Hereditary health conditions in horse breeds cause significant welfare suffering that responsible breeders can reduce through genetic testing, veterinary health screening, and breeding selection against harmful conditions.
Hereditary conditions in horses cause welfare suffering from birth that is entirely preventable through responsible breeding decisions and genetic testing. Foals born with severe conditions including HERDA and fragile foal syndrome experience pain, distress, and early death that could be avoided by testing parents before breeding. The welfare obligation on breeders to health test before breeding is clear when testing technology exists and conditions cause significant suffering. The glamour of show success and valuable stallions has historically overridden welfare considerations in some breed populations.