[lbweaver]

Does anyone know if a mare that is n/h can pass the hypp gene on to her mule foal?
I know the spotted gene is inherited VERY differently for donkeys and mules but I can't find any information for hypp.
TIA,
Lydia

[HalterGirl_88]

hhmmm, I would say yes cause the donkey would be n/n so there would be a 50% chance of the foal being N/H

[Lopin' Leopard]

I would have to agree with Haltergirl. I dont see why the foal wouldn't be able to inherit it. The gene could be passed through when a positive Qtr is crosses with lets say a welsh. Totally different breed, but the gene is there to be passed on. I dont see why I donkey would be different.
I personaly would never concider breeding a N/H horse, no matter if they showed symtoms or not, the foal might show the symtoms and then how would you feel when he was stuck on the ground in pain not being able to get back up. I know they say the horses aren't in pain, but how do they now??? do they speak horse??? lol

Sorry to go on but thats my opinion.

~R. Franz

[Blistering Winds]

Anyone who breeds an N/H or H/H horse, in my opinion, is VERY irresponsible. We, in the Quarter horse industry, are trying to weed OUT this devistating genetic defect. Those owners who refuse to test and quit breeding these horses, especially the H/H horses, are the biggest issue we are having.

HYPP can be very devistating to a horse who has it. Not only do they need special feeds, but they can get so bad you HAVE to put them down cause they can't even MOVE. And it's all genetically linked. Weed the genetics, you get rid of the disorder.

I would seriously consider a different breeding or if you are the one with the N/H horse, don't breed. PLEASE don't breed. The last thing we need is to spread it into the mules and donkey world. QH's and their crosses are having enough issues controlling the spread.

I'm not trying to be rude, but I've seen a few in the worse stages recently. It's AWEFUL!

[Blistering Winds]

And who says they aren't in Pain? The two I've seen are in Agonizing pain because the cramps are SO bad. Their whole rear end is on the ground from the spasms.

[Lopin' Leopard]

I did a report on HYPP for my biologoy class last year and when the horse are having an attack they aren't suppost to be in any pain. I dont beleive it though. Why do they sweat and scramble?

[Blistering Winds]

Exactly. I've had a muscle cramp from an imbalance before. I can swear that it HURTS LIKE **** !!!!!

So why would it be different in horses?

[lbweaver]

OK, no reason to get excited! I don't own a positive mare. I was asked this question in a conversation recently and didn't have an answer. I've looked at a bunch of donkey/mule websites and can't find any information on the subject.

I'm sure that somewhere down the line there's a n/h mare that has been crossed with a jack. There's a lot of pos. horses out there that haven't been tested so I could easily see how it could happen. Finding any info on resulting mule foal(s) would probably be like finding a needle in a haystack. Think I'll email UC Davis and see if they may by some chance have information.
Thanks very much for your replies. I'll post any useful info that UC Davis can provide.
Lydia

[lbweaver]

Oh and I forgot to mention...

I can't say for sure whether or not a horse in the middle of a severe hypp attack is in pain, BUT, I do know that even after my pos. horse was down for 5 hours he wasn't even sore! I thought he'd be stiff all over and my vet told me he'd probably need bute for a couple days, but he was almost perfectly normal as soon as the attack was over. Maybe acting just a bit tired, but not actually sore at all, no short stride, no tender areas, nothing! The very first bad attack he had that made him go down kept him down for over 2 hours. When he got up we walked him for just a few minutes and then turned him in the roundpen. He promptly began chasing my dogs OUT of the roundpen! This was within 15 minutes of being laid flat out on the ground for 2 hours! That seems to be the same situation with other horses I know that are positive (the ones that show symptoms, many don't ever show signs of episodes). When the attack is over it's really over and there doesn't seem to be any after effects. Anyway, I think the jury is still out on whether or not the attacks are painful.
Lydia

[belle4]

I had a horse in training that was positive on both sides. The onwer bought him at a sale for $500. He was double breed Impressive. The horse had 2 attacks at our farm. Had the whole place upset. Couldn't find a vet who knew anything about hypp. He was down and out for hours. Treated him with caro syrup, and promptly sent him home. He was a beautiful animal with all the Impressive bulk. No wonder he was so cheap. What was this lady thinking? Now I ask to see papers on animals before I take them in for training. Live and learn. Why prolong this terrible trait? People need to stop breeding this.