tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62096498972257034222024-03-13T16:37:00.066+13:00Connemara Pony Research into Hoof Wall Separation Disease (HWSD) The hoof problem previously known as Hoof Wall Separation Syndrome (HWSS) has been renamed as Hoof Wall Separation Disease (HWSD). HWSD is an unique, verifiable and testable disease. It should not be confused with any other hoof pathology. HWSD is a genetic autosomal recessive condition. Two carrier parents being bred with each other results in 1:4 chance of the foal being HWSD afflicted. There is now a commercially available genetic test for the HWSD mutation.
Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-50365100488362444542020-08-27T11:35:00.001+12:002020-08-27T17:46:50.298+12:00WARNING: Passport Tampering occurring with Irish Bred HWSD/HWSD affected ponies<p> Sadly, it has been brought to the attention of the CPRG that a number of HWSD affected ponies have recently been exported from Ireland to the UK, various Nordic countries and several Continental countries.</p><p>Since 2015 there has been <b>NO EXCUSE</b> for any HWSD ponies to have even been born. Sadly this message does not seem to have been accepted in the biggest Connemara pony breeding country in the world, Ireland. As HWSD is entirely preventable, then the breeders of such ponies have a moral and ethical responsibility to care for these ponies themselves, not sell them off to dealers and sight unseen to unsuspecting overseas buyers.</p><p>Even worse, to just compound the issue some unscrupulous individuals are now passport tampering by removing the back page of the CPBS passport where the HWSD status of the pony is placed.</p><p>These recently reported HWSD affected pony's passports have had the back page of their passports deliberately removed.</p><div style="text-align: left;">The back page of the passport of an affected pony should look like this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxshQzxnG1Y/X0dIV6WPz1I/AAAAAAAABCs/Y_ZYr3KM3hItUtKGk9Sp9JmquK8yGoofwCLcBGAsYHQ/s425/Passport1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="378" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxshQzxnG1Y/X0dIV6WPz1I/AAAAAAAABCs/Y_ZYr3KM3hItUtKGk9Sp9JmquK8yGoofwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Passport1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There are <b>supposed</b> to be 46 pages in a CPBS passport.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-or79p74wexA/X0dIsg1z08I/AAAAAAAABC8/N5z25Fwhq0UVw2EeDlKhVDJPb2IDV6XXACLcBGAsYHQ/s378/Passport%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="283" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-or79p74wexA/X0dIsg1z08I/AAAAAAAABC8/N5z25Fwhq0UVw2EeDlKhVDJPb2IDV6XXACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Passport%2B2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>It is not known where this tampering is occurring, as the majority of these ponies have been sold through dealer yards, both in Ireland and in the country of their final destination. Either way it is inexcusable and <b>ILLEGAL</b> behaviour. It is bad enough as it is, that the knowledge of HWSD in the general horse owning population, vets and farriers is abysmally low. This passport tampering is a deliberate act to sucker unsuspecting buyers, nothing less, nothing more.</p><p>To add insult to injury there is also proof that HWSD affected ponies are being sold from Ireland using 'white' passports. These are effectively generic travel documents only. They have no requirement to list breed, breeding or breeder.</p><p>If you are looking to purchase a horse or pony listed as 'Connemara Type' make sure that the pony is scanned for more than one microchip. As there is no central microchip database in Ireland there is no way in which to check for duplicate registrations to one microchip. It is also really easy to have a 2nd (or even more) microchips inserted, if one is of a mind to do such a thing.</p><p>These passport breaches have been reported to the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) as this department is responsible for administering the issuing of equine passports. </p><p><a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2011/si/357/made/en/print" target="_blank">Irish Equine Law.</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-74395562004968468122020-05-14T12:50:00.000+12:002020-05-14T12:50:09.555+12:00Want to Know More About Hoof Wall Separation Disease? Listen to the podcast made by Lucinda Kelly of Connemara Pony World.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What's all this fuss with Hoof Wall? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is it? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What should I be doing?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Tune into our new podcast episode <a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/1072957/3731543" target="_blank">Link to Podcast</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"Getting to the Bottom of HWSD in Connemara Ponies"</b></span><br />
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In this episode, we cover Hoof Wall Separation Disease, also better
known as HWSD. This is a condition that has been identified in Connemara
ponies. HWSD is an autosomal recessive disorder that causes the hoof
wall to easily break and crack.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Joining us on this podcast are the following guests:</span><br />
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1. Sheila Ramsay is from New Zealand and has performed research in
Animal Science, Parasitology and Genetics. Her current project is 'Hoof
Wall Separation Disease (HWSD) in Connemara Ponies.'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 2. Dr.
Melissa Cox is based in Germany and specialises in animal genetics,
having earned her doctorate in Genetics through the Department of
Veterinary Pathobiology at Texas A&M University, and has
concentrated on comparative genomics with an interest in domestic
animals throughout her career.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 3. Marian Pritchard is from the UK
and is a Connemara enthusiast who bought a Connemara pony from Ireland
that she later found out was HWSD/HWSD.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/1072957/3731543" target="_blank">Link to Podcast</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Please subscribe to our iTunes and Spotify channels and share.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instagram: ConnemaraPonyWorld </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1OrT_74GVc/XryRvgufY8I/AAAAAAAABBI/GDMqxUR-x1091CZz14TekH8Z5oF-B8WbACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Melissa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="283" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1OrT_74GVc/XryRvgufY8I/AAAAAAAABBI/GDMqxUR-x1091CZz14TekH8Z5oF-B8WbACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Melissa.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr Melissa Cox</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1z3aCpsadUM/XryS6-Jd1EI/AAAAAAAABBU/ZrYz6EJSSn80O1XIE3olrEKeTDTl97vKACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Quid%2Btunnel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="283" height="186" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1z3aCpsadUM/XryS6-Jd1EI/AAAAAAAABBU/ZrYz6EJSSn80O1XIE3olrEKeTDTl97vKACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Quid%2Btunnel.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sheila Ramsay</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OX-apLzfKQ0/XryT7GE1AaI/AAAAAAAABBg/ejsMEsiUTVk7jWWUUeuxFcOgJnZo-JOqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Marian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="284" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OX-apLzfKQ0/XryT7GE1AaI/AAAAAAAABBg/ejsMEsiUTVk7jWWUUeuxFcOgJnZo-JOqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Marian.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoContext" id="fbPhotoSnowliftContext"></span><span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0">Marian Pritchard riding her Connemara pony who has HWSD. </span></span></div>
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Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-49651267350991470562020-04-19T17:21:00.000+12:002020-04-19T17:21:03.212+12:00Survey on the Care of HWSD Affected Ponies<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt;">Your HWSD
experience can help others <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">We are in the process of bringing
all the helpful care information about HWSD one can find on facebook and other
sites into one ‘easy to find’ website. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt;">As an owner and carer of an HWSD
affected pony, you are an ‘expert’ in the management of your pony. We believe
that your ‘on the ground’ knowledge in managing this disease would be
invaluable to another person and their pony. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt;">We are asking if you would ‘share’
your experience for others to read. We are also happy to help if English is not
your first language. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the link to the survey:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdpK19hEPqVMrdX10LO6vP8C3UbMeFEFqvpVP6p4gGwzDp8Ng/viewform" target="_blank">HWSD Pony Owner's Survey</a></span>Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-82616730938325177462018-12-12T14:18:00.003+13:002018-12-12T14:18:44.454+13:00HWSD Pamphlet Updated<b>A new pamphlet has been written about HWSD. </b><br />
<br />
This educational pamphlet can be freely downloaded and printed, distributed via hard copy or electronically. Spread the word!<br />
<br />
You can download the file from either the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/HWSD.Hoof.Wall.Separation.Disease/" target="_blank">HWSD Facebook page</a><br />
<br />
OR directly<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329582723_HOOF_WALL_SEPARATION_DISEASE_oNER'S_AND_BREEDER'S_INFORMATION_PAMPHLET_DECEMBER_2018" target="_blank">HWSD Information pamphlet for Owners and Breeders of Connemara ponies.</a>Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-78657139494346974002018-01-01T14:15:00.001+13:002018-01-01T14:16:48.415+13:00A New Year: What Progress is Achievable in 2018?The CPBS recently published the HWSD test data from Weatherby's for 2017.<br />
<br />
It was very disappointing to see that <b>51 (2%) HWSD/HWSD </b>foals were born in in Ireland 2017. It is quite possible that these foals were conceived before the HWSD status of the parents was known. However it is far more likely that these foals have parents which have never been tested at all and that the mating will have been repeated before the status of the parents was made obvious.<br />
<br />
Therefore it is extremely unlikely that the HWSD/HWSD percentage will drop significantly for the 2018 registration period.<br />
<br />
Also it has been brought to the attention of the CPRG that there appears to be a 'don't ask; don't tell' attitude occurring with regards to disclosure of HWSD results. A specific instance is reported of an experienced European breeder purchasing a colt foal on-line, sight unseen from Ireland via DoneDeal. This was a fully registered colt foal with a passport.<br />
The buyer admits that she should have asked the HWSD status of the colt as she was dealing with someone unknown to her. When the seller was asked for all of the particulars detailed on the passport no mention was made of the HWSD status.<br />
<br />
The colt duly arrived in his new country of residence. As soon as he came off the transporter, the new owner went "OMG, what have I done?". The new owner was then handed the passports of all of the ponies that came off the transporter which were destined for the same property. On looking at the passport of the "OMG" colt it was clearly stamped HWSD/HWSD.<br />
<br />
<b>Several questions arise here.</b><br />
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<ol>
<li>Should the CPBS be amending the passports to record HWSD status in a more obvious place?<br />i.e. on the page where the pony ID is printed.</li>
<li>Should there be an expectation of full disclosure of HWSD status at sales and in advertising material generally?</li>
<li>What culpability should be apportioned to the seller, as the colt was obviously 'not fit for purpose'?</li>
<li>What defence is 'ignorance'; the seller in this case informed the buyer when contacted after the colt arrived at its new home, that he had 'no idea what HWSD is, or what the stamp in the passport means'.</li>
<li>The 'education programme' by the CPBS is obviously not reaching the right people, if point four above is a real and true response and not just another lie by the seller.</li>
<li>The present inability for people to readily find out the HWSD status of ponies in Ireland especially and several other countries as well.</li>
</ol>
As a method of rectifying point seven above, the CPRG has opened another and separate 'Tested Ponies Page'. One of the limiting factors of the present page is that it requires submission of the testing certificate to validate the result/s. Weatherby's and the CPBS are at this stage declining to issue such certification. The sole documentation provided is the HWSD status stamp on the last page of the passport. It is not possible to be assured that the pony identification and the HWSD status align, without physically examining the passport.<br />
<br />
Therefore the new and separate tested ponies page starts today. The title is "Declared HWSD Results". It will include the same information as on the "Tested Ponies" page but will also include whether 'breeder' or 'owner' has declared the result.<br />
<br />
<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><b>Please Note:</b> the CPRG does not restrict its interest and involvement
to just HWSD research. It is interested in ensuring that the breed maintains 'genetic fitness' which is challenged by in-breeding inertia. If people have 'stories' they wish to share, in full,
frank and confidential discussion, on any proven or suspected genetic issue in the breed, the CPRG is only an email away.</span><br />
<br />Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-72799190293812579542017-08-11T17:51:00.004+12:002017-08-11T17:51:55.636+12:00August Clifden Pony Sales are coming upFor those people off to buy at the sales, remember to ask whether the ponies that you maybe interested in buying have been tested for HWSD.<br />
<br />
Yearlings and foals have all been HWSD tested as part of the registration process. The results of the test is included in their passports and should be easily accessible.<br />
<br />
However with ponies older than yearlings, testing is voluntary. When older ponies are tested their results are not included on their passport unless the owner/breeder has made the effort to return the passport to the CPBS to have this included on the record.<br />
<br />
Ponies tested by laboratories other than Weatherby's Ire should have a 'certificate of test result' available. Ask to see this, if you are enquiring about the HWSD status of any particular pony.<br />
<br />
HWSD results on ponies are still being sent to the CPRG; 95% of these are from countries other than Ireland. Distressingly, a large number of the results of affected ponies, are from ponies exported from Ireland to these other countries. Geldings, purchased for performance careers, are presently the highest category of affected ponies recorded since the beginning of the year.<br />
<br />
Many of these ponies are listed on the Tested Ponies Page; ponies are listed under the countries of residence as opposed to country of origin. Consequently this page is being reworked to show country of origin.Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-90079527790122715232017-01-31T11:27:00.000+13:002017-02-03T11:55:43.494+13:00A New Year and a New Attitude is Emerging. YEAH!It is really rewarding to be able to write a post which illustrates the amount of progress which has been achieved in changing the attitudes in disclosing the HWSD status of ponies at the sales.<br />
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As yet, disclosure of HWSD status is not a legal requirement so it is really great that a breeder has been open, honest and accountable for the pony entered at the sale.<br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5">LOT NO: 299 NAME: BALLINAME BEAUTY
SIRE: MURVEY ROCCO S1-2487 DAM: KNOCKAVALLEY ROSE M1-18619
SEX: Filly AGE: 1YR COLOUR: DARK GREY HEIGHT:
COMMENTS: MC-72667
TESTED HWSD/HWSD FOR HWSD. EASY TO HANDLE</span><br />
<span class="_5yl5"><br /></span>
<span class="_5yl5">Now, I can just hear people say "well who is going to buy this filly?" and "why would anyone want to buy this filly?"</span><br />
<span class="_5yl5"><br /></span>
<span class="_5yl5">My answer would be, "a savvy someone with a bit of nouse!" If the hoof condition is not severe (and some can be very mild) AND the pony is great in every other way, has the breeding you want and you like it, then chances are you will be able to buy such a pony 'for a song', because all of those people 'out there' and who do not understand genetics will see no value in the pony.</span><br />
<span class="_5yl5"><br /></span>
<span class="_5yl5">Of course this is sad for the vendor, because they will probably not achieve the price at the sales that they would like, but potentially it is a great bargain for the thoughtful breeder.</span><br />
<span class="_5yl5"><br /></span>
<span class="_5yl5">OK, so every foal this filly produces (if given the opportunity to breed) will be what is referred to as an "obligate carrier", once again this does not constitute an issue to the thoughtful and educated breeder.</span><br />
<span class="_5yl5"><br /></span>
<span class="_5yl5">There have been many snide comments made about "what value is a carrier pony, and in particular a carrier stallion?" Well the answer to that, is money value to the times of six figures of Euro.</span><br />
<span class="_5yl5"><br /></span>
<span class="_5yl5">There are several carrier status stallions in Europe especially, which have changed money recently for large sums. It has been reported that an elderly performance proven stallion and his frozen semen recently changed hands for Euro20,000. His semen is still widely sought after because his progeny perform to a high level. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5">Other reports are of carrier ponies (stallions) changing hands for prices in excess of Euro200,000.</span><br />
<span class="_5yl5"><br /></span>
<span class="_5yl5">Now the crunch (if there is one) is that these stallions are all performance bred AND out in open competition strutting their stuff. Carrier stallions which sit at home doing nothing but eating and getting fat are not likely to be viewed in the same light.</span><br />
<span class="_5yl5"><br /></span>
<span class="_5yl5">What is becoming apparent though, as data accumulates, is that the correlation between HWSD 'lines' and performance ability is strengthening. It is reasonable to assume that selective breeding for all round athleticism and performance ability has coincided with the inadvertent selection for HWSD!</span><br />
<span class="_5yl5"><br /></span>
<span class="_5yl5">If this assumption is correct, then 'culling' out the "HWSD lines" will also result in losing the positive traits for which the ponies have been bred, and in all likelihood, also 'live' somewhere on Chromosome 8. Cull for HWSD and you lose ALL of the genes on Chromosome 8! (plus all the other genetics of the culled animals).</span><br />
<span class="_5yl5"><br /></span>
<span class="_5yl5">The connection between HWSD and performance lines is supposition, not absolute; poor performance characteristics can also be inherited alongside the HWSD mutation. Because</span> it is possible for a carrier pony to pass on the performance and not the HWSD, ultimately each pony has to be judged upon its own merits.<br />
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<br />
<span class="_5yl5"><br /></span>
Because the information about this pony is already in the "public domain" then the following information is also suitable for the public domain. <br />
The pedigree chart shows lines of descent. <br />
Red = HWSD/HWSD. <br />
Blue = N/HWSD.<br />
Green = N/N.<br />
Pink = suspected carriers/lines of descent<br />
0/0 = status unknown.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yvVmiDczysI/WI-0EP32-nI/AAAAAAAAA6o/PdVs1i_0cgoJ1OH9E-esczzGR4bPb92ggCLcB/s1600/Balliname%2BBeauty.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yvVmiDczysI/WI-0EP32-nI/AAAAAAAAA6o/PdVs1i_0cgoJ1OH9E-esczzGR4bPb92ggCLcB/s320/Balliname%2BBeauty.png" width="249" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>ADDENDUM:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Further to the above post.<br />I have gone through the February sales catalogue and this is what I found, errors and omissions excepted:<br /><br />Of 363 lots, 34 ponies have HWSD status declared. This equates to a 10.7% reporting rate.<br /><br />The breakdown of the lots is:<br />37
yearlings (or younger) in total, of which 24 yearlings report their
status. An additional two state that their passports should be back by
sales time (so they will not have known the HWSD status of their ponies
when the sale entry closed).<br /><br />Therefore there are 11
yearlings which either their status was unknown at entry time or if
known the vendors did not consider the information relevant.<br /><br />Of
the of the 34 ponies which are reported, as previously stated, 24 are
yearlings. This means that yearlings comprise 70% of the ponies whose
status has been declared.<br /><br />With 4/24 yearlings being
carriers of the mutation, at 16% of the tested population, the average
is running below that of the expected general population.<br /><br />Ponies 2 and older make up 89.8% of the total sales catalogue with 3% having declared HWSD status.<br /><br />Of the reported adults 10% express the mutation.<br /><br />What does this tell us? That compulsory foal testing is throwing light into what was a dark murky corner</span></div>
<br />Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-25219277459302695062016-10-16T12:06:00.004+13:002016-10-16T12:06:35.702+13:00How the Numbers Stack Up<div style="text-align: justify;">
This blog site went 'live' November 2011; nearly five years ago.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So much has been achieved in this time. In November 2011 we were in the process of pulling together the funds to pay UC Davis for the genetic research.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
10 January 2012 the news came through that indeed HWSD was genetic in origin. All of us who had been of this persuasion felt vindicated. Especially in view of the abuse that some had been exposed to.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Fast forward to August 2014 and the meeting at Clifden with Dr Finno, Ray Knightley and the rest of the CPRG team.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The HWSD test at UC Davis became commercially available the week of the Clifden meeting. What super news that was! Now not only was the meeting about the 'problem' of HWSD but it also came with the basis of a solution.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The meeting in Clifden in March 2015 brought the issue of HWSD into perspective for a large number of local and international breeders of Connemara ponies.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The CPBS made the decision in late 2015 that all foals born in 2016 had to be HWSD tested as part of the registration process.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today the number of hits on the site has reached 99,883. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The number of hits on the HWSD tested ponies page has gone over the 10,000 mark. The tested ponies page was first available in September 2014.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-11972625236435742232016-07-15T12:12:00.000+12:002016-07-15T12:12:22.340+12:00<div style="text-align: justify;">
The latest statistical information on HWSD is available via <a href="https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/file/Australia%20HWSD%20June%202016.pdf?token=AWz9Top6JhPLXDu7EgELK05-8FSJZBMP1OiMvhEu46pX8L28H0RDlz6d0LLXVeJRWTKkjDNp-N156833x0TJa_jzyO0N4yZiFWJSKnZBsjihIkVjHMxZ1gf-XxYVioOBO-Hn9bvIJ9rIzmliw4WaW137JFNhqyTJrttawR3rK0iVvw" target="_blank">the HWSD facebook page.</a> This is report is about the current information on HWSD in the Connemara Pony population of Australia. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What is happening in Australia has implications for the rest of the
world. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Because of the fragmentation of test data across multiple laboratories it is no longer possible to produce HWSD analyses for the various jurisdictions where Connemara ponies are bred . </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The information supplied previously from VGL is very useful from a retrospective perspective and has been used in this analysis. The current data from VGL is no longer indicative of the HWSD testing situation worldwide.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Only the
Connemara Pony Breeder's Society of Australia (CPBSA) have seen fit to provide
their raw data on HWSD testing. Thank you CPBSA.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is sad that there has been such a distinct lack of co-operation to release raw data from other breed societies and testing laboratories.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The report has not be reproduced here because it is not possible to secure the document on this platform. Sadly, previous work presented on this site has been selectively copied and pasted in an attempt to present alternate views to that which was originally intended. Thus this report is only available as a secure pdf file.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As there is no download facility available on this platform, you will need to use the link in the first paragraph.</div>
Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-31534570373675578502016-07-07T13:17:00.002+12:002016-07-07T13:17:53.319+12:00Arguing without arguments<div class="inner-right-large bdr-bottom">
<h1 class="heading" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">This article says it all. I have to say though that on the whole the the majority of any on-line discussions about HWSD I have seen, have been 95% positive with no signs of overt personal attacks. Keep up the good work on HWSD education to the uninitiated. and spread the word. </span></span></h1>
<h1 class="heading">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h1>
<h1 class="heading">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Original text: </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://epona.tv/blog/2014/october/arguing-without-arguments</span></span></h1>
<h1 class="heading">
Arguing without arguments</h1>
<div class="details no-margin">
Written by Julie Taylor on 23.10.2014
in Welfare </div>
</div>
<div class="lede" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="lede" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="lede" style="text-align: justify;">
Some horse folks still think you have to do research and
construct logical arguments in order to take part in online discussions
about horses. Nothing could be further from the truth. So as to leave
no equestrian behind, I have written this five step guide to arguing
without arguments. Whether you are new to stating your personal hunches
as rock solid facts or have been doing it for years, here's how you can
improve your technique.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Argumentum ad hominem</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is fancy speak for attacking the person with whom you disagree
instead of addressing their opinions and arguments. If someone writes
something you don't like on the internet, the first step is to google
them and find their social media profiles and look for any evidence of
incompetence as you perceive it. You just need to find that one thing
this person did in their life that, according to you, was stupid or
wrong and you are free to discount everything they ever say again. Even
if they quote a string of published, peer reviewed scientific studies
which contradict your personal, home brewed philosophy of horsemanship,
all you need is that one photo of them at a Nickelback concert which
alters the fabric of the universe and renders all this evidence invalid.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Even if you come up empty handed and it seems like your opponent has
never done anything wrong in their life, you can always find someone who
holds a similar view to your opponent who did do something wrong and
use that person's mistake as an excuse for dismissing the arguments of
your opponent. When applied correctly, this technique makes your
opponent so uncomfortable that they don't want to continue talking to
you because you are behaving like a sociopath. Tell yourself and others
your opponent went away because they ran out of arguments.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Change the subject</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When faced with information they don't like, some people try to deal
by making sense of the opponent's claims, examining the evidence and
critically reviewing their own attitudes and habits. You don't need that
kind of hassle in your life. Instead, make yourself feel better by
forcing those who are making you uncomfortable to talk about something
else. For instance, if you like to hit horses hard with sticks and
someone else says that is wrong, point out that there are worse things
in the world. Demand that your opponent deals with everything else on
the planet which you deem to be worse than their concern before they can
have your permission to proceed with their discussion. If they insist
that they have a right to discuss anything they want, regardless of your
preferences, accuse them of hypocrisy and not caring about horses who
starve or are kept in PMU barns. It is not necessary that you are
yourself involved in addressing any of those things that you think are
worse than your opponent's concern. You need never have donated a penny
to charity or put in a single hour of volunteer work. Just point out
everything that's wrong with the world and blame your opponent for not
having solved all these problems before getting to the one with which
they are currently involved. In many cases, you will be able to shame
your opponent into red faced silence, pondering all the ways in which
they're not helping horses.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Repeat as needed</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Tired of hearing about how there is no evidence to support your
strongly held beliefs? Don't shy away from online discussions. Just keep
repeating what you hold to be true as if your views were actual
arguments in a real discussion. Start by pointing out that your opponent
has revealed their ignorance by stating an opinion contrary to yours.
Nobody likes to be called ignorant and it will put them on their back
foot, wondering whether they should be refuting your allegation or just
ignore it. Then carefully account for your beliefs as if you or someone
else didn't just make the stuff up. Remember: You read it in a book, so
it must be true. When someone points out that the evidence available all
contradicts your belief, repeat what you read in that book. If your
opponent points out that the book you read might be wrong, explain that
this can't be the case, since the author of the book said that
everything in the book is true. And he or she should know. They wrote
the book in which it says that they are telling the truth. Repeat ad
nauseum, while rejecting any science quoted by your opponent. After all,
scientists are just people.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>False dichotomies</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<em>”I am allergic to peanuts, so I have to live entirely on watermelon.”</em>
That's a false dichotomy. It assumes that the only alternative to
ingesting peanuts is to exclusively eat watermelon. Stupid, isn't it?
Yet, in a horse context, this rhetorical cheat can often come in handy.
For instance: <em>”You think it's cruel to keep horses locked up in
stalls for 23 hours a day? Well I disagree, because leaving my horse to
die of starvation in a muddy field with slipper feet and sweet itch is
just not an option for me.”</em> See how that works? You wilfully ignore
all the options which neither involve starving to death or being locked
up all the time. Like free choice stabling where horses walk in and out
as they need to. Or turnout during the day or night and stabling during
the other 12 hours. You pretend there are only two options: Yours and
one other really bad one. You might think this is too transparent and
that your opponent will catch on, but don't underestimate the shame
associated with being accused of wanting your horse to die of starvation
in a mud hole. Go to any horse discussion group and you'll see how
routinely this trick is used and how well it works even though it is a
completely invalid way of conducting a debate.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Pull rank</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you're an ignorant, opinionated horse person with a pathological
sense of entitlement and a complete inability to change your mind about
anything ever, chances are you've been in the game for a while. This is
probably your strongest card. If someone states an aversion to a common
practice of yours, remind them that you have been doing it for 40 years.
In a startling number of cases, your opponent will back off rather than
point out that doing it wrong for 40 years does not make anyone an
expert. New and inexperienced horse owners are especially vulnerable to
seeing things from the horse's perspective. Keep them in their place by
accusing them of having <em>”pet horses”</em>, thus inferring that you
are yourself a professional and that their choice to have animals for
the love of said animals and a desire to give them a good life is
somehow inferior.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><em><br /></em></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><em>Follow these five, simple steps when you're talking to
other horse people on the internet, and you will never have to back up
your opinions with fact, let alone accept that you've been wrong and
need to change. Good luck people and be careful out there.</em></strong></div>
Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-18094925755379620212015-12-11T16:01:00.001+13:002015-12-12T08:38:54.359+13:00Be Afraid - Be Very AfraidIf you are one of the Connemara pony breeders who still refuses to accept that HWSD is a reality, and that all breeders have a moral and ethical responsibility to gene test their breeding stock, then you may wish to change your stance.<br />
<br />
Here is a real life scenario, it is going to be happening soon. A dealer in France, who imported Irish bred Connemara ponies is now being sued by a purchaser, because the pony which they had bought from this dealer, has since been diagnosed (and tested) with HWSD. This court case is due to be heard in January 2016.<br />
<br />
<b>'Not my problem'? Think again. </b><br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>If you rely on overseas buyers for your ponies, what is going to happen to your market? </li>
<li>If you are an Irish dealer who buys up job lots from farmers and breeders for export 'to anywhere', what is going to happen to your market??</li>
<li>If you sell (even unintentionally) an untested pony which then tests HWSD/HWSD what are you going to do about it? </li>
<li>What are your moral/ethical obligations, if not the legal obligations under consumer law?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Each country has its own domestic laws which cover consumer rights, fair trading and definitions of 'fit for purpose'. These such laws do not cross the borders between one country and another. <br />
<br />
<b>HOWEVER</b> decisions made in the law courts of any one country are known as 'precedents' and play a part in the setting of 'case law'. Rulings from France (in this particular instance) can be used in the courts of another jurisdiction as a precedent to support a law suit. <br />
To put it simply, if the purchaser wins the court case in France against the dealer, then that decision is a precedent which can be used in the courts of law in another country.<br />
<br />
Then there is the issue that the French dealer, who if they lose the court case, is going to try for recompense from the Irish person who sold that dealer the HWSD pony/ies in the first place (and yes there are cases where a person has purchased several ponies which <b>all</b> turned out to be HWSD affected). The potential for a 'knock on' effect becomes an interesting conundrum on which to reflect,<br />
<br />
Is this 'knock on' effect possible? Yes it is. Most people, and probably most domestic lawyers, are unaware of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). If a person has the will and the money to pay for legal advice it is quite possible for inter-country law suits to occur.<br />
<br />
A slight change of direction but still entirely relevant to this post. <br />
<br />
<b>VALE For Fairyhill Flame</b><br />
<br />
Two weeks ago Fairyhill Flame <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Monaghanstown Fionn-Kingstown Fairy)</span> was euthanased on quality of life and welfare issues directly caused by HWSD. Flame was purchased by a person in Scotland from a dealer in Ireland. This pony, is the third pony from the same source that the CPRG is aware of, which has tested HWSD/HWSD . Two out of the three have had to be euthanased.<br />
<br />
It is not the place of this blog to 'name and shame' but it is the place for the CPRG to repeat the advice that if you are buying ponies, especially from Ireland, to have them HWSD tested before you complete the deal. <br />
<br />
IF you choose to not have the test as part of a pre-purchase agreement and then the pony does turn out to be HWSD affected, then more fool you.<br />
<br />
One of the 'French' ponies is sired by a stallion bred by one of the 'leading lights' of the CPBS. Maybe this is but one reason, why the council has been so backward about coming forward on this issue and have blocked and prevaricated since the beginning. <br />
<br />
That this recent reportage now raises the number of carrier ponies owned and/or bred by members of the the Clifden clique to above the expected penetrance level of the mutation in the wider population certainly raises issues.<br />
<br />
TAKE HOME MESSAGE: <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Do not wait until 'someone' (ie breed society) says you have to test your ponies for HWSD. </li>
<li>Get in first </li>
<li>Use the test as a market advantage. </li>
<li>If you get a carrier pony don't take this as a personal insult.</li>
<li>Not acknowledging the presence of HWSD is a personal shame.</li>
</ul>
Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-59451554557325106632015-10-05T16:00:00.000+13:002015-10-05T16:30:57.834+13:00Hoof Wall Separation Disease Updated Statistics October 2015<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>Hoof Wall Separation Disease
Update</b></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
The latest statistics from the HWSD testing performed by VGL Davis
have just been released. These figures cover six months from March
2015 to October 2015. As there are now three time periods covered –
effectively a 12 month period - this information has been combined to
provide an overview both internationally and by individual country.
The information is now sufficient that trends and interpretation can
be drawn from the data.</div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
This raw data from has been converted into graphs and charts to make
the information more easily accessible. A short synopsis follows
each of the graphs.</div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b>The first chart shows the total number of ponies tested since
August 2014:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tNxT-t8YCaQ/VhHc7UmfPuI/AAAAAAAAA2E/wA-HYQ2fmbc/s1600/All%2Bcoutries%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tNxT-t8YCaQ/VhHc7UmfPuI/AAAAAAAAA2E/wA-HYQ2fmbc/s400/All%2Bcoutries%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
In the initial six weeks after the test became available the lab
tested a large number of ponies in a very short space of time.
After this the demand dropped away. Testing increased rapidly in the
March to October tranche – as this tranche corresponds with the
time after the HWSD meeting held during the Spring Festival, one can
only surmise that the attendees at this meeting went away with a
greater understanding of the need to test breeding ponies for HWSD.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="en-GB">Even
with the increased number of ponies being tested, it is interesting
to note that the percentage of carrier and affected ponies in the
greater population, remains relatively steady. This is the type of
information which becomes both more accessible (and useful) as more
data becomes available. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="en-GB">On
the VGL website page it states </span><span lang="en-GB"><i>“</i></span><i><b>At
the time that this test was released, approximately 15% of Connemara
were carriers of HWSD (N/HWSD) however, the number of carriers can
change with each generation. “ </b></i>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Be
aware that this figure of 15% was extrapolated from the population
used for the HWSD research at Bannasch. The research population
itself was biased, by virtue of the fact that as many affected ponies
and their relatives made up the research cohort. Also important was
the geographical origin/residence of the ponies from which samples
were submitted. The carrier percentage across all countries, which is
now becoming apparent, is in line with what the pedigree research
initially suggested.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Some
countries are showing a very much higher carrier rate than the
average; this could be the result of owners realising which
bloodlines appear to be a concern and then selectively testing ponies
from those bloodlines. However the pedigree research indicated that
with these particular countries, there was always going to be a
higher carrier and affected rate because of the initial animals
imported (and in some cases also subsequent imports) on which the
breed was founded.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jzcboCbAQto/VhHc7L11jUI/AAAAAAAAA2A/nTKjF9QvLHc/s1600/All%2Bcountries%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jzcboCbAQto/VhHc7L11jUI/AAAAAAAAA2A/nTKjF9QvLHc/s400/All%2Bcountries%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">This
difference of carrier rates between countries is best illustrated by
the following:</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tWq0EUotE44/VhHc80YfjrI/AAAAAAAAA2w/gUgYb-B-2bU/s1600/Comp%2Bcarrier%2Brates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tWq0EUotE44/VhHc80YfjrI/AAAAAAAAA2w/gUgYb-B-2bU/s400/Comp%2Bcarrier%2Brates.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">The
differences with the affected rates between countries is not so
obvious because in many cases owners are not choosing to test ponies
with obvious/known hoof pathologies. Some of the affected ponies
which have been tested, and show up in the graph, will be the direct
result of enquiries made to the Connemara Pony Research Group asking
for advice – the given advice being 'test for HWSD and make sure
that is what you are dealing with'.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
France
and Ireland fall outside of this above parameter, so sadly some
owners in both of these countries may have been somewhat shocked to
receive the test results on their ponies</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tUp2oSLjtkw/VhHdD8YgulI/AAAAAAAAA5A/TgzZ2EWbBu0/s1600/comp%2Baffected.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tUp2oSLjtkw/VhHdD8YgulI/AAAAAAAAA5A/TgzZ2EWbBu0/s400/comp%2Baffected.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Each
country is listed below showing the number of ponies tested and the
distribution and ratios of N/N, N/HWSD and HWSD/HWSD. The carrier
and affected percentages are shown in a second graph.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Australia</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2mjCUxRZuz8/VhHc8OlbnqI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/vrIDcBaJsEQ/s1600/Austral%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2mjCUxRZuz8/VhHc8OlbnqI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/vrIDcBaJsEQ/s400/Austral%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Australian
breeders embraced HWSD testing from the very beginning and have one
of the highest uptakes of the test in the world relative to the size
of the overall population. The incidence of HWSD in Australia is
relatively low which is in line with the initial pedigree research.
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OY-3swjqObE/VhHc7UDqVkI/AAAAAAAAA2M/OD2YnqHdBJw/s1600/Aus%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OY-3swjqObE/VhHc7UDqVkI/AAAAAAAAA2M/OD2YnqHdBJw/s400/Aus%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
The
carrier rate remains constant across all of the tranches. This would
indicate that from the number of ponies already tested the likelihood
that 12% or lower will be the carrier rate in the Australian
population at present. This level has the potential to drop without
the loss of genetic diversity through careful breeding choices for
future generations.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Canada</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9XgfP-RICAA/VhHc8SD1tBI/AAAAAAAAA2c/Z-Ml27-3XQI/s1600/Can%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9XgfP-RICAA/VhHc8SD1tBI/AAAAAAAAA2c/Z-Ml27-3XQI/s400/Can%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">Ponies
from the Canadian population featured highly in the research into the
HWSD mutation and release of the HWSD genetic test. Therefore the
impression given by the initial uptake of the</span><b style="line-height: 150%;"> </b><span style="line-height: 150%;">the
HWSD test, relative to the population size in Canada, appearing to be
low results in a false picture of the reality. The steady decline in
numbers tested since the beginning also paints an inaccurate picture
of the true situation. The number of actual breeders in Canada is
very low compared to other countries as is the number of ponies being
produced. The number of ponies actually being bred at present is
also low. The assumption could be made therefore, that the breeders
are selectively testing current breeding stock which was not part of
the research and whose status is not already known.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CjIJZqLU_00/VhHc8i93E_I/AAAAAAAAA2k/5cpB8G6F7ao/s1600/Can%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CjIJZqLU_00/VhHc8i93E_I/AAAAAAAAA2k/5cpB8G6F7ao/s400/Can%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">The percentage of carriers in a such a small population is high.
This is hardly surprising because it was in Canada that the whole
issue of HWSD began to be openly discussed. For those who are
unaware the HWSD issue was first PUBLICLY raised in Canada after the
importation of two stallions and five mares (to expand the limited
gene pool in that country) resulted in 100% HWSD affected foals when
mated to each other. Both stallions and all of the mares were HWSD
carriers; one stallion each from the UK and Ireland and the mares
from Ireland, the UK and the USA.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Denmark</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dhByxHdEu28/VhHc9ZsrifI/AAAAAAAAA3I/quX72CQh9z4/s1600/Den%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dhByxHdEu28/VhHc9ZsrifI/AAAAAAAAA3I/quX72CQh9z4/s400/Den%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Denmark saw an initial flurry of testing with a subsequent drop-off.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zdlgl2hkWTA/VhHc9QsUZwI/AAAAAAAAA3A/I-G-7HPni0M/s1600/Den%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zdlgl2hkWTA/VhHc9QsUZwI/AAAAAAAAA3A/I-G-7HPni0M/s400/Den%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
The
carrier rate in Denmark is high, as expected from the initial
pedigree research.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Finland</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1k1Q2DQnNz8/VhHc9_vumII/AAAAAAAAA3E/m7ohWFYVvfY/s1600/Fin%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1k1Q2DQnNz8/VhHc9_vumII/AAAAAAAAA3E/m7ohWFYVvfY/s400/Fin%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">Finland was slow to commence testing but is showing a steady increase
in the number of ponies being tested. The high relative carrier
rate in the October tranche suggest that several ponies from
'suspect lines' were the first to be tested.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uG4nAIxaugk/VhHc-Or0RZI/AAAAAAAAA3U/KINvr48XFOI/s1600/Fin%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uG4nAIxaugk/VhHc-Or0RZI/AAAAAAAAA3U/KINvr48XFOI/s400/Fin%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">Because of the high initial 'hit rate' of carrier results the graph
for Finland appears quite skewed. Also because there are only two
sets of data listed further testing will result in a more accurate
picture of the HWSD status within the Finnish population. Finland
shares a high level of common blood with the ponies of Scandinavian
countries. It would be expected that the carrier rates in Finland
will reflect those of these other countries.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">France</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aWPCEFhbkk0/VhHc-feNJtI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/gu3WTZdiX5w/s1600/Fra%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aWPCEFhbkk0/VhHc-feNJtI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/gu3WTZdiX5w/s400/Fra%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">France presents an interesting picture! There was virtually no
interest in HWSD testing or indeed the disease itself, prior to the
March meeting at Clifden. Only one sample was submitted from France
for the HWSD research so the 'situation' in France was unknown to the
researchers; there was concern that France would be sitting on a
'time-bomb' with the influx of cheap imports from Ireland. The one
sample submitted was from such an imported pony and he is an affected
pony. Much of the awareness now about HWSD in France is the result
of hard work by a very small number of individuals working in the
face of much opposition.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aeKCtxpf0Qw/VhHc_V-B3rI/AAAAAAAAA3g/wG3IY-njOxk/s1600/Fra%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aeKCtxpf0Qw/VhHc_V-B3rI/AAAAAAAAA3g/wG3IY-njOxk/s400/Fra%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">The carrier and affected rates in France is skewed once again, this
time by the large increase in the number of ponies in a single
tranche. Testing has revealed that several Irish bred stallions
either resident in France or previously resident there, are HWSD
carriers. Several of the top performing and producing French bred
stallions have also been tested as carriers of the HWSD mutation.
The published results are on the HWSD blog tested ponies results
page.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Germany</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QOz2WnpfZ6I/VhHc_39FasI/AAAAAAAAA5E/txjQ8OLglT4/s1600/Ger%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QOz2WnpfZ6I/VhHc_39FasI/AAAAAAAAA5E/txjQ8OLglT4/s400/Ger%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">A large number (over 270) of the German ponies were involved in the
HWSD research which led to the test becoming available. As a result
the HWSD status of these ponies is already known so the 'low uptake'
of testing in Germany as shown by these figures is inaccurate. It
would appear reasonable to assume that testing is being selectively
applied to current breeding stock not part of the research.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GLwfLul0vYw/VhHc_7V7dTI/AAAAAAAAA3s/Y5iTy1q4_XM/s1600/Ger%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GLwfLul0vYw/VhHc_7V7dTI/AAAAAAAAA3s/Y5iTy1q4_XM/s400/Ger%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">The carrier rate tends to reflect the intermingling of the
different lines from all over Europe and imports from Ireland.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Great Britain
including Northern Ireland</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kEP-xc0LR54/VhHdAT3R3TI/AAAAAAAAA38/ZadAkylKyVQ/s1600/Gr%2BB%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kEP-xc0LR54/VhHdAT3R3TI/AAAAAAAAA38/ZadAkylKyVQ/s400/Gr%2BB%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">A large proportion of the ponies being tested under the banner of
Great Britain are from Northern Ireland. The VGL recording system
does not differentiate between the post codes. (one can hardly expect
this). This anomaly does result in a misleading graph. Of the
ponies not from Northern Ireland that are being tested a high
proportion are imports from Ireland. Very few of the British results
are from British bred ponies. The high number of affected ponies is
a direct reflection of the ponies which have been imported from
Ireland that then proceed to display HWSD hoof pathology with their
new owners.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BLpURDSdNP0/VhHdA4_qyjI/AAAAAAAAA4A/CVDoDu4b29s/s1600/Gr%2BB%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BLpURDSdNP0/VhHdA4_qyjI/AAAAAAAAA4A/CVDoDu4b29s/s400/Gr%2BB%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">Carrier and affected rates are skewed by the true demographics of the
tested population which is not geographically accurate.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Ireland</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hNWquSyK6vk/VhHdA4vx4SI/AAAAAAAAA4E/5s61NC3jTfM/s1600/Ire%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hNWquSyK6vk/VhHdA4vx4SI/AAAAAAAAA4E/5s61NC3jTfM/s400/Ire%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">The total number of tested ponies – although steadily increasing –
is woefully inadequate considering the size of the Connemara pony
population in Ireland. As can be seen, the rate of carrier and
affected test results is also steadily rising. This information
gives, to the discerning breeder, a reinforcement as to why breeding
stock should all be tested.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYGFmJWErGc/VhHdBMGRbjI/AAAAAAAAA4I/uIpFBX9X3JI/s1600/Ire%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYGFmJWErGc/VhHdBMGRbjI/AAAAAAAAA4I/uIpFBX9X3JI/s320/Ire%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">The carrier and affected rates follow relatively the same gradient.
Initial pedigree research indicated that the expected carrier rate
in the Irish population would be in excess of 40%. There is
insufficient data, because of such low testing numbers, to determine
whether these rates will continue to trend upwards as expected.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">New Zealand and
Norway have not been graphed. </span></b>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
The
volume of data on these countries is not sufficient for graphing
purposes. New Zealand has not tested any further ponies since the
previous report in March 2015. A large number of the New Zealand
population contributed samples to the HWSD research, so their status
is already known without undergoing VGL testing. Norway has only
data from the latest tranche.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
The
data from Norway is as follows:</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cols="8" frame="VOID" rules="NONE" style="text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td bgcolor="#99CCFF" height="20" style="text-align: left;" width="85"><b>TRANCHE</b></td>
<td bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;5129;@" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(149, 179, 215); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; text-align: center;" valign="TOP" width="65"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">N/N</span></b></td>
<td bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;5129;@" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(149, 179, 215); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; text-align: center;" valign="TOP" width="79"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">N/HWSD</span></b></td>
<td bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;5129;@" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(149, 179, 215); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; text-align: center;" valign="TOP" width="107"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">HWSD/HWSD</span></b></td>
<td bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;5129;@" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(149, 179, 215); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; text-align: center;" valign="TOP" width="94"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Grand Total</span></b></td>
<td bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;5129;@" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(149, 179, 215); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; text-align: center;" valign="TOP" width="95"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">% of Carriers</span></b></td>
<td bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;5129;@" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(149, 179, 215); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; text-align: center;" valign="TOP" width="114"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">% of Affected</span></b></td>
<td bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;5129;General" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(149, 179, 215); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; text-align: left;" valign="TOP" width="65"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Country</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20" style="text-align: left;">Mar/Oct15</td>
<td sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="4" style="text-align: center;" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">4</span></td>
<td sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="1" style="text-align: center;" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1</span></td>
<td sdnum="5129;5129;General" style="text-align: center;" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="5" style="text-align: center;" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">5</span></td>
<td sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="20" style="text-align: center;" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">20.0</span></td>
<td sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="0" style="text-align: center;" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">0.0</span></td>
<td sdnum="5129;5129;General" style="text-align: left;" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Norway</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Netherlands</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CrorYlA1qrs/VhHdCLTaEVI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/8jXIZsNJaCY/s1600/Neth%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CrorYlA1qrs/VhHdCLTaEVI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/8jXIZsNJaCY/s400/Neth%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">The Netherlands has a small population of 'home bred' Connemara
ponies. Also as there is only two of the tranches logged as no
testing occurred during the first the data is incomplete. There is a
slight increase in ponies tested between the separate groupings of
the past 12 months.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MAgrHDooUag/VhHdCM0fSfI/AAAAAAAAA4c/HaEaM1GUBHc/s1600/Neth%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MAgrHDooUag/VhHdCM0fSfI/AAAAAAAAA4c/HaEaM1GUBHc/s400/Neth%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">The Netherlands shares common bloodlines with the rest of Europe
especially those of Denmark. This reflection is apparent in the
relatively high carrier rate.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Sweden</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q-B1LfnHLbQ/VhHdCkr6EtI/AAAAAAAAA4o/Ta8jspCgl14/s1600/Swe%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q-B1LfnHLbQ/VhHdCkr6EtI/AAAAAAAAA4o/Ta8jspCgl14/s400/Swe%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">Sweden shows a consistent number of ponies being tested in the past
12 months. There has been a noticeable increase in the level of
carriers tested. This could be a direct result of the results
published on the HWSD blog page; owners/breeders making the decision
to test solely because of the bloodlines published in the results.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8yil3J1do-E/VhHdC7tvDpI/AAAAAAAAA4w/LOn4zY4Nkho/s1600/Swe%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8yil3J1do-E/VhHdC7tvDpI/AAAAAAAAA4w/LOn4zY4Nkho/s400/Swe%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
The carrier rate for Sweden was always predicted, by the initial
pedigree research, as going to be high. The high carrier rate
reflects the bloodlines which were initially imported to found the
breed in Sweden. Subsequent imports from various countries have
compounded the issue. As a greater number of ponies are tested, the
expectation is that the carrier rate will rise in this country. Both
the endemic population and recent imports have high carrier
potential. Extreme care is needed to prevent this situation becoming
worse.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">United States of
America</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hdX8lf3e0jg/VhHdDOc6EtI/AAAAAAAAA40/-h5R1F4_XUI/s1600/USA%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hdX8lf3e0jg/VhHdDOc6EtI/AAAAAAAAA40/-h5R1F4_XUI/s400/USA%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">The USA is the leading country overall, for the numbers of ponies
that they have had tested for HWSD. Considering that the population
of the breed in the USA is minuscule compared to that of Ireland, the
UK and France, the American breeders deserve a big pat on the back!
Initially there was a goodly number of ponies tested, which then
dropped to half of the initial tranche. There is slight increase in
the latest tranche over the previous period.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zpnGtojZxAk/VhHdDXB8-mI/AAAAAAAAA44/RU_L0w2FH0M/s1600/USA%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zpnGtojZxAk/VhHdDXB8-mI/AAAAAAAAA44/RU_L0w2FH0M/s400/USA%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">The carrier population in the USA is interesting and rather unique.
Research shows that the HWSD mutation came into the USA with the
first wave of imports from Ireland; two in foal mares, which both
went on to produce dynasties of top performers, through multiple
progeny. Subsequent imports in recent times from Ireland, Australia
and the UK have raised the carrier rate as to that which is evident and
depicted in the graph.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Conclusion</span></b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 24px;">The level of reporting of test results lags significantly behind than the testing rates. Where tests are publicly reported it is obvious that owners are acting selectively about which tests they choose to share. There is a higher reportage of N/N results than that of the other two options which results in skewing public perception to accept that HWSD is of a lesser significance than is truly the case.</span></div>
Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-60981385199170561152015-06-30T19:07:00.000+12:002015-07-04T19:50:05.460+12:00Videos on HWSD are now on YouTubeThe video recordings of Dr Carrie Finno and Ray Knightley from the August 2014 meeting at Clifden are now 'live' on YouTube<br />
The Connemara Pony Research Group now has its own <span style="background-color: red;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbdY3DKOU3I-Qbs5l_E8ong?view_as=public" target="_blank">YouTube</a> </span>channel and this is where these talks can be found.<br />
<br />
Other information is that there has now been more than 5,000 hits made on the Tested Ponies Results page since it commenced in September 2014.<br />
<br />
The total number of hits on this blog now stands at 63,266!<br />
<h3 class="PXLWASD-c-i PXLWASD-c-f blogg-title" id="topCountriesLabel" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(235, 235, 235); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Pageviews by Countries</h3>
<div aria-labelledby="topCountriesLabel" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="Graph of most popular countries among blog viewers" class="gwt-Image" role="img" src="https://chart.googleapis.com/chart?chf=bg,s,EAF7FE&chs=320x160&cht=t&chco=F9FFED,E0FFD5,236A13&chld=AUCADEFIFRGBIENZSEUS&chd=s:HIYIOfMIS9&chtm=world" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 160px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 320px;" /></div>
<div class="PXLWASD-c-l" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div aria-label="Popular countries" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<table __gwtcellbasedwidgetimpldispatchingblur="true" __gwtcellbasedwidgetimpldispatchingfocus="true" cellspacing="0" class="PXLWASD-Sb-y" style="border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 32px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 347px;"><colgroup><col></col><col></col></colgroup><thead style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr __gwt_header_row="0" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><th __gwt_column="column-gwt-uid-588" __gwt_header="header-gwt-uid-589" class="PXLWASD-Sb-h PXLWASD-Sb-f" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(111, 114, 119); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; color: #4b4a4a; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px 15px; text-shadow: rgb(221, 221, 255) 1px 1px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Entry</th><th __gwt_column="column-gwt-uid-590" __gwt_header="header-gwt-uid-591" class="PXLWASD-Sb-h PXLWASD-Sb-p" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(111, 114, 119); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; color: #4b4a4a; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px 15px; text-shadow: rgb(221, 221, 255) 1px 1px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pageviews</th></tr>
</thead><tbody style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr __gwt_row="0" __gwt_subrow="0" class="PXLWASD-Sb-b" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-c PXLWASD-Sb-d" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-592" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="0">
<div class="PXLWASD-d-k" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
United States</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-c PXLWASD-Sb-n" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-593" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
15544</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="1" __gwt_subrow="0" class="PXLWASD-Sb-r" style="background: rgb(243, 247, 251); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-s PXLWASD-Sb-d" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-592" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="PXLWASD-d-k" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
United Kingdom</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-s PXLWASD-Sb-n" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-593" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
7962</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="2" __gwt_subrow="0" class="PXLWASD-Sb-b" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-c PXLWASD-Sb-d" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-592" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="PXLWASD-d-k" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Germany</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-c PXLWASD-Sb-n" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-593" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
5990</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="3" __gwt_subrow="0" class="PXLWASD-Sb-r" style="background: rgb(243, 247, 251); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-s PXLWASD-Sb-d" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-592" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="PXLWASD-d-k" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Sweden</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-s PXLWASD-Sb-n" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-593" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
4475</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="4" __gwt_subrow="0" class="PXLWASD-Sb-b" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-c PXLWASD-Sb-d" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-592" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="PXLWASD-d-k" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
France</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-c PXLWASD-Sb-n" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-593" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
3462</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="5" __gwt_subrow="0" class="PXLWASD-Sb-r" style="background: rgb(243, 247, 251); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-s PXLWASD-Sb-d" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-592" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="PXLWASD-d-k" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Ireland</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-s PXLWASD-Sb-n" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-593" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
3099</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="6" __gwt_subrow="0" class="PXLWASD-Sb-b" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-c PXLWASD-Sb-d" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-592" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="PXLWASD-d-k" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Canada</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-c PXLWASD-Sb-n" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-593" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
2054</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="7" __gwt_subrow="0" class="PXLWASD-Sb-r" style="background: rgb(243, 247, 251); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-s PXLWASD-Sb-d" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-592" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="PXLWASD-d-k" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Finland</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-s PXLWASD-Sb-n" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-593" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
2033</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="8" __gwt_subrow="0" class="PXLWASD-Sb-b" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-c PXLWASD-Sb-d" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-592" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="PXLWASD-d-k" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
New Zealand</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-c PXLWASD-Sb-n" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-593" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
1917</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="9" __gwt_subrow="0" class="PXLWASD-Sb-r" style="background: rgb(243, 247, 251); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-s PXLWASD-Sb-d" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-592" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="PXLWASD-d-k" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Australia</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="PXLWASD-Sb-a PXLWASD-Sb-s PXLWASD-Sb-n" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-593" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
1662</div>
<div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-593" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
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</div>
</div>
</div>
Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-82360160458097907072015-05-11T14:13:00.001+12:002015-06-01T13:59:18.272+12:00Analysis of the latest HWSD test results from VGL Davis<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
Veterinary Genetics Laboratory of UC Davis has forwarded the HWSD
test results covering 23 October 2014 to 4 March 2015.</div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Using the
raw data supplied by VGL the CPRG makes the following report.</div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Sadly the
momentum of the first 6 weeks of testing has not been maintained. In
the first flush of the test being available, 400 ponies were tested.
In the six months following, the number has dropped to 264 ponies
tested.</div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It is now
quite obvious and incontrovertible that the countries producing the
largest number of ponies are the poorest performers with regards to
HWSD testing of ponies.
</div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The fall
off in testing is demonstrated by the following chart:</div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jpqPXOq7fwM/VVAKy4q86YI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/BjHqMWL1gWY/s1600/VGL%2BMarch%2B2015%2Banalysis_html_m76d87a12.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jpqPXOq7fwM/VVAKy4q86YI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/BjHqMWL1gWY/s400/VGL%2BMarch%2B2015%2Banalysis_html_m76d87a12.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The two
comparative charts demonstrates the country variables.</div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Please
note that changes in scale occur relative to the data range in each
individual chart. </b></span>
</div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">This means that one cannot just
compare the 'visual pattern' between one chart and the next.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EyrEmb4BFXI/VU__SKL0beI/AAAAAAAAAwY/8iT5OacqLPs/s1600/VGL%2BMarch%2B2015%2Banalysis_html_md150c6a.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EyrEmb4BFXI/VU__SKL0beI/AAAAAAAAAwY/8iT5OacqLPs/s400/VGL%2BMarch%2B2015%2Banalysis_html_md150c6a.gif" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nqx3GKhHM20/VU__aHpN3NI/AAAAAAAAAww/ThfYSrtWmgM/s1600/VGL%2BMarch%2B2015%2Banalysis_html_m730e7fba.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nqx3GKhHM20/VU__aHpN3NI/AAAAAAAAAww/ThfYSrtWmgM/s400/VGL%2BMarch%2B2015%2Banalysis_html_m730e7fba.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A
secondary issue requiring clarification is the reporting rate of test
results. This varies from country to country</div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It is
quite obvious that there are more ponies being tested than for which
any information is being publicly listed by the owners. Of course
there is a fundamental right of privacy for pony owners.</div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Below is a
an overall view of reporting rates. The reporting rate is
established by comparing the number of ponies listed on the CPRG
tested ponies page, to the number of ponies tested
at VGL. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vJiR8CVvepE/VU__GH2CQgI/AAAAAAAAAwI/ZVf5pOqBQYQ/s1600/VGL%2BMarch%2B2015%2Banalysis_html_2e02a8d0.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vJiR8CVvepE/VU__GH2CQgI/AAAAAAAAAwI/ZVf5pOqBQYQ/s400/VGL%2BMarch%2B2015%2Banalysis_html_2e02a8d0.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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So the total number ponies tested is over six hundred. Across all the countries the reporting level is 53% of ponies tested with the median slightly higher.</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Each country is then charted and shows the testing statistics for the period September 2014 to 4 March 2015 as two separate cohorts.</span><span style="text-align: start;"> Status notification equates to reporting rates as previously explained.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_R9onACv7ZM/VU__CcRIMZI/AAAAAAAAAwA/NCfxkt5c1-k/s1600/VGL%2BMarch%2B2015%2Banalysis_html_2cd2599.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_R9onACv7ZM/VU__CcRIMZI/AAAAAAAAAwA/NCfxkt5c1-k/s400/VGL%2BMarch%2B2015%2Banalysis_html_2cd2599.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With only
three ponies tested in France it is very easy to get 100% reporting!!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qwi4XY4GAaU/VU__MF0-TbI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/Z-hh-Xx43-g/s1600/VGL%2BMarch%2B2015%2Banalysis_html_18f4e322.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qwi4XY4GAaU/VU__MF0-TbI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/Z-hh-Xx43-g/s400/VGL%2BMarch%2B2015%2Banalysis_html_18f4e322.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
One of the
issues facing all responsible breeders is the carrier rate <b>WITHIN</b>
discrete populations. As stated from the beginning of HWSD research, the carrier rate
is reflective of the original ponies imported into any
particular country and any subsequent importations.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-20hW2TEZ5ik/VU__fYn1EhI/AAAAAAAAAw4/9K5yMOJGYUI/s1600/VGL%2BMarch%2B2015%2Banalysis_html_m317b8eb5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-20hW2TEZ5ik/VU__fYn1EhI/AAAAAAAAAw4/9K5yMOJGYUI/s400/VGL%2BMarch%2B2015%2Banalysis_html_m317b8eb5.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Conclusion:</b></div>
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What this data illustrates is that the uptake of HWSD testing of breeding stock is far lower than what is required for the ongoing safety of the breed. Some countries have been much more proactive in testing for HWSD. These countries are also the ones which, on a numerical basis have to be considered to be 'minority' populations.</div>
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The 'big three', Ireland, France and the UK have really abysmal testing rates; both individual breeders and the breed societies in these countries, really need to have a good hard look at themselves and their motivations as to why they are not testing.</div>
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Until there is a larger population of ponies tested, the carrier population does remain 'biased'. However even with the limited information already available, between the two tested cohorts for which there is information, the drop in the carrier level is only minimal. </div>
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This is a concern.</div>
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The majority of the test results being reported are for N/N ponies. Only one country, New Zealand, has reported all of the tested carrier ponies. </div>
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It is very obvious that the reporting of carrier or affected status ponies is at a rate very much lower than the actual number being tested. </div>
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The raw data is as follows:</div>
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<td align="LEFT" height="20" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM" width="126"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">HWSD DNA Testing Statistics - 10/23/2014 - 03/04/2015</span></b></td>
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<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
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<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" height="20" sdnum="5129;5129;General" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="BOTTOM"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">By Country</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;5129;@" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="TOP"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">N/N</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;5129;@" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="TOP"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">N/HWSD</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;5129;@" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="TOP"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">HWSD/HWSD</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;5129;@" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="TOP"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Grand Total</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Australia</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="29" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">29</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="4" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">4</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="33" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">33</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Canada</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="7" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">7</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="2" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">2</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="9" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">9</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Germany</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="14" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">14</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="4" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">4</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="18" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">18</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Denmark</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="8" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">8</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="2" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">2</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="10" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">10</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Finland</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="12" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">12</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="7" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">7</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="19" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">19</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">France</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="1" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="1" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Great Britain</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="21" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">21</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="10" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">10</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="1" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="32" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">32</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Ireland</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="25" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">25</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="5" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">5</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="30" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">30</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">The Netherlands</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="15" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">15</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="5" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">5</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="1" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="21" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">21</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">New Zealand</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="2" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">2</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="2" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">2</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Sweden</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="25" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">25</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="14" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">14</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="1" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="40" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">40</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20" sdnum="5129;5129;General" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">United States</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="39" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">39</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="9" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">9</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="1" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="49" valign="BOTTOM"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">49</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" height="20" sdnum="5129;5129;General" style="border-top: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="BOTTOM"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Grand Total</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="198" style="border-top: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="BOTTOM"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">198</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="62" style="border-top: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="BOTTOM"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">62</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="4" style="border-top: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="BOTTOM"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">4</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;5129;General" sdval="264" style="border-top: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="BOTTOM"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">264</span></b></td>
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Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-33422271887587005272015-04-15T11:17:00.003+12:002015-04-15T11:19:25.865+12:00SERPINB11 Frameshift Variant Associated with Novel Hoof Specific Phenotype in Connemara Ponies<div style="text-align: justify;">
The peer reviewed research paper on HWSD has now been published.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1005122" target="_blank">SERPINB11 Frameshift Variant Associated with Novel Hoof Specific Phenotype in Connemara Ponies</a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is the peer review that the president of the ICCPS and the CPBS Council required before these august bodies would act in any positive manner with regards to the issue of HWSD.</div>
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The CPBS wanted proof that HWSD is in fact a real disease before they formulated a breeding plan.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now logic would dictate that any 'breeding plans' should have already been ready for discussion, immediately that the CPBS and ICCPS demands for peer review were fulfilled. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So, what IS the much vaunted 'breeding plan' for the future of the Connemara pony? Where can it be read? When is the discussion going to happen?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Discussion from all stakeholders is needed before any decisions are made about 'breeding plans' which have the potential to either reduce the carrier incidence of HWSD or alternatively contribute to the demise of the Connemara pony totally.</div>
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Sadly, history demonstrates that the latter is more likely to occur than the former. The over selection of specific bloodlines and the subsequent loss of genetic diversity, as the result of the inspection process, is a major contributor to the rising incidence of HWSD in the international Connemara pony genepool.</div>
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The continuation of such practices as selection through inspection, is only likely to increase the likelihood of other genetic diseases arising in the breed. If genetic diversity is not encouraged in the here and now, then the future for the breed is grim and increasingly at risk.</div>
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Exclusion of carrier ponies and affected females from the breeding herd will spell doomsday.</div>
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Had the CPBS and the ICCPS not had their collective heads deeply buried in the sand for the past five years, then they would have already had productive discussions with stakeholders and have also some kind of plan mapped out, if not ready to implement.</div>
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As robustly evidenced at the recent meeting at Clifden on the 28 March 2015 the 'powers that be' are still in denial mode.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
C'est la vie.</div>
Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-87009775437354536952015-03-10T11:07:00.001+13:002015-03-10T11:07:20.272+13:00HWSD Meeting, Station House Hotel Theatre, Clifden. 3pm 28 March 2015<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">HWSD Meeting, </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Station House Hotel Theatre, </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Clifden. </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">3pm 28 March 20</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>15</b></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
There have been multiple requests, via social media, for this meeting to be repeated at other venues in Ireland, however logistics and time constraints of the speakers makes this very difficult to arrange.</div>
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As a result the organiser is attempting to arrange for live streaming for this meeting. </div>
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Because of connectivity issues there will be only a limited number of link-ups available. </div>
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The present idea is that several 'meeting hubs' will be arranged in reasonably central locations in other parts of Ireland, where people can then gather to watch the meeting. It is also hoped that there will be facility for limited interaction to the meeting, via IM for, the people at the 'hubs'.</div>
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It is possible that people in countries other than Ireland could also be linked to the live stream using the same concept of a centralised venue.</div>
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Expressions of interest from countries other than Ireland should be made to the CPRG email account:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
connemara.pony.research.group(@)gmail.com. Remove ( ) before sending email.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
In addition to Kate Murray (MRCVS) speaking about the background and veterinary perspective of HWSD as previously advertised, Sheila Ramsay will also be speaking at the meeting and presenting the latest information on the pedigree research.</div>
Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-78762890445123473112015-02-25T13:24:00.001+13:002015-02-25T13:24:19.840+13:00Now we have the HWSD test this becomes very relevant. An edited version of an December 2011 post.<div style="text-align: justify;">
As people are getting their ponies tested for HWSD some of them are getting shocks at the results they are receiving. Feelings of devastation and guilt, that maybe they have innocently helped to spread the problem further through the population, are not uncommon.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
"Genetic Diseases in dogs and cats; What can we really do about them?" <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Robson, Mark. Vetscript, June 2009, page 6. <i>Wellington, New Zealand</i>)</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
What relevance does a paper on dogs and cats have to the issue of HWSD in ponies? </div>
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Whatever the species, the principles of breeding sound, disease free animals is the same. One of the comments Robson makes is that "one thing we have learned from dealing with breeders for many years is that logic does not often come into decision making".</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Robson believes breeders are driven by the three 'Es': ego, emotion and economics. He goes onto express the opinion that for many breeders, the prestige of winning will overcome any long-term concerns genetic problems may cause in their dog's health. Ego takes precedence over common sense. Strong words? Yes, but think about it.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
The thought that years of hard work and breeding has resulted in the appearance of a genetic defect is very difficult for anyone to accept. Denial is going to happen, it is a normal human response and is in fact the manner by which an individual's mental health is maintained until such time as they can cope appropriately with the challenge placed before them. Also consider the scenario where all the animals on a property are afflicted. The defect is seen as 'normal' for the people who deal with the animals on an everyday basis and they actually cannot see that there is a problem, until it is pointed out by an uninvolved third party.<br />
<br />
Years spent breeding a line of animals with a particular appearance (type) which then turns up with a genetic defect is emotionally painful as well as a blow to the ego. "Emotion may cloud a breeder's judgement and he or she may breed from favourites even when there is mounting evidence of ill-health in the line." (Robson).<br />
<br />
People who know that there is a problem within their breed (for example in specific dogs breeds such as British Bulldogs or HYPP positive horses) but who choose to continue to breed affected and afflicted animals are not 'in denial' from a mental health perspective. Choosing to continue to breed from these lines is considered to be more likely to be made on economic grounds. Robson then goes onto say "where large numbers of animals are bred, concerns about individual animals and any genetic defects are lost in the herd mentality where the dollars are the primary endpoint" and is referring in this case to 'puppy mills'. The equivalent to 'puppy mills' are found in horse breeding worldwide.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is not all doom and gloom though. Many horse and pony breeds do now have genetic screening tests available for known genetic problems. To reduce the incidence in the population they require the results to be recorded on registration papers. With some breeds and species a single copy of a mutated gene is considered to be an asset, but active doubling up of the gene is strenuously avoided (for example the double muscling gene in breeds of beef cattle and sheep). In most cases involving horses (as opposed to commercial food animals) the work to find out what these mutations actually are, has been both led and driven by the people most affected - the breeders who have had the misfortune to inadvertently breed affected ponies; this is certainly the case with the HWSD research.<br />
<br />
Some countries now consider that breeding animals with a known genetic defect to be an Animal Welfare Issue, dictating that to do so is an offence under that country's legislation. Now that the genetic link has been proven for HWSD, breeders within such jurisdictions will need to be assured of the HWSD status of any ponies which they may wish to sell or purchase in the future; to not do so could make them vulnerable to possible litigation.<br />
<br />
<b>A very important take home message is that any N/HWSD pony of breeding quality and selected HWSD/HWSD breeding quality ponies MUST NOT BE EXCLUDED FROM BREEDING. If these ponies are excluded from the breeding population some of the best performance lines will become endangered.</b></div>
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Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-23356529401359680732015-02-13T19:55:00.001+13:002015-02-23T18:32:09.921+13:00The Connemara Pony Breeders Society (CPBS) has taken a public stand at last!!<div class="post no-preview-image">
<h2 class="post-title" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">UPDATE TO POST BELOW:</span></h2>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">IMPORTANT PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!</span></b><br />
<b>16 February 2015 GMT</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> HWSD meeting: </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">CLIFDEN 3pm Saturday 28 March 2015</span></b></div>
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at the theatre in the Station House Hotel. </div>
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<br /></div>
Padraic Heanue has organised for veterinary surgeon Kate Murray (MRCVS, VIB) to give her talk on HWSD, that she presented at the last CPBS council meeting.<br />
This is the week-end of the spring festival, so the opportunity is now available to Irish breeders, international visitors/breeders and council members
to attend and learn about clinical the signs of HWSD, the implications for
the breed and how to get ponies gene tested.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<h2 class="post-title">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">"Hoof Wall Separation Disease</span></h2>
<div class="post-meta">
<span class="author">Posted by CPBS</span> in <span class="categories"><a href="http://www.cpbs.ie/category/latest-news/" rel="tag">Latest News</a></span> on <span class="date"><a href="http://www.cpbs.ie/2015/02/11/">February 11, 2015</a></span> with <span class="comment-count"><a href="http://www.cpbs.ie/hoof-wall-separation-disease/#comments">no comments</a></span>
</div>
<div class="post-content">
Hoof Wall Separation Disease was discussed at length at
the CPBS Council meeting on Monday 9th of February. Veterinarian Kate
Murray outlined the symptoms and implications of the disease and
explained how it is genetically inherited. Connemara pony breeders are
well placed to manage the disease as its management is exactly the same
as that of the Blue Eyed Cream gene. Breeders are encouraged to test all
breeding stock before the breeding season commences. The test is
currently available from UC Davis at a cost of €35 approx and results
are back within six working days. A thorough education programme for all
breeders is being embarked upon by the Council through it’s website,
newsletters and breeders meetings. While encouraging breeders to be
proactive the Council feels that it is not yet in a position to compel
people to test their ponies until the study is published and peer
reviewed. The CPBS is in contact with Weatherbys, who hope to have the
test available before the end of the year. The ideal situation would be
that one blood test would be carried out on all foals for Parentage
testing, BEC testing and HWSD testing. More information is available
here <a href="http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/bannasch/HoofWallSeparation.php">http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/bannasch/HoofWallSeparation.php</a> .<b><span style="font-size: large;">"</span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While the Connemara Pony Research Group has from the outset, attempted (and for the most part achieved) to remain outside the personal manouverings associated with breed society politics, it does appear that this recent decision on HWSD, by the CPBS is in direct response to vibrant conversations on a facebook page run by a dissatisfied CPBS council member rather than as the result of universal support by council members. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
The CPRG supports freedom of expression.<br />
<br />
<b><u>All power to the People!</u></b><br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Research Update:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>We have the test, (YEAH!) but Dr Finno wants to find out more about how the HWSD mutation actually causes the damaged hoof phenotype. She needs help to achieve this aim.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
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The practicalities of this research request are, in reality is probably restricted to breeders and owners in Canada and the USA, although people in the rest of the world may be able to help; it will just be more difficult to achieve.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The request is for anyone 'out there' who has a HWSD pony which they are going have to euthanase, for any reason, to please contact the CPRG. Dr Finno would like to have at least one, if not all four legs please (from the fetlock down). Dr Finno has requested that initially any enquiries with regards to donating legs, be dealt with by the CPRG. (email: connemara.pony.research.group(@)gmail.com (remove ( ) from the address if emailing)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The research will be looking at the expression of mRNA in the coronary band.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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Dr Finno has also notified the CPRG, and given permission for this information to made public on this blog, that she is now performing all of the genetic research for the melanoma study on Connemara ponies headed by Dr Alain Theon. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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Dr Theon requested that Dr Finno join his team, such is her professional standing.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<b>Other stuff:</b><br />
<br />
This blog has now passed <b>50,000</b> hits since it began in November 2011.<br />
The all time hit statistics are listed below. <br />
The all-time highest number of single page hits is the tested ponies page at 3,095<br />
<br />
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<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td align="left" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;" width="320px"><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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Pageviews by Countries</h3>
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<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="Graph of most popular countries among blog viewers" class="gwt-Image" role="img" src="https://chart.googleapis.com/chart?chf=bg,s,EAF7FE&chs=320x160&cht=t&chco=F9FFED,E0FFD5,236A13&chld=AUCADEFIFRGBIENZSEUS&chd=s:HKXHKcJJS9&chtm=world" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 160px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 320px;" /></div>
<div class="GCUXF0KCIN" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div aria-label="Popular countries" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<table __gwtcellbasedwidgetimpldispatchingblur="true" __gwtcellbasedwidgetimpldispatchingfocus="true" cellspacing="0" class="GCUXF0KCP0" style="border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 32px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 347px;"><colgroup><col></col><col></col></colgroup><thead style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr __gwt_header_row="0" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><th __gwt_column="column-gwt-uid-412" __gwt_header="header-gwt-uid-413" class="GCUXF0KCO- GCUXF0KCM-" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(111, 114, 119); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; color: #4b4a4a; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px 15px; text-shadow: rgb(221, 221, 255) 1px 1px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Entry</th><th __gwt_column="column-gwt-uid-414" __gwt_header="header-gwt-uid-415" class="GCUXF0KCO- GCUXF0KCG0" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(111, 114, 119); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; color: #4b4a4a; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px 15px; text-shadow: rgb(221, 221, 255) 1px 1px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pageviews</th></tr>
</thead><tbody style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr __gwt_row="0" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI-" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCK-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-416" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="0">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
United States</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCE0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-417" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
13452</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="1" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI0" style="background: rgb(243, 247, 251); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCK-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-416" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
United Kingdom</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCE0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-417" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
6257</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="2" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI- GCUXF0KCP-" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCK- GCUXF0KCA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-416" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Germany</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCE0 GCUXF0KCA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-417" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
5129</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="3" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI0" style="background: rgb(243, 247, 251); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCK-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-416" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Sweden</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCE0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-417" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
3929</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="4" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI-" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCK-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-416" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
France</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCE0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-417" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
2273</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="5" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI0" style="background: rgb(243, 247, 251); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCK-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-416" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Canada</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCE0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-417" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
2099</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="6" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI-" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCK-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-416" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Ireland</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCE0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-417" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
1913</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="7" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI0" style="background: rgb(243, 247, 251); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCK-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-416" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
New Zealand</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCE0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-417" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
1894</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="8" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI-" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCK-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-416" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Australia</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCE0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-417" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
1623</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="9" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI0" style="background: rgb(243, 247, 251); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCK-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-416" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Finland</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCE0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-417" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
1461</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
</div>
Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-40936993009659541572014-10-26T13:30:00.000+13:002014-10-30T12:29:22.242+13:00HWSD testing Statistics<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) from UC Davis which is conducting all of the HWSD testing worldwide, has provided the Connemara Pony Research Group with a report on the numbers of ponies that have been tested for the HWSD mutation to date.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The reason for doing this is to help the CPRG to continue to help educate and disseminate up-to-date information to breeders.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The information from VGL is raw data only. As with any statistics it is the analysis performed on the numbers which begins to paint the bigger picture.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The first message to understand is how the numbers are initially collected and how the table is constructed. Also it must be noted that the ponies being sampled and tested are not 'random' samples which skews the results.</div>
VGL states the following:<br />
<i>"</i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i>Attached
are the summary stats by country of HWSD tests since we started
offering the test at the end of August 2014. Percentage of carriers and
affected were calculated only if more than 10 horses were tested per
country. The carrier frequency in the VGL’s data is coming out higher
than the value found in Dr. Bannasch’s research. However, keep in mind
that we are using raw data from testing, which includes related
individuals. Our estimates are not based on a random sample of unrelated
horses and obviously overestimate the frequency of carriers and
affected. With time, you’ll notice that the values will settle around
the actual frequencies.</i>"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The full table from VGL is listed at the end of this page. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This raw data has to be adjusted and analysed in order to gain a truer picture of the situation in each country. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">VGL does not have any background information on the make up of individual populations of ponies in various parts of the world. Country of residence does not always equate to country of origin. Using a combination of information of country of origin combined with country of residence a different picture emerges<span style="color: #002060;">.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For example:</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
New Zealand is listed as having tested 21 ponies with 16 N/N and 5 N/HWSD. However what is not obvious from the table below is that <b>all five</b> of the N/HWSD ponies are ponies imported from Australia. However another seven N/N ponies listed under NZ are also recent Australia imports. Another mare was imported to NZ from the UK; bred in Ireland by a French stallion, her imported in-utero colt is also in the NZ tested list.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Thus if the numbers are adjusted to acknowledge this, then the Australian/New Zealand figures will look like this:</div>
<br />
<b>N/N N/HWSD HWSD/HWSD Grand total %age Carriers</b><br />
Australia<span style="color: #002060; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span>69 14 1 84 17.9%<br />
New Zealand 4 0 0 4 0%<br />
<br />
Similarly Australia has an N/N colt and an N/N filly listed which are both bred in Germany (these have been extracted from the numbers in the table above).<br />
<br />
Canada lists four non Canadian bred stallions: one N/N from Germany, one N/N from USA, one N/N from Ireland and one N/HWSD from Ireland.<br />
<br />
France has one N/N stallion from Great Britain.<br />
<br />
Germany has one N/N stallion from Sweden, one N/N stallion from Ireland.<br />
<br />
Six stallions bred and resident in Northern Ireland are listed under Great Britain.<br />
<br />
New Zealand has listed one N/N colt of German, Irish and French breeding but bred by a UK breeder.<br />
<br />
USA has three Irish imports listed. <br />
<br />
This breakdown is to demonstrate just how closely interlinked individual populations of Connemara ponies are, across the world. This becomes even more apparent when considering mares and fillies.<br />
<br />
Looking purely at the country statistics from what is known from the results sent to CPRG for positing on the <a href="http://connemara-pony.blogspot.co.nz/p/hwsd-tested-ponies.html" target="_blank">HWSD tested ponies results page</a> distribution of ponies outside their listed country:<br />
<br />
Australia and New Zealand tabled above.<br />
<br />
Canada - stallions 3 imports as mentioned above. Mares 4/11 imported: 3 Great Britain, 1 Ireland<br />
<br />
Switzerland - no notifications made to CPRG<br />
<br />
Germany - 2/12 stallions as above; mares 0/11 imported<br />
<br />
Denmark - stallions 0/6; mares 0/15 imported<br />
<br />
France - both ponies are British bred, French residents.<br />
<br />
Great Britain - one N/HWSD stallion from Ireland and one N/N bred in GB + the six stallions from Northern Ireland plus three mares also. <br />
Thus GB when adjusted ONLY for the Northern Ireland situation, would look like: 53 - 9 from Northern Ireland + 2 from France = 46<br />
<br />
<b> N/N N/HWSD N/HWSD Total %age Carrier</b><br />
GB 40 5 1 46 13.0%<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ireland: 8/10 of the ponies on the VGL table come from two owner/breeders. These are on the CPRG page. 3/8 recorded are mares. 1/3 mares is N/HWSD; 1/5 stallions is N/HWSD.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sweden: 25 ponies are on the blog list of which five are N/HWSD or HWSD/HWSD. Even with the restricted numbers of notifications made to CPRG the %age carrier rate is still 20%. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
USA has the highest number of tested ponies to date. Of those listed on the CPRG list, 19 are mares, 7 of which are direct imports (4 ex Ireland) or born to imported ponies in the USA (3). 3/19 mares are N/HWSD and 0/19 HWSD/HWSD. Stallions 3/11 are imported. 1/11 is N/HWSD</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Conclusion:</b> The uptake of the HWSD test by Irish owners and breeders based purely on population levels of the Connemara pony in each country, is very worrying. The assumption is that this poor response is due to a very low awareness of the HWSD issue among the wider population. The same situation is assumed for France and Great Britain.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
France, which is the second largest producer of Connemara ponies in the world demonstrates an even lower uptake than Ireland - as the two ponies tested and listed are of British breeding.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Great Britain is the third largest producer of Connemara ponies in the world; it too has significantly low uptake of the HWSD test.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Indeed Australia and the USA each have both tested more ponies than Ireland, France and Great Britain <b>COMBINED!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For the most part the people who read this blog are already the more educated about HWSD among the breeders of Connemara ponies worldwide. What each and everyone of you should consider doing, is to spread the message to those less well aware of the HWSD problem - and the solution afforded to breeders - by the availability of the VGL test.</div>
<br />
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cols="7" frame="VOID" rules="NONE">
<colgroup><col width="126"></col><col width="106"></col><col width="93"></col><col width="115"></col><col width="94"></col><col width="118"></col><col width="111"></col></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20" width="126"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">HWSD DNA Testing Statistics -September/October 2014</span></b></td>
<td align="LEFT" width="106"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT" width="93"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT" width="115"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT" width="94"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT" width="118"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT" width="111"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="19"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></b></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" height="39" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="TOP"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Country</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;0;@" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="TOP"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">N/N</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;0;@" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="TOP"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">N/HWSD</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;0;@" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="TOP"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">HWSD/HWSD</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;0;@" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="TOP"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Grand Total</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;0;@" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="TOP"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">% of Carriers</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;0;@" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="TOP"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">% of Affected</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Australia</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="64"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">64</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="9"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">9</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="1"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="74"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">74</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="12.1621621621622"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">12.2</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="1.35135135135135"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">1.4</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Canada</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="15"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">15</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="6"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">6</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="1"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="22"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">22</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="27.2727272727273"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">27.3</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="4.54545454545455"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">4.5</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Switzerland</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="3"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">3</span></td>
<td align="CENTER"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="3"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">3</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Germany</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="25"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">25</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="7"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">7</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="0"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">0</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="32"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">32</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="21.875"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">21.9</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="0"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">0.0</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Denmark</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="25"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">25</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="18"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">18</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="0"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">0</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="43"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">43</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="41.8604651162791"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">41.9</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="0"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">0.0</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">France</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="2"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">2</span></td>
<td align="CENTER"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="2"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">2</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Great Britain</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="45"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">45</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="7"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">7</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="1"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="53"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">53</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="13.2075471698113"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">13.2</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="1.88679245283019"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">1.9</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Ireland</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="10"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">10</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="2"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">2</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="1"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="13"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">13</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="15.3846153846154"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">15.4</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="7.69230769230769"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">7.7</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">The Netherlands</span></td>
<td align="CENTER"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="1"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1</span></td>
<td align="CENTER"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="1"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">New Zealand</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="16"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">16</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="5"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">5</span></td>
<td align="CENTER"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="21"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">21</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="23.8095238095238"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">23.8</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="0"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">0.0</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Sweden</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="27"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">27</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="9"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">9</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="2"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">2</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="38"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">38</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="23.6842105263158"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">23.7</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="5.26315789473684"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">5.3</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="20"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">United States</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="77"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">77</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="18"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">18</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="3"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">3</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;" sdval="98"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">98</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="18.3673469387755"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">18.4</span></td>
<td align="CENTER" sdnum="5129;0;0.0" sdval="3.06122448979592"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">3.1</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" height="20" style="border-top: 1px solid #95b3d7;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Grand Total</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;" sdval="309" style="border-top: 1px solid #95b3d7;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">309</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;" sdval="82" style="border-top: 1px solid #95b3d7;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">82</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;" sdval="9" style="border-top: 1px solid #95b3d7;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">9</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;" sdval="400" style="border-top: 1px solid #95b3d7;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">400</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;" sdval="20.5" style="border-top: 1px solid #95b3d7;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">20.5</span></b></td>
<td align="CENTER" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" sdnum="5129;" sdval="2.25" style="border-top: 1px solid #95b3d7;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">2.25</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="19"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="19"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" height="19" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Test Result</span></b></td>
<td align="LEFT" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Disease Status</span></b></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" height="26" sdnum="5129;0;@" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="MIDDLE"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">N/N</span></b></td>
<td align="LEFT" valign="MIDDLE"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Normal</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" height="26" sdnum="5129;0;@" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="MIDDLE"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">N/HWSD</span></b></td>
<td align="LEFT" valign="MIDDLE"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Carrier</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="LEFT" bgcolor="#DCE6F2" height="26" sdnum="5129;0;@" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #95b3d7;" valign="MIDDLE"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">HWSD/HWSD</span></b></td>
<td align="LEFT" valign="MIDDLE"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Affected</span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="LEFT"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-84526736368493306652014-10-24T10:37:00.000+13:002014-10-24T10:41:54.606+13:00Rosewood Witchcraft receives posthumous award from the American Connemara Pony Society <div style="text-align: justify;">
At the recent Annual General Meeting of the American Connemara Pony Society Rosewood Witchcraft was awarded the "The purebred Connemara of the Year Award".</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The citation reads as follows:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"The purebred Connemara of the Year Award went to Rosewood Witchcraft
(ArdCeltic Art X Balmullo’s Rhiannon) for her contributions to solving
the puzzle of HWSD, a genetic hoof wall disease. “Crafty” was the
poster child of HWSD and was, additionally, the first case of HWSD seen
by the geneticists at UCDavis, the institution that eventually solved
the puzzle and now provides a test for carriers of the disease. Crafty
contributed to not only the science, but also to the publicity and the
fundraising. Sadly, though, because of the disease, she had to be put
down before her third birthday. " <a href="http://www.acps.org/#!ACPS-Annual-Meeting/c13n1/3EA9C9CA-1327-4D23-9DA6-97CBDB5C102A" target="_blank">Link to American Connemara Pony Society website</a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On the HWSS Facebook page, Crafty's owner and breeder Darian Hall, wrote the following:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>"At
this years annual ACPS Awards Banquet Rosewood Witchcraft (Crafty) was
named ACPS Pony of the Year. It was bitter sweet as Crafty did not
survive the condition. She became a poster child only because we went so
public with her. However there were so many of you who put your effort,
your time and money into this and so many of you who suffered to watch
your ponies fall apart without the answer and you tried as hard as I did
to find the answer. AND WE DID.</i></div>
<div class="_5pbx userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i> So Crafty's award belongs to
all of you for your effort and dedication that has brought us this
wonderful test. Crafty was born at the right time, in the right place
and to someone who was not going to shut-up (me). But without all of you
I would still be fishing in the dark.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i> Thank you so much CPRG."</i></div>
<br />
On Sunday 29 September 2013, this blog paid tribute to Crafty on a page titled <a href="http://connemara-pony.blogspot.co.nz/2013_09_01_archive.html" target="_blank">Vale for Crafty</a><br />
<br />
The poster which Darian wrote for the Clifden meeting <a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/238067585/Poster-Two-Crafty" target="_blank">about Crafty can be seen here</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By honouring Crafty in this way the ACPS once again demonstrates the pro-active stance which the Society adopted very early on in the research process. It is not widely known that the ACPS early in the fundraising process made a substantive monetary donation towards funding the research at UC Davis.</div>
<br />
In response to requests, a French translation is now available for both formats of the information pamphlet.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/244159192/MALADIE-DE-LA-SEPARATION-DE-LA-PAROI-DU-SABOT-A4-portrait-format" target="_blank">MALADIE-DE-LA-SEPARATION-DE-LA-PAROI-DU-SABOT-A4-portrait-format</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/244160139/MALADIE-DE-LA-SEPARATION-DE-LA-PAROI-DU-SABOT-HOOF-WALL-SEPARATION-DISEASE-HWSD-Information-pamphlet-3-fold" target="_blank">MALADIE-DE-LA-SEPARATION-DE-LA-PAROI-DU-SABOT-HOOF-WALL-SEPARATION-DISEASE-HWSD-Information-pamphlet-3-fold</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Listed again are the links for the pamphlets:<br />
<a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/242351280/HWSD-Information-Pamphlet-3-fold-brochure-version" target="_blank">Information-Pamphlet-3-fold-brochure-version</a><br />
<a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/242351195/Information-pamphlet-on-Hoof-Wall-Separation-Disease-Portrait-page-format" target="_blank">Information-pamphlet-on-Hoof-Wall-Separation-Disease-Portrait-page-format</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://connemara-pony.blogspot.com/p/hwsd-tested-ponies.html" target="_blank">HWSD Test Results page</a><br />
<br /></div>
Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-18291374072259196872014-10-09T15:26:00.000+13:002014-10-11T09:14:11.386+13:00Blog hits reach 40,000 and other really important things.Hits on the blog have now passed 40,000.<br />
<br />
Below is the all time hits tally from the countries which made the Top Ten:<br />
<br />
<table __gwtcellbasedwidgetimpldispatchingblur="true" __gwtcellbasedwidgetimpldispatchingfocus="true" cellspacing="0" class="GCUXF0KCP0" style="border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; height: 32px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 347px;"><tbody style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr __gwt_row="0" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI-" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCK-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-266" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="0">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
United States</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCE0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-267" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
11296</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="1" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI0" style="background: rgb(243, 247, 251); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCK-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-266" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
United Kingdom</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCE0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-267" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
5032</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="2" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI-" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCK-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-266" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Germany</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCE0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-267" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
4136</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="3" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI0" style="background: rgb(243, 247, 251); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCK-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-266" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Sweden</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCE0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-267" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
3386</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="4" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI- GCUXF0KCP-" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCK- GCUXF0KCA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-266" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Canada</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCE0 GCUXF0KCA0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-267" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
1861</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="5" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI0" style="background: rgb(243, 247, 251); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCK-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-266" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
New Zealand</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCE0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-267" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
1650</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="6" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI-" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCK-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-266" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Australia</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCE0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-267" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
1415</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="7" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI0" style="background: rgb(243, 247, 251); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCK-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-266" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Ireland</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCE0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-267" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
1354</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="8" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI-" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCK-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-266" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
France</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ- GCUXF0KCE0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-267" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
1125</div>
</td></tr>
<tr __gwt_row="9" __gwt_subrow="0" class="GCUXF0KCI0" style="background: rgb(243, 247, 251); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCK-" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-266" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="GCUXF0KCDO" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 220px;">
Finland</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="GCUXF0KCH- GCUXF0KCJ0 GCUXF0KCE0" style="border: 2px solid rgb(243, 247, 251); font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div __gwt_cell="cell-gwt-uid-267" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
838</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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There is no facility on the blog site to retrieve all of the figures from all of the countries from where the traffic has originated, which is a pity. From looking at the monthly totals the majority of the hits from Ireland and the UK have been over the past three months.</div>
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The CPRG has put together an updated version of the pamphlet which was written to be handed out at the Clifden meeting. The links to the pamphlet are listed below. You can download and print out the pamphlet yourself or pass the links and/or the download onto other people to share on any relevant websites. </div>
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There are two formats containing the same information:</div>
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<br /></div>
The <a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/242351280/HWSD-Information-Pamphlet-3-fold-brochure-version">HWSD-Information-Pamphlet-3-fold-brochure-version</a> is designed so that when printed back to back it is a brochure which folds into 3 panels.<br />
<br />
The <a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/242351195/Information-pamphlet-on-Hoof-Wall-Separation-Disease-Portrait-page-format">Information-pamphlet-on-Hoof-Wall-Separation-Disease-Portrait-page-format</a> prints onto A4 as a straight two page document.Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-49124616653531255812014-09-14T15:01:00.002+12:002014-09-14T15:02:41.324+12:00HWSD Test Results are coming thick and fast.<div style="text-align: justify;">
VGL have shown that at present they have a very quick turn around for the HWSD genetic test. As more people send in samples for testing it is likely that one can expect a longer turn around time.</div>
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A number of owners and breeders have been posting the results of their pony's tests on the HWSS Facebook page.</div>
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Not all of the people who read this blog are members of the facebook page so will be missing out on this important information.</div>
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The CPRG has made the move to give owners a place to list their HWSD results <a href="http://connemara-pony.blogspot.co.nz/p/hwsd-tested-ponies.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> until such time that the breed societies make this facility available to their members.</div>
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For those of you who are not already on the Facebook HWSD page you can find it <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/HWSD.Hoof.Wall.Separation.Disease/674212886009130/?notif_t=group_comment" target="_blank">Facebook page HERE</a></div>
Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-83869598980270482532014-08-30T10:36:00.003+12:002014-08-31T10:32:20.491+12:00Clifden Meeting Report and other matters<div style="text-align: justify;">
The meeting to present the results of the research into Hoof Wall Separation Disease was held in Clifden on 19 August 2014 at the Alcock and Brown Hotel Function Centre.</div>
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The meeting was well attended by breeders from around the world as well as some of the ICCPS delegates. As a direct result of this meeting significant 'movers and shakers' from the Connemara Pony breeding world now positively accept that HWSD does exist and that it is an <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> unique, verifiable and testable disease. The number of breeders present was outweighed by farriers, which in some ways is a good thing. Farriers have to deal with HWSD on a more regular basis and will likely have seen more cases during their work than what most breeders will have seen. Hopefully the farriers will be helped in their future work by the talk from Ray Knightley. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Also in attendance was Dr Alan Fahey, an animal geneticist from UC Dublin who is presently conducting research into the problem of in-breeding inertia in the Connemara Pony. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Sadly though although there were breeders present from all corners of the Connemara breeding world, there were few breeders from Ireland present at this meeting. This is an omission which could lead to the detriment of the Irish produced ponies in the future. Even more disappointing was the absence of ICCPS society delegates from the largest Conenmara pony producing countries. Here was the chance to return to their countries with first hand and the most up to date information possible, yet this opportunity, for the most part was ignored.</span></div>
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This lack of delegates was a disappointing development as attendees at the ICCPS Technical meeting, held that morning, were told by the CPBS veterinarian and other officials, that it was important for people present at the ICCPS meeting to attend the HWSD meeting later that day, notwithstanding there was a clash in event timing. It is sure that the ICCPS delegates who did make the effort to attend were greatly rewarded in that they now have the most up to date information to relay to their society memberships.</div>
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One does have to wonder about the priorities of delegates who chose to NOT attend a meeting which presented material of the greatest significance to the ongoing healthy future of the Connemara Pony breed. How can these people be true representatives of their society membership when socialising is considered to be of greater importance than education? That is for each individual member from each individual Connemara breed society to question and then act appropriately when electing their governing bodies in the future.</div>
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To the meeting itself. Dr Finno explained just how the research was undertaken; the sheer size of the gigabytes of data which had to be analysed is beyond comprehension! Dr Finno showed slides demonstrating the how big the difference is and where the mutation lies on the genome between normal and affected HWSD ponies. Words are a poor substitute for visual explanations!!! That HWSD is a genetic disease is categorically proven beyond all doubt yet, <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> as one person was heard to say, "n</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">eedless to say there was the usual lone voice in absolute denial".</span> </div>
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Ray Knightley, the farrier, was the second speaker. Ray talked the meeting through a variety of treatments options which he had tried on HWSD affected ponies. He listed the advantages and disadvantages of each option illustrated by a power point show with 'before and after' images of the feet of affected ponies with which he has worked.</div>
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After a short break for afternoon tea, the meeting concluded with a presentation by Sheila Ramsay on the statistical implications of the potential HWSD carrier population within the breed. Many people at the meeting left at afternoon tea because of prior commitments and so missed this important information.</div>
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<b>HOWEVER</b> <b>THE MAJOR TAKE HOME</b> <b>MESSAGE</b> from this meeting, is that unlike with Chicken Licken, the sky is not falling!!!</div>
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<b>CARRIER PONIES MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE GENE POOL</b>. If the ponies are of breeding quality they have to be kept within the breeding programme. Knee jerk reactions of culling animals because of carrier status is both stupid and counterproductive to the breed.</div>
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It is <b>NOT</b> a personal reflection upon breeders if they find out that their pony/ies are HWSD carriers.</div>
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HWSD testing is happening now! Results are already being made public. Educated buyers are going to want to know the HWSD status of potential breeding stock before they decide to purchase.</div>
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<b>Other Matters:</b></div>
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On display at the meeting were a series of posters telling the stories of HWSD affected ponies. These posters were written by the owners (and in some cases the breeder/owner) of the ponies; the Connemara Pony Research Group has exerted no control over the material presented. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The posters can be <a href="http://connemara-pony.blogspot.co.nz/p/posters-from-clifden-meeting-owners-of.html" target="_blank">viewed here.</a></div>
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Also on display (and for sale) were the hoof sections from a HWSD affected foal, which were made by Dr Christoph von Horst.</div>
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It is intended to publish a DVD of the complete meeting in the future. Until this DVD is available, people will be reliant upon first hand reports from meeting attendees.</div>
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Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-5409770294580825892014-08-14T21:00:00.000+12:002014-08-30T10:47:03.390+12:00UC Davis has gone public with the HWSD Test!!!<div class="section_title">
You can get more information by attending the meeting at Alcock and Brown Hotel, Clifden, 19 August 2014</div>
<div class="section_title">
<br /></div>
<div class="section_title">
Introduction</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Researchers in the Bannasch Laboratory have identified the
genetic basis of Connemara Pony Hoof Wall Disease. Hoof Wall Disease
(HWD) is characterized by a hoof wall that easily breaks and cracks,
and a normal appearing coronary band. The breaks and cracks begin to
occur in young ponies. In severe cases the pony bears weight entirely
on the sole of the foot which can lead to severe lameness. HWD is
inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. This means that carriers are
completely normal and only animals with two copies of the mutation
will show clinical signs of the disease. HWD appears to occur only in
the Connemara pony and the carrier frequency has been estimated to be
about 14.8%. A DNA test for this specific mutation can determine if
ponies are normal or if they carry one or two copies of the mutation.
Ponies that carry two copies of the mutation are highly likely to be
affected with the disease. Some cases are milder while others are more
severe. We have identified at least one case where the pony does not
appear to have clinical signs associated with having two copies of the
mutation. This indicates that the mutation is not fully penetrant;
however it has very high penetrance of 96.8%. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The VGL offers a DNA test for HWD to assist owners and
breeders in identifying affected and carrier ponies. The test uses DNA
collected from mane hair thus avoiding invasive blood collection.
Breeders can use results from the test as a tool for selection of
mating pairs to avoid producing affected foals.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/horse.php"><strong>PRICE LIST</strong></a></div>
<span class="section_title2"></span><br />
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<span class="section_title2">Allow 2-6 business days for results.</span></div>
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</span>
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Results reported as:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>N/N</strong>:
No copies of HWD mutation; animal is normal </div>
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<strong>N/HWD</strong>:
1 copy of HWD mutation; animal is normal but is a carrier</div>
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<strong>HWD/HWD</strong>:
2 copies of HWD mutation; animal is affected</div>
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Ponies that have only one mutant copy of HWD (N/HWD) are normal but they are carriers of the disease. UC Davis<a href="http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/HoofWallDisease.php" target="_blank">UC Davis VGL website</a> website</div>
Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209649897225703422.post-74544839762682180342014-08-13T05:47:00.000+12:002014-08-13T05:47:01.335+12:00One Week to Go!It is one week from today that the HWSD meeting with Dr Carrie Finno and Ray Knightley is being held.<br />
<br />
Alcock and Brown Hotel, Clifden. 19th August 2014 at 1.30pm.<br />
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Dr Finno and Ray Knightley have only been able to attend this important event because of the generosity of many people who donated to the travel fund. The Connemara Pony Research group wishes to thank these people from the depths of our hearts. Donations are still being accepted.<br />
<br />
In fact the rapid progress which has been made in HWSD research that has led to this meeting is also the result of 'crowd source funding' by people with the future of the Connemara pony at heart.<br />
<br />
We have 16 Anatomical Plastination Specimens from <a href="http://www.plastinate.com/index_e.htm" target="_blank">Dr Christoph von Horst</a>. These hoof specimens are from a lovely foal from Denmark which, due to the HWSD, was not able to survive. We have to thank his owner for preserving his hoofs and making them available for the plastination process. <br />
These sections will be available for purchase at the meeting on the 19th August at <span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".7o.$mid=11407586845209=25f14efc2dcd967bf27.2:0.0.0.0.0">75 € each.</span><br /><span class="text_exposed_show">These are the only Plastinations of HWSD affected hooves available world wide and we hope they
will be a rare thing of the past. Very suitable for teaching purposes or anatomical museums.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">If you wish to purchase a section (or two) please <a href="mailto:connemara.pony.research.group@gmail.com" target="_blank">email</a> with your order. If sections are to be picked up at the Clifden meeting there will be no shipping charges. Any other orders will occur shipping costs.</span><br />
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<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="320" src="https://scontent-a-cdg.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t1.0-9/10478940_10153056667893219_1882644937204713651_n.jpg" style="height: 605px; width: 454px;" width="240" /><br />
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<img alt="" class="spotlight hidden_elem" src="https://scontent-a-cdg.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t1.0-9/q72/s480x480/10471378_10153056667783219_5463417858807076910_n.jpg" /><br />
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Two of the Plastinations.<br />
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A stud tour to visit the Cloonisle Stud outside of Galway City has been scheduled for a time which coincides with the HWSD meeting.<br />
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Visitors to Clifden will have to make the decision for themselves as to which event is of more importance for them.<br />
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<br />Connemara Pony Research Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070596578830368909noreply@blogger.com