Extreme Horse Breeding Creates ‘Cartoon Horse’

UK equine expert Tim Greet stated:

“Actually this deformity is even more significant for a horse than for a dog. Dogs like man can mouth breathe, but horses can ONLY breathe through their nose. I suspect exercise would definitely be limited for this horse.”

Jonathan Pycock, an equine reproduction expert and president of the British Equine Veterinary Association, said:

I would imagine this horse could have respiratory problems – you would have to test it for sure – but you can’t say with any certainty that respiratory problems won’t develop. It would seem to have the potential to impact negatively on its health in terms of air intake.

The problem comes when you breed for particular looks and when those looks are detrimental to the horse’s health. In my book, that is fundamentally wrong. This is a worrying development.

Roly Owers, equine vet and chief executive of World Horse Welfare, said:

In a word this looks horrific. The foal in the video shows a markedly more dished nose even than its mother and has obviously been bred to achieve this. This appears to be breeding in a weakness that could severely affect future generations – and if there is not a restriction to the airway in this particular animal already then there will be in future generations. On first sight it is the airway restriction that is more concerning than the pronounced forehead – but this rather depends on how this develops as the foal grows.

Obviously Arabs have dished noses but this has been bred into the extreme. Quite disgusting!

Original Quill wrote:It's an Arab...small head, a dished face with wide eyes and arching neck...these are the hallmarks of the purebred Arabian.  They are generally small bodied horses, but there isn't a full photograph.

eddie wrote:Although breeding animals is by no means anything new, there’s been a greater focus on breeding specific domestic animals for their appearance. The primary issue with this type of animal breeding is that, often times, these new “attractive features” come at the cost of the animal’s wellbeing, creating health problems.

Genetically modified dogs have gained a lot of attention lately, as more people are becoming aware of the additional health risks dogs face when breeders try to alter their characteristics.

UK equine expert Tim Greet stated:

“Actually this deformity is even more significant for a horse than for a dog. Dogs like man can mouth breathe, but horses can ONLY breathe through their nose. I suspect exercise would definitely be limited for this horse.”

Jonathan Pycock, an equine reproduction expert and president of the British Equine Veterinary Association, said:

I would imagine this horse could have respiratory problems – you would have to test it for sure – but you can’t say with any certainty that respiratory problems won’t develop. It would seem to have the potential to impact negatively on its health in terms of air intake.

The problem comes when you breed for particular looks and when those looks are detrimental to the horse’s health. In my book, that is fundamentally wrong. This is a worrying development.

Roly Owers, equine vet and chief executive of World Horse Welfare, said:

In a word this looks horrific. The foal in the video shows a markedly more dished nose even than its mother and has obviously been bred to achieve this. This appears to be breeding in a weakness that could severely affect future generations – and if there is not a restriction to the airway in this particular animal already then there will be in future generations. On first sight it is the airway restriction that is more concerning than the pronounced forehead – but this rather depends on how this develops as the foal grows.

Obviously Arabs have dished noses but this has been bred into the extreme. Quite disgusting!

More on link including video: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2017/10/20/disturbing-photos-of-designer-horses-go-viral-shed-light-on-the-cruel-world-of-animal-breeding/

HoratioTarr wrote:What people don't realise too, is that the Arab horse has that wide bulging forehead for a reason.  It adds extra sinus capacity in the hot desert climate.   

There are different strains too.   Main ones are Keheilan, Seqlawi, Abeyan, Hamdani and Hadban and each has their own characteristic. 

HoratioTarr wrote:

Original Quill wrote:It's an Arab...small head, a dished face with wide eyes and arching neck...these are the hallmarks of the purebred Arabian.  They are generally small bodied horses, but there isn't a full photograph.

This painting was done in 1810.   The Arab horse has always had a small head, large eyes, dished profile and high arched neck.

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:

Thoroughbreds have actually been "line bred" out from Arabs over the past three centuries, selecting for long legs, athleticism, and stamina/staying power over 2-->>3 miles...

Every registered Thoroughbred on the planet can be traced back to one of three Arab sires :
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoroughbred

Many show jumpers are retired gallopers, with few horses specifically bred just for showjumping and three day eventing.

(Hawkesbury Ag' college has a registered Arab breeding stud on campus;  plus I rode a couple of horses down there that were Arab x Clydesdale --  that's the kind of stock horse that could carry the 'heavier' riders, as well as endurance for working all day..).

eddie wrote:This article is about a new breeder in Washington. The Telegraph also reported on it.  So perhaps it's an issue with the actual breeder?