Is sweetitch inherited?

Spyda

Spyda

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Someone I know has a Welsh stallion (4yr old) which suffers from sweetitch. She's used him for the past two seasons on her own mares but plans to 'advertise' his services next season (for £500 :eek:); but that aside, I'm wondering if sweetitch is something he'll pass to his foals or not. So far his foals are lovely both in conformation and temperament but the sweetitch would worry ME personally. And obviously the stallion has not been shown in hand, nor is competed unde saddle, as his mane is clipped off every summer. I know knowledgeable mare owners would 'smell a rat' at being shown a hogged Welsh stallion as a stud, but it still worries me that she plans to offer his services and someone might use him unknowingly.
 
Mmmm I've read the article mentioned above. They recommend garlic, which is basically NOT a good thing for horses with sweet itch! It basically stimulates the immune system which is not a good thing with sweet itch, as its this which is the problem (basically it goes into overdrive as a result of the allergen which is the saliva of the cullicoides) and garlic will only make the whole thing worse. So best avoided, as is mollasses or anything with sugar in it.
 
As far as I'm aware yes it is and I honestly think it's a bit irrasponable off them, but at that price and a welsh a hogged!!!! Yes I would think people would smell a rat
 
thatsmygirl said:
As far as I'm aware yes it is and I honestly think it's a bit irrasponable off them, but at that price and a welsh a hogged!!!! Yes I would think people would smell a rat
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Let's hope so.

When they initially said they were going to 'stud their boy out' (their phrase, not mine); and were planning on charging a stud fee of £500-£550 for an unshown/uncompeted on Welsh stallion (with sweetitch) and without WCPS Covering Certs either, I doubted they'd manage it. But when they also planned to sell his youngstock (out of cheap market-bought unregistered Heinz 57 pony mares) for 'no less than £2000 at weaning' I was further sceptical, but they've achieved that this year which has further convinced them that they are 'onto a good thing'. Deep sigh.
 
Having a parent(s) with sweet-itch makes the foal MORE prone to having it.

there is no gene that will give a horse sweet-itch and that makes it less able to have it.
 
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