The Fell Pony Society

Health

Below are sources of information of particular interest to Fell Pony owners. [All links open in a new window.]

Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome Testing

A report of the EGM held on 19 January 2010 appeared in the Spring Magazine 2010.

The carrier test is available from 1 February 2010 at a cost of £40 including VAT, on a non-profit basis. Hair samples must be taken by a vet who must complete the form on the sample bag before sending it to the Animal Health Trust. At the present time, kits can be obtained from the FPS office by sending a cheque made payable to the Fell Pony Society. The results of the test will be returned to your vet within 30 days. The AHT would prefer the FPS to deal with the supply of the test kits, but your vet can obtain them directly from the AHT if you prefer. Tests for sick foals can be fast-tracked to establish whether or not the foal has the disease.

The AHT may already have archive samples from some ponies in their files (for example, colts that have been licensed as stallions and been DNA profiled.) It may be possible to use these existing samples for FIS testing if the sample was taken by a vet - please contact the office to enquire about this and they will liaise with the AHT to establish whether or not this is possible. The fee will still be £40.

Further information is available on the AHT website - follow this link: http://www.aht.org.uk/genetics_tests.html#equine

FIS / Animal Health Trust, www.aht.org.uk/genetics_fis.html

National Foaling Bank, www.nationalfoalingbank.com

Equine Grass Sickness, www.grasssickness.org.uk

Atypical Myopathy, http://www.equinescienceupdate.co.uk/ltcseam.htm and http://www.avshayle.co.uk/EAM.html

The Laminitis Trust, www.laminitis.org

Sweet Itch, www.sweet-itch.co.uk

Weight Management, www.worldhorsewelfare.org/information/right_weight_advice

Shoeing, www.wcf.org.uk/frequently_asked_questions

Saddlery, www.mastersaddlers.co.uk