What's an average percentage of horses that test positive for HYPP gene that actually show symptoms?

The reason I'm asking is that we have the opportunity to buy a registered yearling stud colt for $300.00 that the owner (he's into walking horses so he's not familiar with QH) stated he thought the horse had tested positive for the HYPP gene. I haven't gotten the whole story on that... He hasn't had any problems so far.  We're supposed to go look at him today. A friend of mine saw him and said I'd love him. And of course if we did purchase him he'd be gelded if he's + for HYPP.

He goes back to Impressive on his sire's side as great grandsire (3 level back ) and then again on his dam's side. On that side his great grandsire is Conclusive who goes back to Impressive.

His sire is Burkes Silver Voice & his dam is Miss D Clue .

What would you do?

• Possible results of HYPP testing are N/N, N/H and H/H.
HYPP is inherited as a dominant trait, which means a heterozygous (N/H) stallion or mare bred to a normal (N/N) horse will result in approximately half of the offspring being affected and half being normal. The rare homozygote (H/H) usually is severely affected with the disease and will pass the gene to its offspring 100 percent of the time.

•HYPP can be treated through diet and medication in most cases

I found this on the AQHA website. I would do a google search if you want to know more.

It would be to high of a percentage for me to take the risk.

Originally written by kansascanchaser on 2004-03-25 7:57 AM

If your wanting him for a gelding, you should be alright. But AQHA is passing a rule about positive hypp horses will no longer be used for breeding. YOu could but the colts won't be registerable. I think this goes into effect in 2006. But not sure.

I think it is long over due!!!
ALso thanks for the client referral yesterday of Sandi's horse!!! I think he feels better now.

I personally steer clear of the "Impressive" line.  But that's just me!

Here is one thing to think about. The attacks can be brought on by stress. I've seen simply gelding an HYPP horse put them into an attack.

If you are thinking about having this horse as a barrel horse be prepared to have medication handy and for this horse to probably have a lot of attacks due to the stress.

I've had one N/H horse before who was my barrel/rope horse.  I realize these horses can be managed but when I was hauling hard he would have 3-4 attacks per week. That was very hard on him and my pocket book for all the meds and emergency vet trips the vet had to make out.

Just because one does not show symptoms at a young age does not mean they will be symptome free. Some horses do not show symtpoms till they are almost 10 years old, some older some younger. But the amount of horses who are positive and show symptoms is VERY high.

Personally I would pass him over. There are plenty of nice horses out there that you do not have to take as much of a risk on as with these guys every day of their life is a gamble, and every attack they have is a gamble if they will live thorugh it. To risky for me...been there once and done that, not doing it again.

Originally written by SG. on 2004-03-25 8:00 AM

Originally written by kansascanchaser on 2004-03-25 7:57 AM

If your wanting him for a gelding, you should be alright. But AQHA is passing a rule about positive hypp horses will no longer be used for breeding. YOu could but the colts won't be registerable. I think this goes into effect in 2006. But not sure.

I think it is long over due!!!
ALso thanks for the client referral yesterday of Sandi's horse!!! I think he feels better now.

That's what she said. She emailed me about her horse and wanted to know the closest person. I said JULIE!!!!!!

I wouldn't take the risk. I have a friend that bought a HYPP Filly a few years back because the price was cheep. She spent more time and money on this horse. Everytime she went to a show it would stress the Mare out, she had speical feed, and the Medication can be Costly!!   I have learned never buy because the horse is cheep, it will cost you in the long run.

Thanks for all the information and the opinions. It's a lot to think about.

I do have an update since I posted. My husband works with the guy and he spoke with him again at break. It turns out that the horse has NOT been tested.

My husband asked him earlier, "does he have HYPP ?"  The papers state that the horse has an ancestor that has the HYPP gene considered a genetic defect and that the AQHA recommends testing to determine presence of the gene. So since this guy has walking horses and knows nothing about QH or the whole HYPP issue, he said "yes" because he didn't realize exactly what we were talking about. But it turns out he's not been tested.   If we did decide to purchase him that's the first thing I'd do. But if nothing else this has been a good educational experience.  Thanks guys!!

I have a grand daughter of Impressive and she is N/H.  I have had her 11 years and she has had 3 episodes since I have owned her.  All 3 were brought on by stress.  I was boarding her when she had the first one, she was stalled all the time, I have to be honest, I am not really sure what brought this first one on, she was 4YO.  They could have cut her grain intake back without me knowing. (change in diet) The second was during labor and the third was when the vet had me cut her grain back (sudden change in diet)  because her colt was growing too fast. She was 13YO when she had the second and third ones. The colt, now gelding, is also N/H, he is now 4YO and has never had an episode.  I will never breed her again. I took a risk hoping the baby would be N/N.  I thought a 50/50 chance was good odds, guess it wasn't.  I love Impressive bred horses, I just click with them.  I also have a 11YO gelding that is N/N.

I wanted to add: I showed this mare quite extensively without a problem.  Halter, Showmanship at Halter and Western Pleasure.  This is before I started Barrel Racing.

As everyone already said the physical and mental trials of being HYPP symptomatic will be a drain on your resources.  

Not only that, if he is N/H, you will never recover your labor and time when he is a finished rider.  The possibility of selling him for market value if he turns out to be a kick-butt barrel horse (or something else) is practically nill and rightfully so.  I wouldn't want the headaches that go with a positive HYPP horse, not many people do. 

Actually, if he is N/N you will still have a hard time selling him for his value.

I agree

It's not the cost of the horse...it's the up-keep. It's not a pretty sight watching one of these horses have an attack. Even if he never has any problems...the price on these horses are dead. You can put all kinds of time and money into him and he still won't be worth anything in you decide to sell.

I agree whole heartedly that it is about time that AQHA is doing something about the HYPP thing.  I feel that all the carriers of it should be gelded or spayed and that would put an end to the whole thing.  If people would take it upon themselves to stop the breeding of these timebombs the problem would be gone when the last horse with the bloodline dies out.  They seem to be in it for the money and forget the horses are the ones who suffer with it.  I personally stay away from all horses with Impressive in their pedigrees no matter if they are N/N or whatever.  You  couldn't give me one, or make me breed my mares to one.  That's my opinion.