Flea bitten, varnishing and greying out, colour experts opinion?

[ycbm]

Congratulations I have an extended blanked spot who has been 'fading' for the last 6.5 years - the bay bits that were there when I got her at 6 months are now at least roan with some whiter patches. The spots are as dark and defined as they've always been though, and I've always joked that they're braille spots as the hair is finer and longer than the white bits when she's in winter plumage..

Isn't it weird how you can feel them? They are a completely different type of coat. I call mine braille as well

.

 

[Alibear]

Congratulations I'm glad you got the results you wanted and you can look forward to lots of fun years ahead with your lad.
For those of us who are clueless about colour genetics, what did you have to do in order to get the test done?

 

[Annagain]

Your two statements that I have bolded appear to me to be in conflict, and your post confirms exactly why I don't want a grey.




Hip hip hooray I don't have one. Feeling great today and about to go and do some work on our straightness before another lesson next week.


..

The point I was making was that the reason I wouldn't have another is because of the effect on ME not the effect on HIM. They really don't seem to bother him at all.

Scaring people who might already own a grey horse that their beloved pony has 4 in 5 chance of dying a horrible, painful death isn't helpful.

 

[ycbm]

The point I was making was that the reason I wouldn't have another is because of the effect on ME not the effect on HIM. They really don't seem to bother him at all.

Your reason is the same as mine.

Scaring people who might already own a grey horse that their beloved pony has 4 in 5 chance of dying a horrible, painful death isn't helpful.

I did not say that they had a four in five chance of dying a horrible painful death.

.

 

[ycbm]

Congratualtions I'm glad you got the results you wanted and you can look forward to lots of fun years ahead with your lad.
For those of us who are clueless about colour genetics, what did you have to do in order to get the test done?

Animal Genetics will test for loads of coat colour genes as well as a lot of genetic disease like PSSM, HWSS, HYPP ...

I had to pull forty hairs he can't spare * out of his mane and send them to Cornwall. They email you in about a week, £25, all sorted.


* He's definitely an appy! Precious little mane or tail, typical of the breed.


..

 

[ihatework]

Horses die. That is an indisputable fact. They might die at 5, 15, 25, 35 but they will die.

Anyone that has a horse happy and reasonably healthy under saddle aged 20 is doing pretty well in the grand scheme of things.

My opinion, if melanomas eventually get them, then so be it. If it wasn’t melanoma it would be something else.

So I don’t understand the rationale of selling the horse if it was grey based on the fact it might die of melanoma in its late teens/twenties.

But then I completely understand horses are expensive and an emotional investment and that horse owners are entitled to make whatever decision they like in regards to selling whether others agree / understand or not.

Let’s hope he continues being a superstar and the sarcoids don’t scupper him!

 

[ycbm]

Can I make it clear that most horses don't die of melanoma when they have it, but that current advice is to remove anything remotely suspicious because they can metastasize and spread around the body.

Horses come with enough risk already, and the risk of a four in five likelihood of dealing with lump removal and concern about internal growths, when all I will want at that point is a few quiet years with an old horse before I stop riding, is too high. It is not the death of the horse which is the concern, it is the care, management and worry involved.

It isn't a case of 'if it wasn't melanoma it would be something else'. The additional melanoma risk for greys is ON TOP of everything else that goes wrong with horses.

And since I don't even like looking at greys, and really, really, really wanted the spots, why would I choose to take that additional risk when I can simply sell and buy another without it?

Luckily, there are a lot of people around who love greys and they will never be difficult to sell when young.

The view of non horse people I've spoken to about this has been very interesting. They have all said, in different words, well it's a no brainer, isn't it?


.

 

[Bernster]

I realise it’s a bit off topic, but this thread does raise these questions. I have a grey and he has melanoma sadly. I didn’t realise it was so prevalent in greys until after the diagnosis. I’m doing what I can to treat him but it’s limited.

My view is similar to IHW in that, it may get him ‘in the end’ but the chances are something else will before then and, if it does, there’s a very good chance that will be many more years to come. Not much I can do until then other than give him the best care and treatment etc.

That said, because of this I would be wary of getting a grey again. Might as well rule out as many obvious things that might impair their well-being, and just leave yourself with those things you cannot mitigate or regulate.

 

[_HP_]

I realise it’s a bit off topic, but this thread does raise these questions. I have a grey and he has melanoma sadly. I didn’t realise it was so prevalent in greys until after the diagnosis. I’m doing what I can to treat him but it’s limited.

My view is similar to IHW in that, it may get him ‘in the end’ but the chances are something else will before then and, if it does, there’s a very good chance that will be many more years to come. Not much I can do until then other than give him the best care and treatment etc.

That said, because of this I would be wary of getting a grey again. Might as well rule out as many obvious things that might impair their well-being, and just leave yourself with those things you cannot mitigate or regulate.

I've had two greys...one that was around 12 by the time she greyed out and had one melanoma under her tail aged 18 and the other, who had greyed out by 3, had one small one on her ear tip aged 4, then nothing till she was around 15 when they started growing around her anus, vulva, teats and she has two lumps on her neck under the skin. She's 25 now and they haven't moved or changed in several years and don't affect her at all luckily.!I've never touched them.
Her teeth on the other hand .....she won't be seeing another winter

 

[Gloi]

While people are talking about greys and melanoma has anyone had experience of melanoma on a horse with grey and double cream dilute? A friend had one who developed multiple melanoma and was pts at a young age (3) and was wondering about others experience. The horse had pink skin and it seemed like the greying caused black marks and melanoma to appear all over the body.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

No personal experience, but I have read that you shouldn't breed dilutes with pink skin that also carry grey before.

 

[ester]

I've read about it too but people that know more than me tell me there isn't any research/evidence there is a connection/more of an issue than if they were grey and not double dilute.