N/N Alliance Breeders Association Petition to Eliminate HYPP

To:  American and International Horse Breed Registries

N/N Alliance Breeders Association Petition to Eliminate HYPP
TO: American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA); American Paint Horse Association (APHA); Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC); International Buckskin Horse Association (IBHA); American Buckskin Association (ABA); Half Arabian Registry (HAR); Ponies of America (POA); American Warmblood Association (AWA):
AQHA's HYPP FACT SHEET
• Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) is an inherited disease that leads to uncontrolled muscle twitching or profound muscle weakness, and in severe cases, may lead to collapse and/or death.
• HYPP is listed as a genetic defect in AQHA's rules, along with Parrot Mouth and Cryptorchid conditions.
• To date, HYPP only has been traced to descendants of IMPRESSIVE, #0767246.
• Having negative (N/N) results on file may prevent a horse's offspring from being tested.
• Foals born in 1998 and later and tracing to IMPRESSIVE will have a statement placed on their Certificates of Registration that recommends testing for the condition unless test results indicating the foal is negative (N/N) are on file with AQHA.
• AQHA will test any foals who are required to be parentage verified and who trace to IMPRESSIVE for HYPP prior to them being registered. This testing will be performed with the same DNA sample submitted to the laboratory for parentage verification.
• AQHA will accept HYPP test results only if performed through a licensed laboratory. These currently include: University of California at Davis, Shelterwood Laboratory, Mann Equitest Lab in Guelph, Ontario, Vita-Tech Canada Inc., Markham, Ontario and NSW Agriculture. Other laboratories are in the process of being licensed.
• 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.
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The American Quarter Horse Association is responsible for the initial funding of HYPP research, accurate testing procedure, initial HYPP rules and regulations, and the spread of HYPP to the other stock breeds. AQHA now becomes responsible as the forefront of rule changes for the elimination of this genetic defect.
The truth about HYPP is that it is 100% preventable and could be eliminated from the horses of America in one generation through responsible breeding practices. The truth about HYPP is that the show horse halter industry does not want to eliminate this tragic genetic defect because it provides easily maintained massive muscle that was the popular look for the 1990s halter horses.

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The following rule changes will be on the table of every breed registry during their 2005 conventions:

1. Foals of calendar year 2006 and after are ineligible for registration if they are descendants of the stallion Impressive, AQHA Number 0767246, and found to be HYPP positive (H/H).

2. Foals of calendar year 2010 and after that are found to be HYPP positive (N/H) will only be eligible for registration as geldings or non-breeding mares.
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We, the undersigned, are the horsemen and horsewomen of America. We represent a wide range of economic, educational, political, social, and religious backgrounds. In spite of this, we have one thing in common. We care about America’s horses. We feel that it is necessary for the American Quarter Horse Association as the progenator of HYPP, to uphold their mission statement and protect “the integrity of the breed,” and lead all other associations to follow responsible breeding to eliminate HYPP in a timely manner. We applaud AQHA, 2003 President Steve Stevens and the Studbook and Registration Committee for taking the initiative on this important subject.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The N/N Alliance Breeders Association Petition to Eliminate HYPP Petition to American and International Horse Breed Registries was created by N/N Alliance Breeders Association and written by Vicki Hittson, Chairman.  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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