News/ Events

by: Tina Lewis of the Lewis Stallion Station

They say that you can’t ride color but we all seem to admire it, and even try to duplicate it, anyway.  If you know you absolutely don’t want a particular color of horse (or

if you know that you positively do), breeding to a stallion, or owning a mare, that is homozygous, may be the way to go.  Homozygous simply means

that the horse carries two copies of a particular color gene or color modifying gene, instead of just one of each (heterozygous). Here is my take on color, in a nutshell.

There are only two basic colors of a horse, red and black.  Cream, gra

y, roan, agouti and dun, etc., simply modify the red and the black gene to produce other colors.   These modifiers can be heterozygous or homozygous, depending upon whether or not the horse carries one or two copies of the particular modifying gene. For instance, the sorrel or chestnut horse is a red horse and always carries two copies of the red gene, making it homozygous for red every time. This is something that is visual (a given) and does not need to be tested for individually. The palomino is a sorrel or chestnut horse (with two copies of the red gene, and homozygous for red), with one copy of the cream gene and a cremello colored horse is simply a sorrel or chestnut horse (homozygous for red, remember) carrying two copies of the cream gene (called a double dilute) so in addition to being homozygous for red, it is also homozygous for cream. This means that when breeding, it will always throw one of each, a red, and a cream gene, to it’s offspring. The perlino is a bay horse that carries two copies of the cream gene and a smokey cream is a black horse that carries two copies of the cream gene. When a horse carries two copies of a color or color modifying gene, he/she is homozygous for it, meaning that when it reproduces it has no choice but to throw it to the foal, making it easier to figure out what color genes the foal will get, thereby making it easier to tell what color the foal will be when it is born.

A bay, brown or black horse usually carry one of each of the color genes (one red and one black), but can, occasionally, carry two black genes, making it homozygous for black (remember, if it carried two red genes it would be a sorrel or chestnut and would be homozygous for red). This is where having your horse tested for the red/black gene comes in very handy and there is just one test that tests for both colors.  If a horse is homozygous for the black gene it will always throw a black gene to it’s offspring, making a sorrel or chestnut foal impossible since it cannot throw one of the two red genes necessary for making a red horse. Remember, just because a horse is homozygous for black and is black does not mean you will always get a black foal, it just means you can never get a red based foal.  This is where color modifiers come into play.

The agouti gene is the gene that takes the black gene in a horse (only if there is a black gene present) and restricts it to points (muzzle, ears, mane, tail, legs) making a bay horse in the absence of a cream gene (neither parent threw a cream gene to the foal), a buckskin with one cream gene (thrown in by one parent) and a perlino with two cream genes (one from each parent). A sorrel or chestnut horse can carry an agouti gene but since there is no black to restrict to points, it would not be able to express itself and therefore be a hidden gene that can still be passed to offspring. Agouti is one of the few color modifiers that can be there and not express itself and then be passed on to offspring (skip a generation). It is important, when trying to get a black foal by breeding to a homozygous black horse, that any red horse involved be tested for this hidden agouti gene.  It is not necessary to test a bay horse for agouti unless you want to know if he/she is homozygous for it (carries two agouti genes), as a bay horse’s agouti is apparent in the black points (another given). It is also not necessary to test a black horse for agouti as the black would be restricted to points if he/she carried the agouti gene (once again, a given). If an agouti gene is thrown to the foal along with the black gene, the black will be restricted to points and you will get a bay foal instead of a black one. If you desire a bay foal this information is of equal importance.

Dun is a modifier that is characterized by a dorsal stripe, leg barring, webbing or mottling of dark color on the withers and the forehead, as well as a coat color that is a shade lighter.  The dun gene in a sorrel or chestnut makes a red dun, in a bay horse it makes a zebra dun (some call a bay dun) and in a black horse it makes a grullo (sometimes called grulla) which is pronounced “grew yo” and is a true mouse color (each hair is the color of a mouse and not white hair mixed with darker hair in order to give the illusion of mouse color). If either sire or dam throws one cream gene to each of the above dun color combinations we would get a dunalino (palomino dun), dunskin (buckskin dun) and a smokey grullo (grullo with a cream gene). The dun gene can also be homozygous and there is now a test so you can tell if your horse carries two of these dun genes.

Roan in a horse is basically a modifier that adds white hairs, scattered, intermittently, throughout the coat color, making a sorrel or chestnut horse a red roan, a bay horse a bay roan and a black horse a blue roan. This modifying gene can be homozygous as well (a horse can carry two roan genes), and though it was once thought that a homozygous roan would die in-utero, and, therefore, did not exist, this is now known to be false.  There is a test for homozygosity in roans which puts to bed, once and for all, that old wives tale and many horses are now known to be homozygous for the roan gene.

The gray gene is a modifier of color in horses similar to graying in humans and comes with age.  Some horses (as do people), just gray earlier than others, which is why some gray horses turn white at an earlier age than others.   It is a gene though, and a horse can be homozygous for it (carry two of the genes) and must throw it to it’s offspring in order for the offspring to turn gray. It is quite possible for a horse to be sired or born from a gray parent and never turn gray. Gray is in addition to the base color of the horse and the base color is usually just as apparent as a youngster as any colored horse would be but then almost non-existent in older gray horses as they usually, eventually, turn all white.   In the absence of a photograph of a gray horse as a young horse, DNA testing for the black/red gene is recommended in order to determine what base color he/she will throw to the offspring in addition to possibly throwing the gray gene.  You must have one gray parent in order to get a gray foal as the gene is always expressed if it is present.  A horse having a gray sire or dam will not give them the ability to produce a gray foal as they must be gray in order to throw a gray gene.   Gray and roan, in years past, were often confused and sometimes thought to be the same color, making some registries inaccurate with regard to their records and the color of the horses within those records.

Tobiano and Overo are an example of coat patterns that create a paint or pinto horse and are not coat colors.  They are in addition to the base color of a horse and are possible in all the above discussed coat colors with all the same rules.  The Tobiano gene is the only one of the two paint patterns above (though there are other coat patterns) that can be homozygous (a horse can carry two Tobiano genes) to ensure that you get a paint or pinto colored foal when breeding and there is a test for the Tobiano gene. The Tovero, which is a combination of the two coat patterns, Tobiano and Overo, can also be homozygous for Tobiano and a horse can carry two of the Tobiano genes and carry the Overo gene as well.

Understanding the basics of color genetics and how colors and color modifiers work with regard to breeding and passing them to offspring can make the search for the right stallion a lot of fun but can also be challenging, and many times, still quite a gamble when the color of your foal is important to you.  Some mare owners don’t put as much importance on color but a little research in this area, just as in the area of pedigree, conformation and disposition, can go a long way with regard to creating the horse you’ve always dreamed of. Once you’ve found and booked to the stallion of your choice it’s time to consider preparing your mare for a successful breeding experience so that you will ultimately end up with a healthy, beautiful foal. A healthy and breeding sound mare will put you well on your way.

Choosing A Stallion For Your Mare

by: Tina Lewis of the Lewis Stallion Station

Breeding season is fast approaching and trying to find the perfect stallion to match up with your mare in order to get a foal, with the color, pedigree, conformation, temperament and ability you have always dreamed of, is no easy task. For some of us, this is our first attempt at the breeding process and even though we may know exactly what we want our foal to look, act, and perform like, we still need to figure out how to get our mare to produce it, especially with so many stallions out there to choose from.

Whether you are attempting the breeding process for the first time with a maiden mare (one that has never been bred before), you have decided to breed your pride and joy this year, or you have purchased a nice broodmare to experience breeding for and raising a foal of your own, here are a few tips to help make the search for that perfect stallion a little easier, and maybe, help make a few things a little less confusing.

Choosing the right stallion to breed your mare to can be a very exciting, yet, time consuming, process, as there are more options out there today than ever before.  We are no longer limited to the stud down the street, with access to stallions across the country via Cooled Shipped Semen, and, with Frozen Semen Storage and shipping, we can also have access to stallions that are deceased or have a rigorous show schedule, that in years past, would have made them virtually impossible to breed to while they were still involved in an active show career.

DNA testing in horses has also made huge leaps and bounds over the past few years with regard to color and genetic disorders/diseases, and, with simple, and relatively inexpensive, tests, has become paramount in searching for a stallion to breed to, especially when trying to avoid any possibility of genetically passed diseases without having to steer clear of some of the best performance or halter bloodlines. We can literally breed to almost any stallion we want to and get almost any color we want with remarkable accuracy, especially if you have had your own mare tested and know exactly what her genetic makeup is. Most stallion owners today have their stallions tested and know exactly what they can and cannot produce, taking a lot of the guesswork out of it for us as well.

Let’s begin with conformation. A horse should be built for the discipline in which you plan to use it.  If you know what you plan to do with your foal, once it is grown, and if you know the discipline you are interested in, you probably already know which bloodlines you should be looking for.  A little research can go a long way when deciding what you want to do with the foal down the road, whether it be showing or competing in Western Pleasure, Halter, Cow Horse events, Racing, Ranch Versatility, Breeding, Pleasure, Trail, Endurance riding or just simply having a horse around for you or the kids to enjoy taking a pleasurable trail ride on.

The key to choosing a stallion that will give you a foal with the right conformation is to choose one that will “compliment” your mare’s features and body conformation.  A stallion that will produce, when crossed with your mare, a foal with conformation that will not only look great to you, since a big part of conformation is personal preference, but also be functional, since functionality is conformation and will have everything to do with the ability of the resulting foal to do what you want it to do.  A tiny head, refined legs, extreme height or huge muscle aren’t suitable conformational attributes for every discipline.  Big, strong hooves and a lot of bone, for instance, are more suitable attributes if you are thinking of trail, packing, etc.  Match your mare with a stallion that will produce a winner, whether it’s a winner in a breed registry’s Hall of Fame or just a winner in your book.  You need to be able to succeed in the discipline, or disciplines, you have chosen, even if it’s just a simple backyard trail ride.

The disposition of the stallion you choose is extremely important but doesn’t necessarily mean we all need to choose a stallion that is gentle, sweet and “laid back”, especially if you want a foal that will perform. If your mare is extremely calm and gentle, or lazy, a stallion with the same temperament could produce a foal that, quite literally, won’t move.  If your mare is very hot and nearly impossible to control or channel her energy, you would want to choose a stallion that is calm and “laid back” if you want a quiet trail riding horse.  Each parent will give a big chunk of their own personality to your foal and sometimes, too much of something, even when it’s good, will come back to bite you in the end.

Pedigree is also very important, and not just for producing a winner in the show ring.  You need to be careful of line breeding or crossbreeding that could potentially cause a problem.  Know your mare’s bloodlines and have her DNA tested for any diseases or genetic disorders that can occur because of her pedigree.  Most stallion owners give easy access to the pedigree of the stallions they stand so watch for bloodlines in the stallion’s pedigree that don’t cross well with the bloodlines of your mare due to these diseases or genetic defects. It is always best to do your homework because, sometimes, if there is a bloodline in your mare or in the stallion you are looking at that has the potential for a problem, as long as the stallion is tested and cleared of it and found to not carry the defective gene, there is no need to test your mare or to steer clear of that stallion because it takes two defective genes (one in your mare and one in the stallion) to cause the foal a problem.  Stallion owners are usually aware of potential problems in a bloodline their stud carries and will most likely have had him tested and cleared before ever standing him to the public.

Part 2 Choosing A Stallion with Color coming soon.

From the American Miniature Horse Association

Tiny Hooves Leave a BIG Impression

A 28 1/2 inch tall miniature horse visited some troubled hearts and brought some warm smiles to the faces of the incarcerated youth at The Youth Leadership Academy and
the Rio Contiguo facilities. Both programs serve as temporary homes for wards of the court. The programs are operated by the Orange County Probation Department with the
educational component provided by the ACCESS division of the Orange County Department of Education. Barbie, registered as Bickels Ebony Ice, is a black and white pinto mare.She and her human, Barbara Brown, visited the youth the summer of 2009.

The little horse shared her repertoire of tricks, some of whichwere counting with her hoof, pushing a stroller with a stuffed horse in it, posing on a pedestal, jumping up to kiss her
human, moving her lips to simulate singing into a microphone, smiling, rearing on command to press her knee to her handler’s fist-a show of “knuckles”, kneeling down to say her prayers, taking a cloth bandage from the handler’s pocket,and doing the conga with a spunky kick. The visit was part of the school’s enrichment and awareness program.
The pint-sized horse seemed to beam as the youth took turns petting her and checking her out while asking questions about her. They commented about how calm and cool she
was; how beautiful and smart she was; how soft and clean her hair coat was; and how long her mane was. They questioned about her training, her feed, her life expectancy, the
cost of her care and maintenance, and how soon she was coming back for another visit.

Barbie is a nationally registered Delta Society therapy animal. In that role she visits hospitals, senior housing and care facilities and more, so she was comfortable visiting the teenagers. The young peoplelearned some animal husbandry basics from the visit and the presentation, the value and pleasure of a meaningful relationship between man and animal, and the benefit of kindness and patience in working with animals. No
doubt, the horse enjoyed being petted by attentive youth and getting acquainted with them at the Probation Department facility. Their comments made it clear her visit took their minds off of their personal issues, and warmed their hearts as only a visit from a Miniature horse can do.

Handsome the Miniature Horse Rings a Bell for the Salvation Army

Collecting donations during the Christmas season is serious business for the
Salvation Army. Donations dropped into the familiar red kettles help the
faith-based organization help the needy year-round. But for one Salvation Army
Bellringer, it’s all horseplay. Peggy Hogan, from Carpinteria, California, volunteers
her time each year to help fill a kettle with a most unique sidekick, a Miniature
horse she calls Handsome. A D Remarkably Handsome is a talented trick horse
with a multitude of antics he performs at a moment’s notice to entertain the
many passerby’s.

The 7-year-old gelding dances, shakes hands and can Spanish walk on cue.
Handsome is one of four minis that Peggy owns. He can also honk a horn, lie down
and dunk a basketball, albeit through a less-than-regulation-height hoop. And
maybe his favorite trick of all… Handsome can ring a bell. This is Peggy and
Handsomes forth year to volunteer for the Salvation Army.
Handsome has been trained specifically by Peggy who follows the guidance
of B.F Skinner’s behavioral training. The horse’s behavior is reinforced by way of a
hand-held clicker she cues with and when the trick or behavior is performed, a treat is given. “It’s how they train Shamu and the other killer whales at Sea World,” said Ms. Hogan.

“You can’t make Shamu jump through a hoop; Shamu jumps because he wants to. That
training, or positive reinforcement, is what I do. They earn their reward doing something
that I’m teaching them to do by continually rewarding their efforts. Clicker training, says
Ms. Hogan, takes horse whispering to a different level.”

Whether she takes Handsome on a walk in the neighborhood or appears with the horse at
an expo, they draw a crowd. And when it’s bell-ringing time, people can’t help but give to
the cause. “The people’s faces just light up when they see him. He is a great ambassador
for the Miniature horse breed. He is very well mannered and loves the attention he receives from the store patrons. Hopefully people will put a little extra money in the bucket just because Handsome is so darn cute.” Peggy says.

Today, the American Miniature Horse is one of the world’s fastest growing and most beloved equine breeds.  Classically elegant, gentle by nature and appealing to people of all abilities, this small and unique equine – standing no taller than 34 inches at the withers as measured from the last hairs of the mane – is truly the horse for everyone.  Today’s stylish and perfectly proportioned Miniatures are the product of nearly 400 years of selective breeding.  Although many purchases and breeding of Miniature horses have been regularly documented in American since the early 1800’s, accurate accounts and pedigrees were not maintained by most breeders until the 1940’s.  With the closing of the AMHA registry, breeders are now required to maintain accurate pedigrees on all of their stock, and foals may not be registered unless both parents are also registered with AMHA.

MINIATURE HORSES ARE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
“The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.”  This statement can be applied to any size horse and all people, young and old.
A small child may be afraid of a standard-size horse, yet the same child will show an eagerness to embrace and hug a miniature foal.  Older people (no longer as mobile as they might like to be) who cannot mount a full-size horse can still enjoy driving a Miniature horse and showing it in Pleasure Driving, Roadster or Obstacle classes.  A person with Special Needs can also be very competitive in the show ring or perhaps simply enjoy the feeling of mobility while driving a mini around their neighborhood.
Showing a Miniature horse can be a family affair as classes are offered for all ages: youth and adult showmanship, driving, halter and costume classes.  Caring for these small horses is easy and can be performed safely by a person of almost any age.  Guiding a young child in the proper care of the Miniature horse will teach discipline, responsibility and respect.  A child’s self-esteem will be enhanced from the praise received for a job well done.
The most rewarding aspect of Miniature horse ownership is the togetherness and sharing that occur as a result.  It can be a learning experience for all, and everyone will enjoy a renewed sense of accomplishment.  The thrill and satisfaction that come from winning that first ribbon make all the hard work worthwhile. In the show ring, one learns competitiveness and sportsmanship.  To win is exciting, but to lose and congratulate the winner builds character which carries over into other aspects of life.

Click Here to watch a video of Miniature Horses

The Lake Michigan Hunter Jumper Association would like to invite all readers to come join us for the 2010 show season.  LMHJA is a USHJA Affiliate and will be hosting 5 Outreach competitions:  June 12-13 at Lou Don in Galesburg, MI;  June 26-67 at Huntington Valley in Paw Paw, MI;  July 17-18 for the Twin Cities Classic in Berrien Springs, MI;  July 31-Aug 1 at Alpine Ridge in Sparta, MI and August 28-29 at Cedar Lodge in Lawrence, MI.  LMHJA is also participating in the USHJA Sportsmanship awards.  In addition to USHJA we also host the AHJF Jr. Hunter Challenge, with several of our 2009 riders placing in the top 10, including Ashley Butler and her mount Ugly Duckling winning the Eastern region.  LMHJA members will acrue points toward year end awards, and we offer high point awards for the regular and basic rings at all 5 shows, and year end.  Forms and further information is avaliable at www.lmhja.com.  We look forward to riding with you soon!

4-H Tack Sale Paws & Hooves 4-H Club
Location: McHenry County Fairgrounds: Building D (Illinois 47 & Country Club Rd, Woodstock, IL 60098)
Saturday, April 3rd from 10am to 3pm (Set-up begins at 8am)
Outdoor space is available for horse trailers, carriages, and buggies for sale!
There will be vendors with brand new tack for sale as well!  Anything horse-related (Including show clothing!)  NO JUNK PLEASE!!
**For pre-registration or questions, call (815)-568-5348 or email qtr.horse8@yahoo.com** All vendor tables are $25 (includes 2 tables and unlimited chairs)

MyHorseForSale.com is dedicated to providing the equine industry with the best equine advertising available. To assist in advertising your horses for sale and stallions at stud, we have revamped our state affiliate portals. Don’t just advertise your horses, showcase them nationally and locally with the MyHorseForSale.com Network.

Newly updated Affiliates are MyOregonHorseForSale.com, MyOklahomaHorseForSale.com, MyKentuckyHorseForSale.com, and MyPleasureHorseForSale.com.

If you are interested in owning your own equine home business consider your own state affiliate portal. Start this week with the purchase of MyKentuckyHorseForSale.com or MyPleasureHorseForSale.com. Don’t see your state listed? Call today and talk to our staff about taking your home state live on the Affiliate Network!

Call 405-485-4224 or email sales@myhorseforsale.com Office hours are 9-5 M-F Central Standard Time.

As the consequences of a nationwide equine slaughter ban unfold, a former U.S. House Ag Committee leader reports the industry soon may saddle up for another go at Congress.

A federal General Accountability Office (GAO) report on the status of the U.S. horse industry, due to Congress in March, may help fuel a new push toward policies that grant producers and others options for or at least assistance in euthanizing old, ailing, or otherwise unwanted horses.

“Everyone who has a dog in that hunt should contact the GAO to tell them what’s really happening to the horse industry,” urged former House Ag ranking Democrat Charlie Stenholm, a lobbyist who represented equine processors during their unsuccessful 2006 fight to preserve operations.

During the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting last week, Stenholm said equine interests would approach lawmakers only when armed with “a bill that has a chance of passing.” He believes that time is near, thanks largely to support generated by the United Organizations of the Horse (UOH).

The coalition has challenged celebrities for supporting the Humane Society of the United States and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. UOH founder Sue Wallis argues that “what happens to the (horse) carcass in terms of how it is disposed of or how it is utilized is entirely the right, prerogative, and responsibility of the owner.”

The problem of unwanted horses resulting from limited disposal options is gaining media attention and outcry from local officials who “understand unwanted horses are a little more expensive to deal with than unwanted dogs and cats,” Stenholm noted.

“Who has to take the responsibility for a horse that’s turned loose on a community, on a country road, even in a semi-urban community?” he posed. “The counties.”

Stenholm said equine “protections” have dramatically reduced markets “for a horse someone else doesn’t want.” Domestic economic losses related to slaughter prohibitions have “far exceeded” $2 billion, he said.

He challenged the constitutionality of a slaughter ban spearheaded by “a handful of very wealthy horse owners.” The Senate OK’d GAO’s study as a compromise to a proposed ban on shipping horses to Canada or Mexico for slaughter.

U.S. horse markets are being surveyed on current policy impacts. “Then there will be a major effort to get 218 (House) votes, 60 (Senate) votes, and a presidential signature,” Stenholm said.