Genetics and Aging in Minis

[RockRiverTiff]

I know they've been making a lot of advancements in veterinary science when it comes to our understanding of minis, but do we really have any solid statistics on age? I see a lot of people posting that 30-40 is the expected lifespan, but I've never really seen the figures to back this up. I also wonder if genetics affect life expectancy in minis the same way they do in people?

While I'm genuinely interested in these topics, I have personal reasons for asking the last question. I've got a farm full of senior minis, and while they've all been here the majority of their lives and received the same level of care I've noticed that some just don't age as well as others. The majority of our old guys so far have lived into their mid-20's and passed unexpectedly in their sleep (unexpectedly because they were all healthy).

But I have one mare that has been struggling virtually all her life. She's nervous and hard to keep weight on and stress founders. Since retiring her at 12, I have been careful to keep her life as controlled as possible, but she started developing arthritis in her front legs a few years ago and despite a balanced diet, supplements, and special farrier, vet and dental care has worsened significantly. I have never seen a 19 year old horse deteriorate so fast. I checked the studbook, and a number of her younger siblings are already deceased. Is it possible that this was inevitable? I feel like I've failed her. Her first two foals are easy keepers and nearing their teens themselves, but her final foal has the same nervous disposition; I baby her because I worry she'll take after her dam (she hasn't yet in the health department), and I worry about breeding her if it means a shorter life for her descendants.

Alternately, I have a 20 year old stallion who has been healthy every day of his life. His sire and dam are 26 and 23 respectively and also very healthy from what I've heard. I've seen several other siblings--all healthy in their teens and 20's. It sure seems like good genetics.

Has anyone else noticed that longevity favors certain lines?

 

[kaykay]

HI Tiffany

I often wondered the same things. But most of my herd is still very young. I have seen older rescues we have taken in and like you said some are 20 plus and youd never know it and others are 12 and seem like they are 30

I do think though better conformed horses live longer pain free lives. I had a rescue here last year that had terrible leg conformation and just kinda hobbled around even though she was only 12. The vet said she had arthritis in all 4 legs because of her bad conformation. So I do think that plays a large role. We did find her a great home but she does struggle

 

[targetsmom]

All my minis are young so I have no idea about the connection between longevity and heredity. But I have studied health and diseases in humans and animals and I would not be at all surprised if a connection is discovered someday. Certainly it is true for humans (in some cases) so I would expect similar findings for miniature horses. And then along with breeding to eliminate traits like dwarfism and locking stifles, breeders could select for miniatures that live long and productive lives.

Now my one aged horse is my 22 year old riding gelding, and without extreme measures (2 colic surgeries) he would have been dead several years ago. Not knowing what caused his colic episodes, one can only wonder if that was hereditary.

 

[Bess Kelly]

I have several seniors......

Mares, 26, 25, 24, 22, 19, 2@18, 17.....stallions 25 & 22. Most have been with me for15+ yrs, a couple for only the past 8 yrs. The older stallion I had owned for 10 yrs, sold and repurchased 3 yrs ago. All have had great care and are healthy. A filly born this Spring from the older stallion, to only mare I allowed him to breed. The 26 yr old mare had a foal at 21 & I have not rebred her, although she was trying to be

. It was my choice to "retire" them, I just don't breed all.

They eat well. Love their beet pulp. Still graze and eat hay.

While they are not as consistantly active as some of the younger mares, they still move with great agility, are out every day and have full-access to a run-in barn, heated buckets in winter, dry area to lay, 2X daily check at feed time, etc. So far, I don't see any signs of arthritis or such. The two eldest mares are actually graying around the head. But, all still grow nice winter coats, shed in the summer -- just not as early of the youngers....but, close. The mares still cycle and the stallions are

ready to breed! They still trot around a lot and occassionally run, buck, etc.

Certainly, as with humans, genetics play a part in their longevity. Good care assists. I believe that some will just be prone to "issues" either from heredity, possible injury or misuse/nutrition insult, etc.

Heredity wise -- one is a Little Husseler daughter, one a Buckeroo daughter, one a Komokos Acey Ducey dtr, one a Silver Flash grdtr.....these ladies are all in the 20's and the parentage mentioned were all into their very late 20's & early 30's and doing well...some are still alive

Appears they will be around for several more years. So, IMO, genetics and good care, support good health and a long life.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Think of the rescue horses we have heard of that live in terrible situations and survive. Then think of horses that have excellent care from the beginning and have lots of trouble. Sometimes sickly children are born of healthy parents--old wives used to call them "an old egg". Maybe the same thing happens with horses. Of course, many traits are genetic, but sometimes all the dna just doesn't line up right.

When you think about all the things that CAN go wrong, it is a miracle that more things don't.

My avatar horse lived in benign neglect for the first 5 years of his life. No special care. He is very sound and healthy. The vet even says his teeth don't look his age. I am counting on the two of us enjoying drives well into his 20's.

It might be interesting to find out if his sire and dam are still alive and still breeding. Can I find that out through AMHA?

 

[Lmequine]

I do think that longevity is related to bloodlines but I do not know if any scientific studies to back that up. I have seen it in several breeds. I have a 23 yr old Shetland broodmare that is not really halter broke. She is fat as can be and she has never had vaccinations, never had her teeth floated, never head her feet trimmed and gets wormed once a year. She looks 10 years old, foals with no problems, has great feet, etc. When raising Arabians in the 1980's there was definantly some bloodlines that just lived longer and were breeding and performance sound up into their 20's. I have also know of some of the QH lines that do good to make 10 years of age....they seem prone to colic, founder, etc. It is an interesting topic. I have held back a filly and a stallion from my two oldest mares. It will be interesting to see what the next 20 years will hold for them.

 

[Candice]

I wholeheartedly believe genetics to be a major factor. How one ages is based on inherited genetic traits. I believe that to be true throughout the animal kingdom. Outside forces factor in, such as diet, exercise and care. Conformation is a huge factor as well.

I think you've brought up an interesting topic here. You've obviously come accross a weak trait that you don't want to pass on.

Many years ago I raised guinea pigs and I had a beautiful male. He produced the most beautifully unique color variations. They were absolutely beautiful. He died very suddenly and unexpectedly very young. To our horror we learned that several of his offspring died the same way. I was mortified. He obviously passed this on to his young. It broke my heart because these babies that died so young belonged to young children.

Its just not something I think a lot of people take into consideration. Its not obvious. By the time it becomes apparent, several offspring are already on the ground.

 

[Zoey3]

Genetics play a HUGE role.

That determins their WHOLE phenotype including conformation, structure, behavior, life expectency, ect. Though, how the horse is taken care of also plays a big role.

 

[RockRiverTiff]

Thank you everyone for your input. We've had approximately a dozen minis live well into their 20's here on the farm, and many of them could keep up with the young'ns up to their final days. As I said, many went in their sleep, almost as if they'd hit a deadline. It's always hard to say goodbye to your healthy horse one night and find them gone the next morning, and I guess I'm still looking for answers. As far as specific bloodlines, all of our first FWF horses lived into their late 20's. I have one other senior mare with problems, but she has a congenital limb deformity that we know IS hereditary. (Obviously she was never bred.) The mare in question actually has excellent conformation--she's a multiple Jr and Sr champion, Supreme champion, and has 30+ halter points in AMHA. I really think her nervous disposition took part in aging her prematurely and possibly as discussed here her genetics.

I will say after struggling with this mare that it gives me a whole new perspective when looking at a new horse's bloodlines.

 

[Annabellarose]

When raising Arabians in the 1980's there was definantly some bloodlines that just lived longer and were breeding and performance sound up into their 20's.

The Arabian is my passion, first and foremost, and they consistently pull ahead of most other horse breeds (pony breeds tend to live even longer, on average) time and time again in studies on longevity in horses. Actually, a lot of Arabians bred in the eighties (that breed's "heyday") are still going strong, some undersaddle, some in the breeding shed; mares, stallions, and geldings. I am constantly reading about a famous Arabian show horse and/or breeding stallion that passed away at the age of 29, 31, and, recently, I saw a 34.

If you enter "Bourbon Sambuca Arabian gelding" at Google and click on the first link, you will see a picture of a grand old gelding still being used for riding lessons for beginning riders and/or very young children at the age of 28. I saw him in the Spring and he still looked capable, willing, and happy.

 

[mininik]

Interesting topic. There's a half Arabian gelding out there named "Elmer Bandit" who is THIRTY SEVEN and STILL breaking records in competitive trail riding.

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=11767

 

[Annabellarose]

Interesting topic. There's a half Arabian gelding out there named "Elmer Bandit" who is THIRTY SEVEN and STILL breaking records in competitive trail riding.
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=11767

Thank you for posting that, I had not seen or heard that. I would love to know what his other half is!

 

[wildoak]

I believe his other "half" is QH if memory serves. He has been in the news quite a bit this year, as he keeps on completing races and setting records.

I believe undoubtedly that genetics play a big role in determining lifespan. My grandmother was nearly 107 when she died, my mom is well into her 90's.......scares me to think I might live that long LOL.

Majority of my mares are in their teens, not old enough yet to test this idea although I've lost a couple - one at 12, one at 20 and both to disease (unrelated, non-infectious). Will be interesting to see how they age.

Jan