In an eye-opening event, Mississippi State University researchers discovered that Quarter Horses diagnosed with the disease called hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA) not only have skin defects but also important eye abnormalities.

HERDA is a recessive genetic disease of horses that results in fragile skin that tears easily and heals poorly.

"Recent studies have shown that HERDA is becoming increasingly prevalent in Quarter Horses," relayed Ann Rashmir-Raven, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, associate professor of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

"An estimated 28% of cutting horses are carriers of the gene responsible for HERDA," she added