Equine research initiatives

HORSE Sport Ireland partnered with UCD (as the research Performing Organisation) in 2019 and were successful in being awarded significant equine research funding under the Research Stimulus Fund (RSF). The Research Stimulus Fund (RSF) provides funding to the Irish research institutes for ‘public good’ agricultural production related research. This funding is separate from normal HSI funding for the sector and is applied for in a open tender process.

The overall aim of the GENJUMP research project is to further develop the show jumping selection index using phenotype and pedigree information that are currently available in the Horse Sport Ireland database. GENJUMP will identify the appropriate goal and index traits and determine the heritabilities and estimated breeding values of these traits. Genetic correlations will be estimated between these traits so that they can be included in an enhanced multi-trait selection index.

“This is the first time that UCD/HSI have been successful in securing Stimulus Funding for equine research. It is a truly exciting development because, for many years like other studbooks, we have limited funding to pursue progressive developmental research in equine genetics. Through this circa €235,000 Stimulus Funding, over the next two years, we will have a dedicated team in UCD working to provide a suitable multi-trait selection index for our Irish breeders. This work will provide many spins-off benefits for breeders and will also support the roadmap for future scientific research developments. It is a truly ground-breaking opportunity, which will make such a difference, in terms of solid information for all our breeders – it is very exciting,” said Alison Corbally, HSI Director of Breeding.

UCD’s Professor Alan Fahey will lead this two-year project entitled ‘Genetic improvement of the sport horse population for show jumping in Ireland’ in conjunction with Horse Sport Ireland (HSI).

Irish Draught Project

Last year, Horse Sport Ireland, updated its Genetic Diversity list of Irish Draught stallions of concern, i.e. the Irish Draught stallions which have bloodlines that are under-represented within the breed and therefore may be under threat.

However, HSI were recently notified that they were successful in obtaining funding form DAFM’s “Genomic Genetic Resources Grant Aid Scheme 2020”. This will enable technology to be leveraged to better understand the current genetic diversity and inbreeding status along with generation of genomic co-ancestry data that will aid breed management conservation strategies.

The proposed project aims to:-

Compare the current pedigree-based genetic diversity measures for Irish Draught stallions of concern to genomic measures

To perform comparative population genetics analysis to establish relative genomic diversity and inbreeding metrics for Irish Draught breed and genomic co-ancestry relationships amongst stallions. This project will also ensure that a scientifically sound blueprint for conservation of genetic resources is in place for the Irish Draught breed.

Warmblood Fragile Syndrome testing

Horse Sport Ireland is undertaking significant research projects in 2020, one of these is to test a specified number of foals for breeders registered in any DAFM -approved Studbook for Warmblood Fragile Syndrome.

Warmblood Fragile Foal Syndrome (WFFS) is a hereditary disease with symptoms of hyperextensible and abnormally fragile skin. It is a syndrome that can affect many different breeds of horses. In affected newborn foals, the skin lacks tensile strength and lesions can occur across the body. Limb joints are also extremely lax and hyperextensible. These abnormalities require euthanasia just after delivery. The defect is caused by a point mutation on the PLOD1 gene, which results in an incomplete protein folding. Where both the mare and the stallion carry the recessive gene, the resulting foal will be affected.

Other European studbooks have carried out similar population screening research from a particular foal crop to establish the incidence within the population. By establishing the incidence within the Irish population, appropriate measures can then be included within a studbook’s breeding programme.

It is proposed that 2020 foals will be screened for WFFS at the same time as parentage-testing. Parentage and WFFS testing will be carried out by Weatherbys DNA laboratory. Weatherbys Scientitfic offer the WFFS test using VHL Genetics as the accredited laboratory. Weatherbys Scientific have exclusive distribution rights for WFFS testing from VHL Genetics for Ireland and the UK.