Where do Westphalian horses come from?

What diseases are Quarter Horses prone to?

Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) — perhaps the most well known of the genetic diseases present in Quarter Horses, HYPP has been traced to the prolific halter stallion Impressive. HYPP causes uncontrollable muscle twitching and paralysis. It is a dominant gene, meaning only one parent needs to carry it for HYPP to be passed on to offspring.

Are there Westfalen horses in North America?

According to the Westfalen Horse Association (WHA) (founded in 2002): • All Westfalen horses in North America are registered in Germany with the German association. • The WHA does not track the number of Westfalens in North America. been replaced in the modern type with sloping shoulders and longer pasterns.

How common is IMM in Quarter Horses?

Researchers say the mutation responsible for the sometimes-fatal muscle condition immune-mediated myositis (or IMM) is just as common, if not more so, than at least two other well-known genetic diseases in Quarter Horses: HERDA and HYPP.

What is the difference between Hanoverian and Westfalen horses?

The Westfalen is generally heavier than the Hanoverian, which it closely resembles. The breed, one of the most popular competition breeds in the world, is known for its spectacular movement and willingness to accept direction from the rider. These are tall horses, standing 16 to 17 hands.

What is a Westfalen warmblood horse?

The Westfalen Warmblood Association of America was founded in 1987 to recognize the achievements of individual horses and to promote the breed. This association has now been formally disbanded and it has been replaced with the Westfalen Horse Association. The Westfalen is generally heavier than the Hanoverian, which it closely resembles.

What happened to the Westphalian horse breed?

However, as machinery took over farming duties, the Westphalian duties as a farm horse became obsolete. So breeders began to focus on creating breeding for riding.

How many genes are needed for a horse to show genetic disease?

With autosomal dominant genetic diseases such as HYPP, PSSM, and MH only one defective gene is necessary to express the genetic disease. For the autosomal recessive genetic diseases such as GBED and HERDA typically two copies — a pair of an abnormal gene must be present in order for the horse to show expression of the genetic defect.

What kind of chromosomal abnormality does a horse have?

Affected horses appear normal, she said. Autosomal trisomy —The last chromosomal abnormality Lear described was autosomal trisomy, a condition similar to Down syndrome in humans in which there are three copies of a particular chromosome, instead of the normal two.

Why are Quarter Horses more prone to IMM?

We did not identify a definitive etiology (cause), but IMM was associated with a recent history of respiratory infection or vaccination, and Quarter Horses and related breeds were overrepresented.”

Is immune mediated myositis common in horses?

Immune mediated myositis is rare in horses outside of the Quarter Horse-related breeds and it is the most common cause of rapid atrophy of the topline in Quarter and Paint horses. The MYH1 mutation is present in about 7% of Quarter Horses and is most common in reining, working cow horses and halter horses (16-22% carriers).

What is Imm disease in horses?

Immune Mediated Myositis (IMM) is an incomplete dominant autoimmune disorder which causes muscular atrophy and stiffness in Quarter Horses. Horses with two copies of the mutation associated with IMM are more likely to develop symptoms than horses with a single copy, although environmental factors can play a role.

How much does IMM test cost for horses?

As IMM is an inheritable disorder, it is important to test horses prior to breeding in order to best manage potential outcomes. Quarter Horse Combination panel (PSSM, MH, HYPP, HERDA, IMM, GBED) £90.00 Testing for IMM is curently valid for the Quarter Horse and horses related to Quarter Horses only.

Are Quarter Horses prone to IMM?

Among Quarter horses, IMM appears to be especially prevalent in reining and cow types (Gianino G, et al. J Vet Intern Med 2019) and has a strong familial relationship, suggesting that predisposition to this disease has a genetic basis.

What is a Westfalen horse?

A good many of the early Westfalen horses that were bred specifically for farm and heavy military use had straight shoulders, short pasterns, and straight hind legs—traits that are rare in the modern horses. The Westfalen, once a farm horse, is now one of the most popular warmblood breeds in the world. The Westfalen brand.

What is a 63 x karyotype in horses?

The number and structure of the chromosomes are examined to determine whether all chromosomes are present and normal or whether there are abnormalities, and if so, of which type. The most common abnormality that we encounter in horses is the 63,X karyotype where one of sex chromosomes is missing.

What are the autosomal trisomies in the horse?

Two autosomal trisomies in the horse: 64, XX, i (26?) and 65, XX, + 30. North Am. Colloq. Cytogenet. Domest.

What is the most common abnormality in horses?

The most common abnormality that we encounter in horses is the 63,X karyotype where one of sex chromosomes is missing. These animals develop and appear to be a normal female. However, such horses are very much compromised and fail to develop normal reproductive tracts.

What is IMM in horses?

Horses with IMM have a mutated MYH1 gene, which codes for a protein called 2X myosin. An affected horse’s immune system is unable to tolerate the presence of this protein, leading to an attack on the muscles.

What is immune mediated myositis in horses?

Immune Mediated Myositis (IMM) can cause a horse to loose 40% of its topline muscle mass in 72 hours. What Is Immune Mediated Myositis? IMM is a genetic disorder in Quarter Horse related breeds: Quarter Horses, Paint, and Pintos. It is an autoimmune disorder.

How long does it take for a horse to recover from IMM?

Full muscle mass can be regained within several weeks to months. However, approximately 40% of horses affected by IMM will experience at least one recurrence of an atrophic episode, with the extent of muscle loss and resultant decrease in quality of life being severe enough in some cases to warrant euthanasia.

What causes immune-mediated muscle disorders in horses?

In horses, immune-mediated muscle disorders can arise from an overzealous immune response to concurrent infections or potentially from an inherent immune response to host muscle antigens. Streptococcus equi ss. equi infection or vaccination can result in infarctive purpura hemorrhagica (IPH) in whic …

What is immune-mediated myositis?

Immune-mediated myositis is characterized by rapid decay of back and hindlimb muscles following injury to blood vessels. This may be an immune-mediated consequence of equine respiratory diseases associated with Streptococcus equi (the bacteria that cause strangles in horses).

What is myositis in horses?

Immune Mediated Myositis (IMM) Equine immune-mediated myositis (IMM) is a disease occurring only in Quarter horses which causes rapid and severe symmetrical wasting of the topline muscles, often following exposure to or vaccination against respiratory infection by Streptococcus equi, the organism responsible for equine distemper (“Strangles”).

What are myopathies and myositis?

Myopathies are diseases that primarily cause damage to muscles. They may be present at birth (congenital) or occur due to nutritional imbalances, injury, or ingestion of a poisonous substance. Myositis is an inflammatory reaction in muscle. Common causes include infections, parasitic diseases, and immune-mediated conditions.

How many horses are diagnosed with IMM in California?

Hunyadi partnered with veterinarians from the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), and looked at medical records from that hospital of horses diagnosed with IMM from 1991 to 2014. They found 68 horses with a definitive diagnosis of IMM via muscle biopsy.

What are the symptoms of IMM in horses?

Horses with IMM experience rapid, widespread muscle atrophy (wasting) of the gluteal muscles, along with the epaxial muscles that run along either side of the spine. They also demonstrate generalized muscle stiffness and lethargy.