The health of riding horses is important to every breeder. The International Association of Future Horse Breeding (IAFH) is dedicated to this cause. Its focus also includes hereditary diseases such as PSSM2. The IAFH carries out fundamental scientific research that leads to breeding measures designed to safeguard the health of horses in the future.

With the availability of sophisticated molecular genetic laboratory analysis, the possibilities for assessing the genetic predisposition of individual horses are growing. This applies to all traits whose expression is influenced by genetic factors – regardless of whether they follow simple or complex patterns of inheritance and whether they relate to performance, appearance or health. Specifically for the monitoring of hereditary diseases, this means an expansion of tests that enable genetic or genomic screening, thereby representing a significant improvement.

At the turn of the year, a groundbreaking step was taken in this direction: the switch in routine pedigree verification to a technology based on genetic markers (known as single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs for short), which are distributed across the horse’s entire genome. This lays the foundation for addressing scientific questions and conducting in-depth studies. The IAFH’s close contacts and proven collaboration with partners from the scientific and commercial sectors ensure that it makes full use of the opportunities available and thus fully fulfils its responsibilities towards its members.

This includes thorough analysis based on carefully planned, long-term in-depth studies, which are essential particularly in the case of hereditary diseases that manifest late in life and are complex in nature, such as PSSM 2 (Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy Type 2). And it is precisely this complex of hereditary muscle disorders that is already a focus of breeding efforts: In collaboration with the holder of the European patent for the PSSM2 test panel, Generatio GmbH – Centre for Animal Genetics, the IAFH is addressing the pressing issues that need to be clarified in order to underpin and specifically support breeding decisions. Thanks to the strong partnership between the IAFH shareholders – the riding horse breeders’ associations of Oldenburg, Westphalia, Trakehner, Holstein and Oldenburg show jumpers, as well as the VIT data centre, breeders are well equipped to ensure they have access to reliable information in the future. The Hanoverian Association is also involved in the project described.