HORSE TALK
Here’s what you need to know about this month
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Buyers of Connemara ponies are being warned to check equine passports after a Leicestershire woman unknowingly bought a pony with hoof wall separation disease (HWSD). HWSD is a genetic defect that specifically affects Connemaras and their crosses. The hoof wall breaks and cracks, often coming off in large chunks. In severe cases, the pony bears weight entirely on the sole of its foot which can lead to crippling lameness. Around 14% of all Connemaras are HWSD carriers.
Since 2016 all equines registered by the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society (CPBS) and since 2017 by the British Connemara Pony Society (BCPS) are tested for the disease. The pony’s HWSD status is stated on the final page of its passport, but unscrupulous dealers are removing these pages and selling the ponies to unwitting new owners.
Nicola Rozee bought three-year-old Bill unseen from a seller in March as a project horse. She hadn’t heard of HWSD and when he arrived she had no concerns. “He was the kindest pony. Everything was normal. I thought he’d make a nice Pony Club pony and I advertised him for sale in June,” said Nicola. “I had a couple of messages asking what his DNA results were and I didn’t understand. When they explained, I realised there were pages missing from his passport.” One of the potential buyers checked Bill against the CPBS database and found that he had been tested for HWSD as a foal and was positive for the condition. The seller told Nicola that they hadn’t been aware of Bill’s stat
