There’s something truly unique about the Appaloosa Project — a North America-wide research initiative that focuses on the genetic nature of the Appaloosa breed.
For instance, how many other scientists are linked to more than 700 horse owners through an on-line classroom?
How many other projects sell T-shirts so researchers can purchase PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test kits?
And, how many other genetic research projects can trace their creative spark to a 1966 Walt Disney movie called “Run Appaloosa, Run”?
“I still get choked up thinking about that movie,” says Sheila Archer, who laughs as she readily gives Disney partial credit for her lifelong love of Appaloosa horses.
That early fascination eventually led to Archer’s career as a phenotype (physical traits-based) researcher and to her pivotal meeting with another Appaloosa enthusiast five years ago.
Back then, Dr. Rebecca Terry (now Bellone) was a PhD student at the University of Kentucky who was conducting research to locate the Lp (leopard complex) gene in the Appaloosa breed. When Bellone and Archer contacted the same Appaloosa breeder, the woman passed on Bellone’s email address to Archer.
After corresponding for several months, the two eventually decided to pool together their resources. That partnership led to more collaborations with other genetic researchers at the Universities of Kentucky and Tampa.
In 2003, the team of researchers made an important discovery: through a genome scan, they located the Lp gene — the gene responsible for “turning on” the Appaloosa spotting pattern — in a small region on equine chromosome 1.
Soon after, the group formalized their research efforts as the Appaloosa Project. Besides Archer and Bellone, the project’s members include Drs. Ernest Bailey, Teri Lear, Gus Cothran and Ms. Samantha Brooks of the University of Kentucky, and Dr. David Adelson at Texas A & M University.
Its newest members are Drs. Lynne Sandmeyer, Bruce Grahn and Carrie Breaux of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.
“This is a grassroots, volunteer initiative,” says Archer, who operates the on-line classroom for horse enthusiasts around the world.
Since the Appaloosa Project’s research activities involve a large number of horses, the discussion group has been an invaluable resource when Archer needs to track down Appaloosas with certain traits or to collect anecdotal evidence.
“That’s a big difference between our group and other research groups: we’ve worked hard to keep those lines of communication open to horse owners and to help people understand what this project is all about.”
“Sheila is amazing because she’s extremely knowledgeable about the breed, its genetic origins and the phenotype research,” adds Sandmeyer, who is working with Archer on the investigation of congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB).
“Because she has built such a great network of Appaloosa breeders, she’s also been very helpful in getting access to horses that we can include in the study — which can be very difficult. This just wouldn’t happen without her.”
Project funding comes from various sources: donations from Appaloosa breeders, equipment and material donations from universities, research grants and of course — proceeds from T-shirt sales. A new partner is WCVM’s Equine Health Research Fund that’s providing financial support for the two-year CSNB study.
Another crucial partner is the Appaloosa Horse Club of Canada. The national breed organization has given the researchers access to registry records, funding and opportunities to communicate with its members.
But the project’s largest donors are the researchers themselves who have contributed thousands of volunteer hours to the initiative.
Their attraction to Appaloosas may not stem back to Walt Disney — but something about the breed has compelled them to be part of the project.
“I think you could safely say that all of us think Appaloosas and their unique coat patterns are beautiful,” says Archer. “And because we’re so fascinated with the reasons why they look like that, we just have to work on this project. There’s no question.”
Published with permission from Horse Health Lines, publication for the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s Equine Health Research Fund.
Visit www.ehrf.usask.ca for more information.
