Post by schwung on Nov 19, 2005 2:44:50 GMT -5
This is a synopsis of information about HERDA that I gathered from the experts during the 2 days I spent with Ernie before laying him to rest. I think its information every horse owner should know about.
My source of information about HERDA was Dr. Nena Winand from Cornell University. She has told me she welcomes any inquiries about HERDA to her directly. Her email address is njw2@cornell.edu.
Summary of HERDA:
- HERDA stands for Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Astheni and is also known as Hyperelastosis Cutis. It is a genetic collagen defect which, in short, causes the skin to detach from the body, especially in areas over the neck and back.
- HERDA is genetic, passed down primarily from Quarter Horse cutting lines, specifically those containing Poco Bueno. It has been seen very rarely in a few other breeds. Ernie was almost without a doubt a very small (or stunted growth) Poco Bueno horse.
- HERDA is rare because it requires both the sire and dam to be carriers of the disease, and even then any offspring will have a 50% chance of being just another carrier (able to pass it on without clinical signs) and a 25% chance of being affected by the disease.
- Generally, a HERDA horse doesn't begin to show signs until 2 years of age, around the time the horse is ridden. By then the horse is developing wounds that are suspiciously slow to heal and seem to happen with little or no cause.
- There is no cure for HERDA. Some people try to maintain HERDA horses - but it would require essentially a padded stall, no exposure to sunlight, and extremely diligent and constant wound management. The horse would never be ridable and over time would become covered in scarring similar to what you saw on Ernie. Most HERDA horses are euthanized upon diagnosis, due to very low quality of life. It is very rare to see an affected horse of Ernie's age still alive.
- At this time the AQHA refuses to acknowledge that HERDA is a "Quarter Horse" problem (akin to HYPP). Therefore, there are no restrictions on breeding these animals. Often when breeders discover they cannot ride or show these animals, they breed them instead - thus we are seeing more and more HERDA horses every day.
- Diagnosis of HERDA is very difficult at this time. There are some changes to the skin that can be seen on biopsy but they are not consistent so not used exclusively, but in combination with a clinicial diagnosis and looking at the pedigree history of the horse. With Ernie, this was impossible, as we didn't have his papers or know anything about his background. His diagnosis was made based on the extensive photos I had taken and Dr. Winand's extensive knowledge of this disease. In the advanced case of HERDA such as Ernie had, there is no other medical condition that causes the skin to detach from the body such as Ernie's did, or causes the extensive pattern of scarring like his. Dr. Winand is working on a new molecular testing technique that is showing promise, and they continue to search diligently for the genetic marker that indicates a HERDA carrier or afflicted horse.
I also would like to direct you towards a Yahoo group devoted to discussing HERDA. They were the ones that were able to point me towards Dr. Winand and were an extremely helpful group. You have to join but its easy and free to gain membership.
Their website is: groups.yahoo.com/group/HERDA/
Thank you for reading. It is my sincere hope that none of you ever come across a HERDA horse. That Ernie was left to suffer for as long as 15 years, and the fact that he may have been used as a breeding stallion, is truly horrible to comprehend. Please, spread the word, and do what you can to keep people from needlessly breeding more of these horses that will only know suffering in their lives.
My source of information about HERDA was Dr. Nena Winand from Cornell University. She has told me she welcomes any inquiries about HERDA to her directly. Her email address is njw2@cornell.edu.
Summary of HERDA:
- HERDA stands for Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Astheni and is also known as Hyperelastosis Cutis. It is a genetic collagen defect which, in short, causes the skin to detach from the body, especially in areas over the neck and back.
- HERDA is genetic, passed down primarily from Quarter Horse cutting lines, specifically those containing Poco Bueno. It has been seen very rarely in a few other breeds. Ernie was almost without a doubt a very small (or stunted growth) Poco Bueno horse.
- HERDA is rare because it requires both the sire and dam to be carriers of the disease, and even then any offspring will have a 50% chance of being just another carrier (able to pass it on without clinical signs) and a 25% chance of being affected by the disease.
- Generally, a HERDA horse doesn't begin to show signs until 2 years of age, around the time the horse is ridden. By then the horse is developing wounds that are suspiciously slow to heal and seem to happen with little or no cause.
- There is no cure for HERDA. Some people try to maintain HERDA horses - but it would require essentially a padded stall, no exposure to sunlight, and extremely diligent and constant wound management. The horse would never be ridable and over time would become covered in scarring similar to what you saw on Ernie. Most HERDA horses are euthanized upon diagnosis, due to very low quality of life. It is very rare to see an affected horse of Ernie's age still alive.
- At this time the AQHA refuses to acknowledge that HERDA is a "Quarter Horse" problem (akin to HYPP). Therefore, there are no restrictions on breeding these animals. Often when breeders discover they cannot ride or show these animals, they breed them instead - thus we are seeing more and more HERDA horses every day.
- Diagnosis of HERDA is very difficult at this time. There are some changes to the skin that can be seen on biopsy but they are not consistent so not used exclusively, but in combination with a clinicial diagnosis and looking at the pedigree history of the horse. With Ernie, this was impossible, as we didn't have his papers or know anything about his background. His diagnosis was made based on the extensive photos I had taken and Dr. Winand's extensive knowledge of this disease. In the advanced case of HERDA such as Ernie had, there is no other medical condition that causes the skin to detach from the body such as Ernie's did, or causes the extensive pattern of scarring like his. Dr. Winand is working on a new molecular testing technique that is showing promise, and they continue to search diligently for the genetic marker that indicates a HERDA carrier or afflicted horse.
I also would like to direct you towards a Yahoo group devoted to discussing HERDA. They were the ones that were able to point me towards Dr. Winand and were an extremely helpful group. You have to join but its easy and free to gain membership.
Their website is: groups.yahoo.com/group/HERDA/
Thank you for reading. It is my sincere hope that none of you ever come across a HERDA horse. That Ernie was left to suffer for as long as 15 years, and the fact that he may have been used as a breeding stallion, is truly horrible to comprehend. Please, spread the word, and do what you can to keep people from needlessly breeding more of these horses that will only know suffering in their lives.