Impressive (horse)
Encyclopedia
Impressive was born an Appendix American Quarter Horse
, however earned his full AQHA registration in 1971. He was the 1974 World Champion Open Aged halter
stallion, the first such World Champion in his breed, despite carrying only 48 halter points in total. He is famous for his highly successful progeny, having sired 2,250 foals. Nearly thirty of his offspring went on to be World Champions themselves.
Impressive is also notorious as the primary source of the widespread genetic disease
known as Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis
(HYPP).
In his showing days, Impressive changed hands a number of times, perhaps his most famous owner being Dean Landers, who also owned the famous halter stallions Two Eyed Jack
, Coy's Bonanza, and Sonny Dee Bar
. Although Impressive raced for a short time after Landers sold him to Fennel Brown, he was quickly excluded from any performance discipline due to pedal osteitis, leaving halter as his only choice. His groundbreaking 1974 World Championship soon cemented his role in that discipline. Each time Impressive was resold, his price rose quickly; at one point, an offer of $300,000 for him was refused by Brown, who said "ain't nobody in this world got enough money to buy this horse."
Impressive was highly sought after for breeding, despite at one time carrying the outrageously high stud fee of $25,000. He sired a total of 2,250 foals, and as of 2003, was estimated to have in excess of 55,000 living descendants. He was bred for his muscular and refined form, which was passed on to his get often enough to make him at least the #5 all-time leading quarter horse sire when ranked by AQHA points earned by all progeny combined. Perhaps his greatest foal is Noble Tradition, a four-time World Champion stallion in halter, who has gone on to be a highly successful sire himself.
Although Impressive was not known to have exhibited any symptoms of the disease himself, gradually it became evident that many horses tracing to Impressive were afflicted with the painful, alarming, and often fatal disease Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis
(HYPP). Further, it has never been observed in horses not descendants of his line. HYPP is a dominant gene, and as such, all animals with even one copy of the gene, identified as "N/H", will exhibits some symptoms of the disease. Horses with two copies, identified as "H/H." will always pass on the condition, and research suggests that H/H horses may have more severe symptoms that N/H horses.
After a number of years of debate, effective since January 1, 2007, the AQHA amended rule 205(c)(3) and rule Rule 227(e) to require all descendants of Impressive to be tested prior to being registered, and ban from registration all horses born after January 1, 2007 with HYPP genetics confirmed by DNA testing to be homozygous for the condition (H/H).
However, other breed registries that accept animals with Quarter Horse bloodlines, including the American Paint Horse Association
and the Appaloosa Horse Club
, have yet to bar such animals. There is currently a widespread effort among many breeders to eliminate the disease by selective breeding
, but there are those who continue to breed without regard for it, seeking the muscular enhancement correlated with it, and in doing so perpetuate the disease's existence.
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less; some individuals have been clocked at speeds up to 55 mph...
, however earned his full AQHA registration in 1971. He was the 1974 World Champion Open Aged halter
Halter
A halter, headcollar, or, less often, headstall, is headgear that is used to lead or tie up livestock and, occasionally, other animals; it fits behind the ears , and around the muzzle. To handle the animal, usually a lead rope or lead shank is attached...
stallion, the first such World Champion in his breed, despite carrying only 48 halter points in total. He is famous for his highly successful progeny, having sired 2,250 foals. Nearly thirty of his offspring went on to be World Champions themselves.
Impressive is also notorious as the primary source of the widespread genetic disease
Genetic disorder
A genetic disorder is an illness caused by abnormalities in genes or chromosomes, especially a condition that is present from before birth. Most genetic disorders are quite rare and affect one person in every several thousands or millions....
known as Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis
Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis
Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis is a genetic disorder which occurs in both humans and horses, where it is also known as Impressive Syndrome. It is an inherited autosomal dominant disorder which affects sodium channels in muscle cells and the ability to regulate potassium levels in the blood...
(HYPP).
In his showing days, Impressive changed hands a number of times, perhaps his most famous owner being Dean Landers, who also owned the famous halter stallions Two Eyed Jack
Two Eyed Jack
Two Eyed Jack was a Quarter Horse stallion and showhorse, and the leading all time sire of American Quarter Horse Association Champions.-Life:...
, Coy's Bonanza, and Sonny Dee Bar
Sonny Dee Bar
Sonny Dee Bar was a Quarter Horse stallion and famous sire of show horses, not only Quarter Horses but Paint Horses and Appaloosas as well.-Life:...
. Although Impressive raced for a short time after Landers sold him to Fennel Brown, he was quickly excluded from any performance discipline due to pedal osteitis, leaving halter as his only choice. His groundbreaking 1974 World Championship soon cemented his role in that discipline. Each time Impressive was resold, his price rose quickly; at one point, an offer of $300,000 for him was refused by Brown, who said "ain't nobody in this world got enough money to buy this horse."
Impressive was highly sought after for breeding, despite at one time carrying the outrageously high stud fee of $25,000. He sired a total of 2,250 foals, and as of 2003, was estimated to have in excess of 55,000 living descendants. He was bred for his muscular and refined form, which was passed on to his get often enough to make him at least the #5 all-time leading quarter horse sire when ranked by AQHA points earned by all progeny combined. Perhaps his greatest foal is Noble Tradition, a four-time World Champion stallion in halter, who has gone on to be a highly successful sire himself.
Although Impressive was not known to have exhibited any symptoms of the disease himself, gradually it became evident that many horses tracing to Impressive were afflicted with the painful, alarming, and often fatal disease Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis
Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis
Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis is a genetic disorder which occurs in both humans and horses, where it is also known as Impressive Syndrome. It is an inherited autosomal dominant disorder which affects sodium channels in muscle cells and the ability to regulate potassium levels in the blood...
(HYPP). Further, it has never been observed in horses not descendants of his line. HYPP is a dominant gene, and as such, all animals with even one copy of the gene, identified as "N/H", will exhibits some symptoms of the disease. Horses with two copies, identified as "H/H." will always pass on the condition, and research suggests that H/H horses may have more severe symptoms that N/H horses.
After a number of years of debate, effective since January 1, 2007, the AQHA amended rule 205(c)(3) and rule Rule 227(e) to require all descendants of Impressive to be tested prior to being registered, and ban from registration all horses born after January 1, 2007 with HYPP genetics confirmed by DNA testing to be homozygous for the condition (H/H).
However, other breed registries that accept animals with Quarter Horse bloodlines, including the American Paint Horse Association
American Paint Horse Association
The American Paint Horse Association is a breed registry for the American Paint Horse. It is currently headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It was founded in 1965 with the merging of two different color breed registries that had been formed to register pinto-colored horses of Quarter Horse bloodlines...
and the Appaloosa Horse Club
Appaloosa Horse Club
The Appaloosa Horse Club, located in Moscow, Idaho is dedicated to preserving and promoting the Appaloosa breed. The state of Idaho adopted the Appaloosa as its state horse in 1975. More than 630,000 Appaloosas have been registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club since its founding in 1938...
, have yet to bar such animals. There is currently a widespread effort among many breeders to eliminate the disease by selective breeding
Selective breeding
Selective breeding is the process of breeding plants and animals for particular genetic traits. Typically, strains that are selectively bred are domesticated, and the breeding is sometimes done by a professional breeder. Bred animals are known as breeds, while bred plants are known as varieties,...
, but there are those who continue to breed without regard for it, seeking the muscular enhancement correlated with it, and in doing so perpetuate the disease's existence.