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Member
Posts: 19
| I have a 4 yr old really well bred mare that's been diagnosed with DSLD (Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis). She's as sound as they come right now, I broke her to ride, she's the most athletic horse in my pasture. However, after reading about the disease, I'm not going to complete her training so she can have the best life possible. They say not to breed a horse with this as they don't know if they'll pass it on or not. She has a sister and brother that we raised out of the same mare and they don't have it. So my question is do any of you have any experience with this disease and have you bred a mare with it, did they reproduce it or have a healthy baby. Any help and experience that you could share with me, would sure be helpful in making a decision on her. |
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  Champ
Posts: 19623
   
Location: Peg-Leg Julia Grimm | I don't have any personal experience with it. I do have friends with a mare that has it. She's a paint, halter bred. So far none of her foals have had it. BUT that doesn't mean they won't have it when they get older. I think I read where it gets worse as they get older. |
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 The Color Specialist
Posts: 7530
Location: Washington. (The DRY side.) | I wouldn't breed one that has it. Most often it isn't noticed or diagnosed until the horse has some age on it. (Personally, I've NEVER seen one as young as yours with it.) They are generally 10+ yo. So even if you breed a mare that has it, it could be a LOT of years until you know if the "foal" has it or not. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 495
Location: Washington | I would not breed, why risk it. It's a horrible condition. If you seen one who is progressed with it, you'd understand.
Its' most common in peruvians but is showing up more and more in Arabs and QH. Seems to me, this is my opinion, that is shows up more in horses with post (too straight) hind legs. I have a friend who's older QH mare got DSLD after a sesamoid injury. Our old neighbors had a Peruvain/walker cross who developed it with old age, She got to the point where it got hard to get up, she'd get up rear end first, like a cow, because she didn't have the strength to push herself up if she got up front end first, like a normal horse.
I think you're doing the right thing in discontinuing her training but I'd be prepared to get the pain meds to keep her comfortable as the condition progresses. Also talk to your farrier as it progresses to keep her comfortable. It will become hard for trims and she'll drag her toes. |
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Member
Posts: 19
| Thank you all so much. It's so heartbreaking. Hers actually showed up at 1 1/2 yrs old. It hasn't gotten worse, but hasn't improved either. I don't want to risk it if it's so probable, but with her brother and sister seeming to be fine I thought maybe there's a good chance that the foals would be ok. Her 1/2 siblings are 3 and 6 and show no signs. |
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