What is Fell Pony Syndrome?

Fell Pony syndrome (FPS) is a fatal disorder of young foals of the Fell Pony breed. FPS-affected foals are born healthy but rapidly fail to thrive and experience severe anemia and lymphopenia within several weeks of life.

What is FIS in Fell Pony?

Foal immunodeficiency syndrome (FIS), previously known as Fell Pony syndrome, is an inherited autosomal recessive disease. It causes fatal anemia and a compromised immune system. Affected foals have abnormally low levels of red blood cells and B-lymphocytes (a specific type of white blood cell).

Are Fell ponies always black?

In the early stud books, 50% of ponies were brown in colour, though over the last few decades, black has become predominant, followed by brown, bay, and grey.

What does FIS clear mean?

CLEAR. : no evidence of the FIS mutation. CARRIER. : carries one copy of the mutation, which will be passed to 50% of. offspring.

What is PSSM horse?

PSSM is a disorder that causes muscle cramping in horses from abnormal glycogen (sugar) storage in the muscles. Sore muscles, muscle weakness and cramping are all signs of PSSM. Type 1 PSSM is caused by a mutation in the GYS1 gene.

Can a Fell Pony be white?

Fell pony characteristics Typically, they weigh between 350 and 450kg. Acceptable colours are black, brown, bay or grey, but not chestnut, piebald or skewbald. Some have a small star on their forehead, or a small amount of white on their hind feet.

What is FIS testing?

Animal Genetics UK offers DNA testing for Fell Pony syndrome or Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome (FIS). The genetic test verifies the presence of the recessive FIS Gene mutation and presents results as one of the following: FIS/FIS. Affected. The horse carries two copies of the mutated gene and is homozygous for FIS.

What does a horse with PSSM look like?

Clinical signs of PSSM range from mild to severe. They include sweating, lameness, sore muscles, undiagnosed lameness, poor performance, and muscle tremors (“tying up”). These may occur with or without exercise. Under saddle, affected horses may be reluctant to go forward or collect.

What are symptoms of PSSM1?

Horses with PSSM1 can exhibit symptoms without exercise. During an episode, horses seem lazy, have a shifting lameness, tense up their abdomen, and develop tremors in their flank area. When horses stop moving they may stretch out as if to urinate.