Testing

If you wish to learn more about testing your horse for genetic conditions please contact the Arabian Horse Society or join the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/212928505470054/ which is an open group to discuss genetic conditions.

After losing one fatal LFS foal in August 2010 and discovering my herd contained six LFS Carriers I have managed to breed the carrier mares to clear stallions and out of five foals have four tested clear and one tested carrier. I chose to geld the carrier stallion and now have two clear colts by him to breed on with. I will not part with my carrier mares but will selectively breed from them.

I test all my foals at registration time. Because all of my older horses are tested I only have to test those born to a Carrier parent, any parents that are clear means no testing for the subsequent progeny is necessary, though I do put it in writing to the AHSA so they know to publish the results at the time of registration. I believe the publication of their status helps in numerous ways, not only to make buyers and other breeders more knowledgeable and aware but mainly to help stop the spread of carriers to the unaware and potentially spread the genetic conditions and to decrease the number of fatalities these conditions can cause. Initially this might decrease the value of carrier horses but the longer term picture is better for the horses if we learn to manage sensibly what we have and it doesn't detract from the quality of the horses whatsoever.

If you wish to test for SCID, LFS and CA please follow the guidelines on the AHSA site.




questions: contact lhenleydesign@bigpond.com or call 0417 685 244 and leave a message and I will return your call after work