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Q    I have read reports about the Fell pony being rare, and endangered by Fell Pony Foal Syndrome. What is this and will it affect my pony?

A    First of all, the Fell pony is recognised as Rare by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Briefly, ALBC recognise it because the breed has fewer than 1,000 annual registrations, and RBST because it has fewer than 500 registered breeding females.

Second, Fell Pony Foal Syndrome is only shown outwardly in foals, who become severely immuno-compromised around three weeks of age and in all cases die of pneumonia or another viral disease within the first few months of life.

So, if you have an adult pony, he’s out of danger.

However, the veterinarians in England who are researching the disease have given their opinion that it is a recessive genetic disorder. This means that a pony can carry the gene for the disease, and not become sick from it. It can be healthy for all of its life! However, if it is bred to another pony carrying the FPFS gene, the chances of their foal dying of the disease are 1 in 4.
There are 2 in 4 chances that their foal could simply be another carrier.
There is a 1 in 4 chance that their foal will not carry the gene and will never produce a foal that dies of the Syndrome. So there are 3 chances out of 4 that a foal will live. This is the same chance for every breeding from carrier parents. If only one of the parents is a carrier, and the other is clear, then NONE of the foals will die from the Syndrome.

There is no test yet for the faulty gene, though the researchers have published results in May 2003 that could give usable tests for confirming the disease in its early stages.

For the moment, there is no specific advice on how breeders should react if they discover (by losing a foal to the disease) that they have a pony who is a “carrier” of FPFS. The Fell Pony Society have consulted RBST, and are currently deciding on which breeding strategy they should advise and encourage.

* * * * *
Please feel free to contact the Conservancy
if you would like further information.

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