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Thanks for that great reply! I am glad to see
you say DO NOT BREED horses with bad temperaments! That is as much a fault as
bad legs! I live in Montana and my gosh, people breed all kinds of stuff.
I cannot believe that bad legs around here.
As for your stallion, I am sorry you had to go
through such a horrific ordeal :(
Christy Marie Hawes
Secretary/ Treasurer -
Herron Park Pony Club, Big Sky Region
Secretary - Arabian Horse Club of
WMT
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, May 13, 2002 11:43 AM
Subject: Re: [RC] Endocarditis
In a message dated 5/13/2002 10:00:17 AM Pacific
Standard Time, blondy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
writes:
Can you tell me what endocarditis is? Is it from a virus or can
it be hereditary? For the many people that read RC and don't know what it
is.... you may want to clarify in case someone thinks "oh my gosh, why is
she breeding a stallion with a hereditary weakness". Just a thought that you
might not have considered...
Thanks.
Good thought! Frankly, I know more about this than I would
EVER want to know, and while it is severe, it is rare, and not contagious, nor
is it genetic. It is a bacteriral infection on the aeortic valve in this case,
most likely transported by pigeons, drawn by the neighboring poor maintenance
of other fowl. ( Could I express that ANY more politely??). Just to reiterate
- it is NOT GENETIC, and so fortunately no moral quandry - as if there should
BE one - about whether or not to breed him. Our retiscence about breeding him
had to do with not wanting him to drop dead on the back of
amare:). In addition, we DID want to make sure there were no genetic or
other implications that could affect foals. There are none. We are just
delighted that not only he survived, but also that he is enjoying his life
once again - he LOVES endurance, he LOVES his mares, and he LOVES cruising the
paddock hanging with us.
Endocarditis is siomply a bacterial
infection, in thsi case, lodging on the head o fthe aeortic valve, in such as
way as to prevent compelte occlusion on the valve during that phase of heart
action. It is manifested in a profound murmur as well as a monumentally
inefficient heart fundtion, often resulting in death. Sal endured months of
chemo level antibiotics, COMPLETE STALL rest, followed by months of walking
and turnout, and when they had an idea he might NOT drop dead in his stall, he
was allowed to trot a bit again. This was over a YEAR in coming. As he was
vetted sound at each 6 month check, we were given the green light to bring him
up a bit more, with oru hopes being modest - to at LEAST have him able to go
for a few miles out on trail and perhaps cover a few more mares, never
DREAMING or hoping he would come as far as he has - completing 4 LD rides in
the past 16 months, producing two more foals with 3 on the way! Sometimes one
just has to ask for the big miracle - don't think small!
IF Sal is
able to someday do another 50, it will be because he just HAPPENED to get that
fit safely, not because it was a goal - our goal has been more than reached -
he survived, he is happy, and he is sound, thanks to our own vet staff and the
exceptionally gifted - and humorous - Dr. Norm Rentannan.
So - is Sal
safe to BREED? Yes, he is, in every way. Can he pass on anything detrimental
due to this endocarditis? Absolutely not. Nothing hereditary to worry about.
That was a good reply and for a number of reasons, I Am glad you brought it
up. There are SO many things that we SHOULDN'T breed because they are
transmissible weaknesses, and I am such a pain about that - bad
coupling, nasty temperaments, cow hocks, ewe necks, bench knees - you see it
all, and while many horses who don't READ the vet manuals on weaknesses still
excel, there is no reason any of this should be BRED. By no means set these
horses aside because they have even a rather glaring fault - but ride them
within their capability, and for Lord's sake, don't BREED it. Odds will nail
you eventually.
Especially in the sport of endurance, clear and
genetic faults should be avoided at all costs. It just isn't sensible, right
or even financial feasible (for those more concerned with the dollar) to
produce these horses. Hard enough to sell good ones for a decent price, don't
you think? It costs pretty much teh same to feed a good horse as a poor one -
so why do with the poor candidate? Breed, ride, and buy the best candidate you
can.
san
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