~~ BURNING ROCK PERUVIANS ~~

~ Our Peruvian Pasos are of MSR Bloodlines. They are beautiful, sweet and well gaited. MARIAH, Princesa Maria (palomino) Sadly Mariah was euthanized on Mar. 18, 2004 because of advanced DSLD. She is greatly missed. Diagnosed by tissue sample U of Ga for research.[Persico MSR X Lancera]

Mariah foaled a beautiful "Purly" (Curly X PP) filly, Xarina now a 3 yr old. Xarina has thankfully been examined for DSLD by a flex test and pronounced clear of the disease at this time. Crossbreds do come down with dsld. At 4 years , just like her dam, Xarina had a sudden onset in all four legs and is now symptomatic for DSLD/ESPA. She is on Dr Kellon's treatment study and has so far been doing well the last 7 months. Click here for pictures!

~ LANCERA Sadly was euthanized on Mar. 18, 2004 for advanced stages of DSLD. She is also greatly missed. Tissue diagnosed U of Ga research[Lancero Joven X Riviera MSR] One of the sweetest horses I`ve ever known, and will be lovingly remembered always.

Lancera X Jose foaled a beautiful Peruvian chestnut filly, Princesa Estrella Brillante , now a 3 yr old. Sadly Princesa has been diagnosed with DSLD in all four legs. Euthanised 2004 after study at U of GA. Tissue diagnosed U of GA, all tendons and ligamnets of all legs affected, nuchal affected, eyes and lungs and aorta affected. She is lovingly remembered.Click here for her baby pictures

~ SAN JOSE de VALEROSO Sadly Jose is also showing DSLD symptoms. [HI El Rey Valeroso X FF Aguilena (Romanesco MSR)]

*Latest update- Jose has had more flare ups through the winter and is starting to become post legged in the rear, a sign of dsld progressing. He has been on the suppliments and diet changes. He was euthanised 2005 for advancing signs of DSLD/ESPA. He is dearly missed but not forgotten.

Princesa & Jose had very bad DSLD flare ups around Mar. 20, 04, including heat, swelling, lameness & dropped fetlocks. With the diet changes, exercise & suppliments, their symptoms had almost disappeared within a week. They are both acting like they are not affected. This is very different from my experience with my other two mares. I will post updates on how they are doing in hopes it can help other affected horses. Sadly this was short lived and both were showing more symptoms as time went on.
I highly recommend the diet changes & suppliments for DSLD horses, we may be able to give them a longer healthier pain free life. It may not remove the disease, but if we can help get rid of symptoms. At this time there is no proof that diet change slows progression, but worth a try. The suppliments recommended by Dr Kellon are helping many DSLD/ESPA horses. Join the DSLD-equine list for more info.

*Update- I am no longer breeding Peruvians because of the ligament/lameness disorder called DSLD. The research regarding DSLD, is leaning toward a metabolic problem that manifests itself in the ligaments but also affects other connective tissue throughout the body. Through ongoing research we hope to finally identify the disease & it's causes. We hope to learn if it can be managed and hopefully bred out of many breeds affected. Since it is passing from sires and dams that are affected, it is suggesting a genetic cause. Even my crossbred is symptomatic.

What can be done now if you suspect your horse has DSLD? Have a vet do a flexion test of all fetlock joints, palpate the suspensory ligament & have ultrasounds done if the horse fails the flex test, to look for lesions in the suspensory. On palpation the suspensory ligament will be soft & mushy, enlarged and painful often with heat in the fetlock area with swelling at suspensory branches. Or the suspensories can be very hard with lumps of hard calcified areas. Fetlocks may or may not be dropped. Use Dr Mero's Diagnostic Protocol and Exam Form- dsld.org

DIET Options- The feeding changes currently being experimented with are a low sugar diet similar to an IR diet. Do not feed any grain/sweetfeed or high sugar grass/or hay. http://safergrass.org Soaked non molasses beet pulp is recommended. *Note- dsld horses have shown a low magnesium level in several cases so supplimenting is advised if magnesium is found to be low. Also some dsld horses have shown high iron levels in the liver, so watch the iron intake if they test high.
We are hoping this is benefical, many of us are trying it to document how our DSLD horses do on a diet change. So far there has been some stabilized cases. We are also finding turnout 24/7 is better than stalling the horses. Barefoot with a balanced natural hoof is also beneficial rather than shoeing.
DSLD affects many breeds. We must all remove any DSLD horses from the gene pool and not breed them. I personally believe this is genetically passed because of my experience with my own horses. It would be wise to flex test the fetlocks and if they fail then ultrasound all breeding animals if you suspect ligament problems especially if they have shown lameness, heat or swelling in the fetlocks or are down in the pasterns or horizontal. Also if you know the parents of your horses had lameness problems, were euthanised young, do the flex test and ultrasounds. Some dsld horses also do not have dropped pasterns but will show lameness, or just off their gait, reluctance to move. If we all work together, we can find the answers for our beloved horses. It is time we all talk and share information. If you would like to talk and share your experiences, please join the support group at: http://yahoogroups.com/group/DSLD-equine we can learn from each other

To learn more about DSLD & research being conducted please go to- dsldequine.info

Click on Peruvian Paso Cross Stitch



Dale & Bunny Reveglia NM 87942 ph



~The Noble Peruvian~

There was a horse in days of old
That was worth his very weight in gold.

His master was conquoring sort
So horse and master left home port.

They sailed together and arrived on distant lands,
Together they crossed mountainous rock, marsh and shores of sand.

The horse was tough, agile, obedient and gaited,
Wherever he went he naturally paraded.

When the working of conquoring was finally done,
The nobilest of horses was left to rest in the sun.

Now there were royally bred horses spread far and wide
In Peru the horse looked for a new master to be by his side.

The horse was noticed by a new master
Admiration and devotion to the steed spread faster and faster.

The Peruvian Paso he came to be known as,
A smooth lofty beauty, with brio he has!

When the Peruvian moves and displays his high head
He shows off his gait with very deep thread.

One wonders how this horse came to be
so graceful, noble, so high and mighty.

It runs through his viens from breeders of old
That bred a horse worth his very weight in gold.

Written by Bunny Reveglia

The Peruvian Paso is a breed like no other, once you have experienced them, you will always want them in your life.

~ Links ~

dsldequine.info