NFQHA's Response to HERDA "Research"

This article is in response to the recent article written by Les Sellnow and endorsed by Dr. Nena Winand of Cornell University and Dr. Ann Rashmir, of Mississippi State University, naming Poco Bueno as a carrier of the HERDA gene.

The National Foundation Quarter Horse Association is very concerned about this article and questions the validity of the limited research and the conclusions. We also question the ethics of Dr. Rashmir selling 'probability' research that is totally inconclusive, and gives the buyer no definitive information as to whether a horse does or does not carry the gene they believe responsible for HERDA "Hyperelastosis cutis". (What this research will do though, is - through comparison and elimination - identify the horses in their secret research database they have identified as HERDA producers.)

Naming the famous and beloved Poco Bueno as "The Source of this Brutal Affliction", is a very sensational tactic, and good for publicity and fund raising, but we believe that it may be premature and irresponsible; and that it definitely does not present this problem in perspective. Later, after the glaring headline, Sellnow backtracks and states that 5% of the HERDA research cases do NOT trace to Poco Bueno, and that Poco might not be the 'source' but that it may go back much further.

At this time NFQHA does not credit the conclusions of the Sellnow article based on the following:

• Perspective: First and foremost this problem has not been presented in perspective as to the scope of the disease. At this time NFQHA can only find evidence, according to published research, of approximately 200 cases of HERDA since the condition reportedly surfaced in 1971. If they all occurred in one year that would equate to approximately a .0008% chance of producing a HERDA foal, then divide that percentage by 33 years! (Calculation based on 250,000 Quarter Horses registered in a year.) It would be easier to produce a foal that will be killed by lightening than a HERDA foal. Occurrences this insignificant can in no way justify the scare tactics used, and the immediate threat to an entire industry created by this article.

• Line-breeders NOT producing this condition: In speaking with many Poco Bueno line-breeders not one had ever heard of this condition until the recent article in Quarter Horse News that preceded the Sellnow article. These Poco Bueno breeders have produced several thousand line-bred offspring without a single case of HERDA. Two of these breeders have been raising Poco Buenos for over 45 years. If Poco Bueno and King were carriers, these intense Poco Bueno gene pools would statistically have to produce HERDA, and yet they have not. We believe there must be some missing factor or link in addition to a recessive gene, or the Poco Bueno line-breeders would be producing HERDA foals.

• NOT present in Foundation Industry: NFQHA has yet to find even one NFQHA member that had heard of HERDA prior to the Quarter Horse News article. In nine years of hearing from our members (10,000 now), not one member has ever mentioned producing a HERDA foal and not one member has ever mentioned purchasing a horse that was later diagnosed with HERDA or any other similar condition.

• Mathematical probability does NOT support research conclusions: NFQHA has researched over 23,700 horses and a high percentage of them have Poco Bueno and King multiple times in their pedigree. If this condition is the result of two recessive genes, and Poco Bueno was a carrier, simple logic would indicate that tens of thousands of Quarter Horses would carry this gene, and the occurrence of this condition would be as common as parrot mouth, cryptorchidism, or any other condition resulting from recesssive genes. Although all breeders might not be honest about having produced a HERDA foal, a problem on that scale would be hard to hide, especially on horses they sold, yet the condition is extremely rare.

• Narrow scope of the problem: The condition seems mainly contained in the cutting world, which would seem to suggest some other contributing factor than a simple pairing of two recessive genes, or perhaps more recent 'sources' of the disease.

• Insufficient research: NFQHA does not give credence to pedigree research based on 100 pedigrees with no scientific DNA tests to support their theories.

• Research NOT balanced: Conclusions based on pedigree research of affected horses that do not take into consideration findings of intense line-breeding programs that have NOT produced this condition are one-sided.

• Based on preconceived idea: NFQHA believes the research may have been undertaken with a preconceived idea of what to look for, when that idea may not be valid. The fact we have not been able to verify even one case of HERDA in line-breeding programs would suggest that there might be other contributing factors such as environmental, nutritional, other health problems, other contributing genes in addition to two recessive genes, or some other cause entirely.

• HERDA in other breeds: It has been confirmed this disease has appeared in other breeds such as a Hanovarian, and a Haflinger. Poco and King certainly cannot be responsible for these cases.

The Sellnow article essentially condemned tens of thousands of horses and owners with blatant disregard to the many lives that would be affected, and the damage to the reputation of one of the greatest sires in the Quarter Horse world. Many people make their living with these horses, others have invested their life savings in them toward retirement, and still more have dedicated their lives to preserving these precious bloodlines. To condemn all of their horses without scientific proof is unconscionable. Mr. Sellnow's reply to that charge is he wants to protect "that little guy out there who saved and saved and saved until he could afford a $10,000 or more breeding fee and wound up with an HC horse that had to be put down". That is just fine - but the researchers refuse to reveal the horses with a $10,000 breed fee known to have produced a HERDA foal - and certainly Sellnow can not be worried about people breeding to Poco Bueno or King!

Poco Bueno, King, and Traveler have been dead for decades - they are not producing these foals. NFQHA believes that to name them and threaten an entire industry without revealing the actual sires and dams producing HERDA foals, and without a scientific test, is unforgivable. The article leaves the reader with the supposition that all Poco Bueno and King bred horses are potentially dangerous with no way of proving if they are or are not. This can not be justified, even for the purpose of raising money for worthwhile research.

We would like to urge all horse owners not to be taken in by the over-dramatization of HERDA. The incidence of this disease is so low as to be negligible. There is absolutely no reason to fear the outstanding and wonderful Poco Bueno and King bred horses. These horses have a well-deserved reputation for being some of the best bloodlines in the industry for over sixty years, and we must not let this article taint that reputation. NFQHA encourages everyone to do their own research, call the breeders you know and talk with them. Form your own conclusions and opinions

NFQHA does not intend to minimize the seriousness of this terrible condition, nor the threat of a sharp increase, but wants to present it in perspective and to proceed in a responsible manner. NFQHA will be glad to cooperate in any way to further research and education regarding HERDA. We would like to request help from our members in documenting any instances of this condition. In the meantime NFQHA will continue to compile information from intense line-breeding programs that seem, at this time, to refute the conclusions of Dr. Nena Winand of Cornell, and Dr. Ann Rashmir of Mississippi State University.

NFQHA is in the process of setting up a hotline at www.herdahotline.com to gather information to further HERDA research and encourages everyone concerned to visit this site and share their experiences for the benefit of all Quarter Horse owners.

Gail Zscheile, President
National Foundation Quarter Horse Association
PO Box P
Joseph, OR 97846
541-426-4403
fax: 541-426-4206
nfqha@eoni.com