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DSLD In Perspective, An Elaboration
By: Raul Risso, April, 2002
A few days ago Heinz Reusser the editor of Conquistador asked me to elaborate and turn into an article the statements made in a letter published by the PPHRNA in their latest Newsletter of December 2001 regarding DSLD. (Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Disease) In order to be able to comprehend this writing you must first read the letter that I titled “DSLD, In Perspective” which is attached to this article.
In 1532 the Conqueror Pizarro took over the Land of the Incas for the King of Spain. Spain was at the time, an Empire with dwellings all over the New World and the richest of their colonies was de Viceroyship of Peru. The Peruvian breed was designed by our ancestors who were prosperous Landowners in the coastline of Peru. It is desert land of about 1500 miles length interrupted by fertile valleys irrigated by rivers that flow from the Andes. In these valleys for centuries, the descendants of mainly Spanish Andalusian settlers produced rich export agricultural crops such as sugar cane, linen, cotton, rice, etc. The horse was indispensable in order to oversee the workers in a large plantation and to travel in between valleys, as Peru’s semi-deserted coast had no highways up until the beginning of the 20th Century. Being proud of their heritage and because they would spend long hours on horseback, they chose to select only the smoothly gaited with a flashy winging and elevated front end; descendants from the Old Spanish Horses called “pisadores” or high steppers.
From there on, the fame of the Peruvian Horse grew among its people who treasured them for their unique gait. Developed for around 400 years, before it came to be known in the USA, these horses were selected not only as a smooth traveler but also, as a distinct and refined breed with elegant “Pisos”, a name derived from the “caballo pisador”. Long before they reached North America, Peruvian Horses were admired and sought after in most of Central and South America. It has always been common for a Head of State in Peru to honor a fellow President from another country in the Americas with the present of a Peruvian Horse.
What made and makes a highly prized Peruvian Horse distinct is it’s unique way of moving. It is not a versatile horse as some people claim. It is not the strongest breed either. But what the finest of the Peruvians do, which is to travel with “Pisos”, smooth and elegantly; no other horse on earth can do better!
“Pisos” is an expression used in Peru in reference to the original and natural ability in which their native breed of horse, a descendant of amblers, travels by breaking its predominantly lateral gait into a four beat one. With elasticity, harmony and grace; it displays a wide thread of gait from a Walk to a Paso Llano to a Sobreandado and ending at a Huachano or Running Pace. With smoothness and advance, they identify from other paso breeds, by the gliding-driving powerful long stride of their rear legs while showing body collection and an arrogant elegant head carriage; adorning themselves in the front limbs with what is referred to as “Termino”. That is the action of elevating and extending their forearms with lateral and graceful rotations that originate from the shoulder and winging out at the knee, the fetlock and all the way to the hoof; with the feet landing square under the body mass.
“Advance”, “Termino” and much more “Smoothness” are the three characteristics that set our breed apart from other paso breeds. Now we, the Peruvian breeders; don’t claim to have the horse with the longest productive life. The demands set upon the structure of a horse in order to move in such a unique way are far more exerting than in any other breed. This was the design sought after by our ancestors and carried on by the breeders of the ANCPCPP the National Organization in Peru which was founded in 1947.
Once duly organized competition started, the ANCPCPP realized that the breeders of the past centuries had not paid attention to certain characteristics. They had bred whichever stallions to mares, especially if they showed a lot of flashy “Termino”. Having no knowledge of Zootecnics, (the art of breeding domestic animals and adapting them to specific needs) they did not pay notice to proper conformation. Almost 60 years of existence of the ANCPCPP is nothing in the long road towards the continuous evolution of a breed.
Nevertheless, during this time a lot of improvement has occurred in our breed. First to define the gait when, between 1949 and 1957; the Peruvian Association called Antonio Grana to be the sole judge. Then, from 1960 to 1968 when Antonio’s brother Fernando Grana, Carlos Luna and Carlos Gonzales interacted as a panel of judges to improve the conformation, beauty and foremost its presence. And, in the last 30 years, coinciding with the introduction of this breed into the USA; a wide number of judges at the Peruvian National Show, (including myself) have been giving an enormous emphasis to the rear end conformation and locomotion. Our horses today are far better, showing longer, leaner, elevated necks, higher natural head carriage and improved hind ends.
In keeping the same goals as our ancestors did, that is to breed for “Pisos” again and again; (as it is a recessive trait) we have had to deal with weaknesses in conformation that lead into illnesses such as DSLD. As a jogger I know how much harder it is on our back and on our legs to carry ourselves in an erect manner. The same goes for horses and in particular our breed. This royal carriage we have, recently bred for; demands a tremendous effort on to the loin area and the whole structure of the rear end. As we all know, injuries in our breed are much more frequent in the rear end than in the front.
During my tenure in the breed I have particularly made an effort to continue to visit different breeding operations. I have observed that, in most cases; DSLD is a consequence of faulty conformation traits as described in my letter. In the years past, the pastern issue has been improved and; today we see less cases of long “sinky” pasterns. Contrarily, (in my opinion, because of inbreeding and line breeding to some particular individuals) there has been an increase in the appearance of post legged horses. These type of horses will last longer if they have glide and drive instead of a short choppy step that pounds unto the ground but, nonetheless; it’s not desirable conformation. Concussion to the articulations of the bones tends to debilitate them and their supporting tendons and ligaments.
My prescription, is for serious breeders to deal with. It is a treatment and a process. I truly believe that even if a genetic marker is found that causes these lesions, it is going to be widespread. What I know is that some horses inherit the predisposition to acquire DSLD and that, by out crossing to individuals known not to pass these conformation faults, our breed is better through careful selection and; is bound to have less and less cases while still improving the overall animal. I have learned from experience that, as is with every inheritable trait; even horses affected with this disease have had offspring that were free from it. Here and there you will see the case of horses that have a correct croup, the right angulations, short pasterns and, do end up with DSLD. But, this is the exception to the rule. In any case we know which individuals are pretty safe to work with. Nevertheless we will run into a few foals that, as I have stated; show these defects (post legged or “coon footed” with long sinky pasterns) soon after birth. What it takes, however unpleasant; is to cull them.
My concern is that there is HISTERIA going on about this DSLD subject and it is not going to help if we are trashing our horses. Lets not forget that this disease affects only a few in a breed which has stood the test of timeless centuries and it will be there for those who understand its origin and design. Of course serious investigation is needed to find better tools than the ones we have so far. Nevertheless I predict that we will still have to deal with, at least carriers of this marker; in order to keep moving in the right direction for a stronger but, more important; a Fine Peruvian Horse. The one and only paso breed with “Pisos”.
Here, in the diversity of America, people have, within a few decades created several gaited breeds that require the enhancement of knowledgeable expert training in order to bring out the cadence. Try them out. There are also these following long established breeds: the Icelandic Pony, (a tremendous athlete) the Paso Finos and the traditional Tennessee Walker. They may have stronger lower limbs than the Peruvians. For me, to measure strength it is necessary to look at the overall picture; compare and discover what suits you. Traits, such as refinement, stature and size, body mass, (which favors gait) and foremost, disposition; are essential parts of the whole picture.
For myself and, others that appreciate this breed well; we wouldn’t change for the world!
