I'm sharing this information about PSSM1 because it may help others and inspire breeders to remove this genetic condition from their herds. It seems it only takes a generation to breed it out of a herd. If I had known about genetic testing, I would have had this colt tested before purchasing him. I bought him from Pidcock/Coats Foundation Quarter Horses, owned by Lola Gay Coates, when he was just a couple of days old. I brought him home when he was 7 months old. He was my dream horse, my retirement gift to myself. I had been stopping by her ranch and talking with her for many years. I considered Lola Gay my friend. Here’s my Colts' story. At 2 ½ years old, I sent my awesome little foundation quarter horse to a horse trainer for a brief 30-day training session. At the trainer's request, I had him genetically tested because she had a couple of other horses from the same breeder that had tested positive for Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM1). Horses with Type 1 Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM1), a muscle disease characterized by the accumulation of abnormal complex sugars (glycogen) in skeletal muscles. The accumulation of abnormal sugars can cause the breakdown of muscle fibers (rhabdomyolysis), leading to muscle pain, weakness, skin twitching, sweating, and a reluctance to move. This condition can literally lead to a painful tying up and even death. The results came back, and he tested positive for PSSM1. I had never heard of this, so I contacted the breeder, Lola Gay. She stated that the stallion had tested negative, but the mare had not been tested. She told me it wasn’t a big deal; it had been in the quarter horse line from way back in time. She explained the feeding method, which I attempted to use, but it has not been effective for my colt. I made 3 trips to the eastern side of the state to purchase 6 tons of alfalfa that she said would resolve his condition, but it didn’t work for him. So, I went back and bought 3 tons of timothy hay. He seems to do better on Timothy hay. Here’s what happened. When I got him home from this 30-day training, I noticed he was standing with his back legs tucked under his belly, and it wasn’t going away. Over the next six months, it became apparent that it was more than just an awkward colt growth process. I wondered if he had somehow hurt himself. Then, I decided to read about PSSM1; his condition was on the symptom list. So, I canceled the horse training clinic I was preparing to attend with him as a 3-year-old. When I explained why, the trainer connected me with someone who told me about a vitamin/mineral supplement that could help balance his condition, and I ordered some. After a couple of months, he seemed better, so at age 3 ½ I headed to a Brent Graef Clinic and had a private lesson the day before it started. I was so disappointed/heart broken when Brent showed me his body imbalance in movement. He bunny hopped, and cross-fired in his hind end. I’ll never forget the sad expression on Brent face as he explained my colt’s imbalance, and that he couldn’t allow me to train my colt to be ridden. He felt this weakness in the hind end was a setup for a possible fall and either I or my colt could get hurt. Once he pointed it out, I saw it very clearly. I sent a couple messages to Lola Gay explaining I have tried everything she recommended, plus more with no resolve of this condition. I asked Lolo Gay to take my colt back if she truly believed Pssm1 is “no big deal” like she told me it was. I paid her $6,500 as a little colt and have invested so much trying to find health and wellness for my beautiful colt. I have become so attached and love him so much. I’m heart broken. Pidcock/Coates Quarter Horses, Lola Gay Coates have ignored my requests for help, so I am speaking out about this horse trader. I love this great little horse and I’m heartbroken to not have been able to help him. The first photo is of him when he isn't in pain. The second photo is how his is most all the time.