Another HYPP question?

Question

I bought a gelding about 4 weeks ago and believed the lady (nice honest looking trainer) when she said he was hypp n/n. I got his registration papers in the mail and found out he had not even been tested. I called the seller and she said the dam was n/n, so 'Snickers' is negative as well. Wiseing up a bit now, I called the aqha and found out his sire is not Impressive bred, but the dam has never even been tested and is 4th generation Impressive. Her carrier ancestors are all N/H back to Impressive. Very scary and still waiting on my test kit to arrive. My question is that do I have any legal ground to stand on if he is positive? Only proof I have of our conversations is email. I'm also worried about his fate if I have to send him back. Learn from my mistake and trust nothing!!!! Hoping for a negative test......

Answer 1

He's a gelding, what's the big deal?

Ok, well if you are worried about the contract law affecting this transaction, I'll help you there.  If she stated that he absolutely was negative (hopefully in writing) and you bought him because of that, you do have grounds to ask that she give your money back and return the horse.  If she refuses, you can take her to small claims court for the court to either order a refund or the loss of value now that you know he's positive (if he is.) plus the court costs plus the cost of the test.

If I was you I would certainly make a stink to her that he might injure your children and instead of a simple return she'd be looking at a huge injury lawsuit, probably give your money back by Sunday.  :)

Answer 2

Well, HYPP is in the blood, every horse of the bloodline has it in the blood, but its either active or not active,  My horse is HYPP n/n. You may but, you also may not, I don't really know. I hope I helped a little lol....My horse was tested but they didn't put it on her registration papers though.  I know I tested her lol.  I don't kno..I hope the best for you and your horse!

Answer 3

I guess I would contact the seller today.  Let her know that you've talked to AQHA and know that it's a possibility that he's n/h.  See if she's willing to take him back today or if she'd be willing to take him back if he does test n/h.  

There isn't a whole lot you can do - you could try to go the legal route - but it probably would not be econimically feasible to hire a lawyer and go the legal route unless it's a $20K+ show horse (and it very well could be! - so look at your own situation).

Remember - if the dad was n/n and the mom was truely n/h (but she could have been if only one of her parents was n/h) then you odds of getting an n/h horse yourself are 50%.  Some n/h horses never show any actual signs and it's a gelding so you're not going to be breeding it.

I guess I would contact the seller before you have him for too long and just let her know that you have some concerns.  Then, have him tested and go from there.  I would switch his diet immediately though so that it's low in Potassium just in case it is n/h.

AQHA recently had a really great article in the QH journal on feeding HYPP horses.  Remember - the key is low potassium.

You're right though - trust no-one when it comes to buying horses.  I hope you do have a negative test.  Take care!

Answer 4

You would really have to check your legal statis by calling an attorney or county agency (County Extension Office?).  Laws vary from county to county and state to state.  Why not consult your vet also?  Or do a search and learn all you can about the disease.  It may not be the big deal you're worrying about.  I agree with the others that a contract and proof of testing should have been "seen" by you and put in writing by the seller, but you may not be able to do anything about it now without speding more money than it's worth to just buy a second horse and keep this guy for you only.  Make some calls, do some research and wait for your test results.  Then make your decisions.  You'll be better able to do so when you get all the facts.  And next time you buy, get a contract and maybe a trial period?

Answer 5

If the dam was N/H then there would be a 50% chance your horse could be N/H. The chances the dam is N/N is also 50%.Since your horse is a gelding, it shouldn't be a problem since he can't be bred. Has he shown any signs of HYPP? The disease is manageable if he has HYPP. I wouldn't worry too much. The dam may have been tested but not reported. Some N/H horses generally don't show any signs of HYPP and the severity varies from horse to horse. There are horses with HYPP that have been champions.

Answer 6

IF from my understanding of HYPP if an N/H horse is bred to a horse who isn't related to Impressive, their off spring would still be N/H.  BUT he's a gelding so shouldn't matter anyway, you're NOT going to breed him and N/H just means if you could breed him he'd possibly be a carrier.

http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/hypp...

is a great website with tons of info on this genetic disorder!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperkalemi...

Here's what Bill Brewer, AQHA President had to say about it.http://www.aqha.com/association/registra...

I currently own 3 mares who are Impressive bred but all 3 are N/N.

Who are the children playin' with the thumbs?  If you have a different opinion, please post it so we can all learn something NEW!

Thanks on the percentages, I'd thought about them but I'm still getting an education about hypp, that's why I posted the links too!

If it's an IMPRESSIVE bred horse you should have looked at the papers and seen that it had or had not been tested before you EVER bought the horse.  If the horse has been tested and is N/N or N/H or H/H, the papers will so state it.  You could have made the purchase on the  condition that he was N/N.

Answer 7

To Rosi M: no. If a horse's dam is N/H,  and the sire doesn't have HYPP (so he's N/N), the gelding would have a 50/50 chance.

.. I     N......I  N

---I----------I---------

N I....NN   I...NN

---I----------I----------

H I....NH  I...NH

I hope your gelding's results are NN. This is why you always have a contract! If you have a contract that specifically states that your horse is NN, then you can take her to court. Or, what I would have done, is as soon as the lady told you that he was NN for HYPP, ask to see the proof. No offense, but this is why I would never buy an Impressive - bred horse...some people just lie like that. :(