The aim of B. Sc. thesis was to present as clearly and understandably as possible the characteristics of the 6 most common genetic diseases present in the American quarter horse breed. We studied in detail the methods of inheritance, clinical signs, characteristics, factors that cause these diseases, consequences of these diseases, possibilities for treatment and maintenence of affected horses, and the frequency of individual diseases within the entire population. We focused mainly on the explanation of genetic diseases, and how they affect the expression of clinical signs of them. For each investigated disease, we then added an explanation of results obtained when the genetic test was performed, in order to facilitate understanding of the signs given in those results. We discovered that some genetic diseases appear more frequently in certain horse lines, and consequently also within disciplines in which this breed competes, therefore we investigated the frequency within the 7 popular disciplines of this horse breed. After reviewing an article published on an official AQHA page, we discovered the 2 best known causes for the increase in number of cases of affected horses. We briefly described the procedures of ordering genetic tests, and listed the factors that can cause various delays in receiving results. Since it is also important for the vast majority of breeders to order genetic tests at the best price possible and at the same time get the most reliable results, we researched the publicly listed prices of individual tests offered by accredited laboratories.
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