Breeding from a navicular mare

[WoopsiiD]

Would you???

Just been chatting to a friend who has a mare who really hasn't done anything! (well nothing that she can prove

)
She is awaiting results to see if it has navicular and has just suggested breeding from it.
I always thought this was a bad idea but hey....

 

[Cliqmo]

Nope. There is no evidence to suggest it IS genetic but similarly there is always speculation it MIGHT be (either because of the disease being genetic or because the conformation of the horse makes them susceptible) so I couldn't recommend it.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

I'm afraid I don't really know much about navicular so would need to know more about it.

Personally from what you have said and the little I know -I would say no absolutely do not breed. Any foal may be genetically predisposed to navicular, there maybe a huge strain put on the mare during pregnancy/foaling which may make her navicular worse - and any drug treatment would probably be contraindicated during pregnancy so she maybe in a lot of unnecessary pain and she doesn't appear to have anything remarkable about her (correct me if I'm wrong) to warrant breeding from her.

Sorry if it sounds harsh but I think there are enough horses out there good and bad without adding to them on a whim.

 

[WoopsiiD]

That's what I always thought ali_m. Touch wood so far I have been lucky when it comes to horses so have had no hands on dealings with navicular.
All I know about it comes third hand, but I always thought it was genetic.

 

[Ezme]

QR Forget the passing it onto the foal, foaling puts enourmous stress on the mares body anyway and more than likely will bring on an attack anyway

 

[Storminateacup]

Well seems the vets and researchers can't really decide as to a definitive cause for Navicular syndrome. Many things appear to be contributary factors, therefore if she has "navicular" you 'll probably never know if it was a genetic factor or an environmental one or both.
Before I would consider breeding from her I would at least try to consider whether there are obvious causes ie she has terrible conformation, she has had a hard life jumping since she was 3 years old or she has parents who both have high incidences of NS.
Probably though I wouldn't want to risk it.
Having had a horse with this terrible heartbreaking condition I wouldnt want to "up" the chances of anyone else having a horse with it, or put a horse through the pain and misery involved in trying to treat it.

 

[Bay_Beasty]

[ QUOTE ]
QR Forget the passing it onto the foal, foaling puts enourmous stress on the mares body anyway and more than likely will bring on an attack anyway

[/ QUOTE ]

What I was going to say!

 

[Divasmum]

I would never breed from an unsound mare.

 

[Kenzo]

[ QUOTE ]
I would never breed from an unsound mare.

[/ QUOTE ]

My thoughts also.

 

[WoopsiiD]

Just googled it all.
Have to agree on the unsound mare bit though. That seems to be a no brainer.

 

[lauraandjack]

People wonder why British breeding has gone down the pan.

This sort of attitude is a sterling example of why. "My mare's got navicular, I can't ride her anymore, I know, I'll put her in foal" - excellent idea, breed another one. Or "my mare doesn't like being ridden, she hasn't got the temperament, I'll use her as a broodmare" - excellent, breed another dodgy tempered horse!

Navicular syndrome to my knowledge isn't directly inherited, but it is known that horses with poor foot conformation are predisposed to navicular. So, why breed another horse that is more than likely to share the same poor conformation as its dam?

We should be breeding from the best tempered, soundest horses with the best conformation. Not things that are basically rejects because they can't be ridden anymore.

I have said this before on this forum, just because it has a uterus doesn't mean it should be breeding (and that goes for horses, dogs and a good proportion of the human population!!!!)

 

[H's mum]

oh dear the mind boggles

bad idea... REALLY bad!
Kate x

 

[Tnavas]

Not a really good idea but trying to find out why the mare has it is worthwhile.

Vet once said to me that many horses 'SHOW' symptoms of Navicular or on Xrays show signs of Navicular but it isn't actually NAvicular.

Apart from the possibility of being hereditary - find out about parents - it can also be diet induced and exercise induced.

Lack of Vitamin D is a prime suspect - healthy bone must have adequate Vitamin D. Stabled horses and those living in full rugs/neckrugs are the most at risk. Vitamin D is synthesised by the horses skin as a result of sunlight. Insufficient sunlight = insufficient Vitamin D. Cod liver oil is a good source of Vitamin D.