better to swallow than to stand beside a
foal in distress dying because you crossed your fingers and hoped!
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