Might be a slightly tad morbid post...

A

Abbeygale

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I just heard yesterday that my mares dam was put down a couple of months ago, which is really sad as she was a lovely brood mare, and had produced many beautiful foals. She was 22, and had been diagnosed with cushings.

Now this got me to thinking - how likely is it that with my mares dam being PTS at this age that my mare would die /PTS at a similar age? :o my mare is 16 this year, and the thought of having only around 6 more years with her is rubbish!

I don't want this to sound as though I'm writing her off, as she's fitter and stronger than she's ever been, but more a question about genetics and life spans being passed onto offspring.

Coffee and twiglets all round :)
 
I don't think the age that her dam died/was pts will have any bearing on how long she will live. Don't worry yourself. I don't think that there is a genetic correlation to length of life.

As an example.

My Grandma died in her 40's but my Dad and his siblings are all in their 80's.
 
Agree with snowdrop.
Even if it had bearing. A lamanitic kept on lush grass will have a shorter life than one on restricted etc. So even an identical pony would have vastly different life spans dependent on environment.
 
It's one of those things that while I'm not actively worrying about it it's lurking in the back of my mind. And I know she's getting she could possibly ever need to keep her as healthy as she could be - she never wants for anything (except maybe more grass in the summer ;) )

Losing a horse was not something I worried myself too much with til I had to hold my young arab to be PTS a couple of years ago. I don't want to have to do that again anytime soon :o
 
Could be a rough guide but longevity is dictated by so many different factors... Nature/nurture etc.
Use the dam/sire ages as a rough guide.
 
So far alot of research suggests that the main type of cushings is not hereditory, however it is often talked about as a genetic condition, where they have the pituatory gland producing too much cortasol usually as the result of a tumour.

( sorry for all the spelling mistake on the medical words :p)

My old mare had cushings for many years, and she had a happy life :) the vet reckoned she was somwhere in her late 30's.

She fell and broke her back according to the vet ( we just found her paralysed in the feild) and had to be PTS.


So do not worry about how many years she has left, any horse may have a heart attack or freak accident tomorrow - we just never know! Enjoy all the days you do have her :)
 
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