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Our Stallions
As responsible breeders, we are currently in the process of testing our stallions for PSSM, GBED and HERDA. Any Impressive-bred horse in our program is HYPP N/N. Click here to see current stallions Click here to see past stallions Our stallions are the cornerstone of this program. While mares are equally important in their own right, the stallion is the horse with the ability to mass-produce. If you have a great stallion, he can sire several wonderful foals each season. Just the same, a stallion of mediocre quality with a bad mind can produce foals who are just that... mediocre with a bad mind. We strive to provide our mares (and our clients' mares) with top-quality stallions, and we have been extremely blessed to own many wonderful stallions throughout the years, including our fantastic appaloosa stallion Mighty White Brother, our Dreamfinder son Argentarius and our Two Eyed Red Buck son Two Buck Baron. Unfortunately, our ApHC stallions Argentarius, his son I Dream Of Champagne and our AQHA stallion Two Buck Baron have all tested positive for the genetic defect polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) and are no longer available for breeding. You may wonder what PSSM is and why we are actively choosing to eliminate this from our breeding program. Horses with PSSM are unable to properly store glucose (sugar) making it unavailable when needed for energy. While often fine for a period of time, these horses can suddenly develop symptoms of the defect including tying up, inability to move, muscle pain, cramping, exercise intolerance, muscle stiffness, shifting lamenss, back pain, a camped-out stance, muscle atrophy and colic-like symptoms. PSSM is passed on by a parent with a copy of the gene, and the defect is incomplete dominant, meaning horses with one copy of the gene (n/P1) or two copies of the gene (P1/P1) are affected. Unfortunately, numerous breeds carry this defect including quarter horses, paints, appaloosas, morgans, thoroughbreds, draft breeds and warmbloods. Even worse, many breeders across the nation are choosing not to test animals who are known descendants of positive horses - or disclose the status of their positive stallions, mares and foals - thus continuing to perpetuate this defect to their unsuspecting clients. The good news is a DNA hair test is now available so horse owners can determine whether their animal has PSSM, properly maintain positive horses with a special diet and exercise, and make the proactive decision not to move this defect forward in the gene pool. Many breeders are making a concerted effort to eliminate this gene from their herd and educate the public about PSSM. Even though the decision to eliminate PSSM from our breeding program has resulted in a monumental financial loss - not to mention a heavy emotional toll - we believe it is not only responsible and ethical, but necessary for sound horses and safe, satisfied riders. |
