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Hereditary Equine Regional Dermis Asthenia
Herda, hereditary equine regional dermis asthenia, is a genetic disorder in horses that
cause the skin on a horse’s back to separate, lift off, and even tear away when the horse
suffers a skin trauma. In affected horses, there is a lack of adhesion within the deep layers
of the skin; witch attaches the skin to the horse. It is believed HERDA is due to a collagen
defect resulting in fragile attachment of the skin. Even light contact with the horses
back, neck, hips, and sometimes lower legs of an affected horse can cause it to separate
and peel off, resulting in a gaping wound that exposes the muscle underneath. One of the
most frustrating elements of this disease is affected horses rarely show symptoms prior
to their yearling year and often times as late as two or three years of age. Therefore often
owners have a lot of money and time invested in the horse before knowing it is affected.
Herda is a disease for which there is no known cure or treatment, most all cases result in
euthanasia. So the question becomes, what do we do as responsible breeders to stop the
spread of Herda?
I believe knowledge is the key to slowing the spread of this disorder. Some breeders
have made the decision to simply not breed to any carrier horses. This does however limit
your choices as a breeder; some believe it may also be a disservice to the bred. Image if
Poco Buena or Doc O’lena, (95% of affected horses trace back to Poco Bueno on both sides
of the pedigree) were never produced; where the working quarter horse breed would be
today. It really is hard to imagine, they are the back bone of a high percentage of the black
type horses we know today.
To make educated breeding decisions it is import to understand that Herda is thought
to be caused by an autosomal recessive gene, meaning that both the sire and the dam must
posses the gene in order for the offspring to be affected. This also means that horses that
have the gene can be carriers without being affected. As long as a carrier is bred to a Herda
Free individual, the offspring can not develop the disease. The problem arises when two
carriers of the gene mate. Breeding a carrier to a carrier will result in a 25% chance of
producing an affected foal, a 50% chance of producing a carrier, and a 25% chance of producing
a genetically normal foal. However, it is important to keep in mind that breeding a
carrier stallion or mare to a normal gened mare or stallion can result in 50% of the offspring
being a herda gene carrier. The other 50% would be genetically normal.
The great news is a diagnostic DNA hair sample test for Herda has been developed.
It allows identification of not only affected horses, but also carriers. Results show either,
normal, carrier, or affected.
N/N-Normal: does not have the herda gene
N/HRD-Carrier: carries one copy of the gene
HRD/HRD-Affected: has two copies of the gene
For horse breeders, identification of carriers is critical for the selection of mating pairs.
I feel that responsible breeders should be willing to run DNA test on their stock, and they
should make responsible breeding decisions based on the results. This is true whether you
are standing a stallion or a mare owner. Know the status of your stock, and also know the
status of the mares or stallion you are choosing to breed. Currently managed breeding
strategy is the only option for reducing the incidence of this poorly understood disease.
Testing is available through the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at UC Davis. You can
also call our office for testing information or any other questions. Outback Stallion Station,
Caldwell, Idaho 208-454-5557.
F i n a n c i a l Focus
Presented by Sonny Davidson, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones in Elko, Nevada
2213 North 5th Street, Suite A | 775-738-8811
Put Your Financial “Puzzle” Pieces Together
Unless you keep track of obscure holidays, you may not be aware that January 29 is
National Puzzle Day. And while this day may not draw much attention, it does recognize
the enjoyment that millions of people get from doing puzzles. Of course, you’ll find puzzles
in all aspects of your life. Consider, for example, the type of retirement lifestyle you’ve
envisioned: travel, volunteering, pursuing hobbies, and perhaps even opening your own
business. To make this picture come to life, you need to put the financial “pieces” together:
And one way to help accomplish this is to consolidate your various retirement accounts
— such as your IRA, 401(k) and other employer-sponsored retirement plans — with one
financial services provider.
When you consolidate these types of accounts, you can gain a number of key benefits,
including these:
• Potential reduction of fees and paperwork — By working with just one provider, you
may be able to save on the fees and paperwork required to maintain your account.
• Easier management of distributions — Most retirement plans, including a 401(k),
457(b), 403(b) and a traditional IRA, require you to start taking minimum distributions
once you turn 70 -1/2. (These distributions are not required for Roth IRAs.) While it’s not
terribly complicated to determine a single distribution, it can be cumbersome and confusing
to calculate multiple distributions from multiple providers. Having all your RMDs
coming from a single provider can greatly streamline the process.
• Easier calculation of taxes — Most types of retirement accounts are tax-deferred
— but on those accounts, taxes will be due on your withdrawals. By consolidating your
accounts, your distributions will be easier to track, as mentioned above, which may make
it easier for you to calculate the taxes due.
• Unified investment strategy — If you place all your financial assets with one financial-services
provider, you’ll find it much easier to follow a single, unified investment strategy.
A local, qualified financial advisor can help you allocate your investment dollars in a
way that’s appropriate for your retirement goals, risk tolerance and time horizon.
To start the consolidation process, make a detailed list of your financial assets, such as
your bank accounts, investments, IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as
a 401(k), if you worked for a private employer, a 457(b), if you worked for a state or local
government, or a 403(b), if you worked for a school or other tax-exempt organization. You
might think this is a simple and straightforward task, but you would be surprised at how
many people actually lose track of these types of accounts, and, as a result, may forfeit the
money that is rightfully theirs.
After you’ve identified what assets you have, and where they’re located, seek to consolidate
them with a financial services provider. Try to find one that offers face-to-face
service and regular reviews of your situation.
As you can see, by consolidating your various investment accounts, you can help solve
the “puzzle” of creating the retirement you seek. So, when the time comes, start putting all
the pieces together. You might like the picture that ultimately emerges.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
Edward Jones, its associates and financial advisors cannot provide tax advice. Please consult your
qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.
www.progressiverancher.com The Progressive Rancher
February 2011 31