FAQs
1. What is the process of breeding?
First you decide which stallion you wish to use
and order the semen for this stallion. The information
that you need to make an informed choice is contained
in each stallion's individual information page.
Your vet will check your mare to determine when
she will be coming into season. Sometimes vets
will advise giving hormone injections to the mare
to bring her into season. Once the vet considers
the mare is nearly ready for insemination the
vet will request delivery of the semen. Please
note that if you are using frozen semen from us,
you can choose for us to arrange for the semen
to be delivered to your vet in advance. Once the
semen has arrived your vet will inseminate your
mare.
This process can continue throughout the season
until your mare achieves a pregnancy. Once your
mare is certified pregnant at the beginning of
October, a covering certificate will be issued
to you. Once the foal is born you can register
the foal with the relevant breed society using
the covering certificate.
2. In which months of the year can I purchase
semen and breed?
The stud season usually runs from January to August.
German studs will close their breeding stations
at the end of July, and Dutch studs at the end
of August. Most breeders choose to have their
mares inseminated between the months of March
to July, in order to ensure that foals are not
exposed to harsh weather conditions in their first
few weeks of life.
3. Does my mare have to be examined by
a vet before starting breeding?
We do not require you to do this. However, we
would strongly recommend that you do because your
vet will be able to assess whether there are any
potential problems, and treat any conditions that
may prevent your mare getting in foal. This can
save you a lot of money, time and disappointment.
4. My mare has never had a foal before,
is this a problem?
Not at all. We have no information or experience
that maiden mares have any more difficulty getting
into foal than any other mares.
5. My mare has had trouble getting in foal in
the past, is this a problem?
Not necessarily. This will depend greatly on the
reasons why your mare had problems. Sometimes
it can be due to undiagnosed conditions that can
be treated, sometimes the management and insemination
of the mare was not successful, sometimes the
mare and stallion simply did not mix genetically
and a mare who could not get in foal to one stallion
can get in foal easily to another stallion, and
sometimes it is just bad luck. You are advised
to consult your vet to establish if there are
any identifiable reasons before embarking on breeding
again.
6. My mare is young / old, is this a problem?
Most mares are not put in foal until they are
3, and most mare owners find that conception rates
drop once the mare is older than 15. However,
with certain breeds such as warmbloods, mares
are sometimes put in foal at 2 providing they
are approved for breeding by a vet. Many mares
also continue to breed successfully after 15,
but again you should take the advice of a vet.
7. When do I have to order and pay for the semen?
We recommend that you decide which stallion you
want and begin the breeding process as early in
the season as practical, both to give your mare
the maximum number of cycles in which to get in
foal, and to ensure that you are able to have
the stallion you want.
Once you have decided on your stallion, we advise
you to order the semen as soon as possible, even
if you intend delivery to be at a later date.
We need to have received your completed order
form and payment before we are able to dispatch
the semen. Therefore, to avoid semen being delayed
and your mare missing a cycle, we would advise
you to order as soon as you have chosen the stallion.
8. How do I purchase and order the semen?
Once you have chosen a stallion, we advise you
to contact us to confirm the stallion's price,
terms and availability, as these can occasionally
(although rarely) change depending on the stallion's
health and commitments.
You will need to complete the order form in full
(which can be found on our 'Prices' page) and
send this to us with your payment and a copy of
your mare’s papers. Once we have received
these, we can deliver your semen as required.
9. How do I know the quality of the semen is good?
All of the studs we use have very high standards
for the quality of the semen they supply. Your
vet will examine the quality of the semen when
it arrives. In the unlikely event that there is
a problem with the quality of the semen your vet
should inform us immediately, and we will arrange
for a replacement dose.
10. How do I know I am getting the correct stallion's
semen?
Each dose of semen is supplied with identification
marks of the stallion's name, the reference numbers
for when the semen was collected and the EU collection
centre number. Your vet will compare this information
with the information supplied on the health certificate
accompanying the dose signed by the vet who processed
the semen at the stud to ensure that the semen
is from the correct stallion.
11. What documentation comes with the semen?
Every dose of semen comes with a health certificate,
and if necessary, an import licence. Your vet
will receive all the documentation needed with
the semen dose, and it is your vet’s responsibility
to ensure that all required paperwork is included
and correct.
13. Can my own vet do the insemination, and if
not which vet should I use?
Unless your own vet has experience with chilled
and frozen semen artificial insemination we would
strongly advise you to use a vet specialising
in these areas. Please click on the link below
for AI vets known to us. AI is not a particularly
complicated procedure, but to optimise the chances
of conception is it preferable to use a vet with
experience of the procedures required, who has
the necessary specialised equipment and who has
experience with the timing and ordering of semen
from abroad.
AI Vets and Centres
(PDF Document)
14. From which stallions do you get the best results?
This is a very difficult question to answer because
conception depends not only on the stallion, but
also on the mare, the genetic combination of the
mare and stallion, the vet and the insemination
process, the management and health of the mare,
the demands on the stallion at the time, and a
dose of luck. Once you have decided which stallions
you are interested in, we will be happy to do
our best to advise you of each stallion's situation
and compatibility at the relevant time, although
clearly we cannot make any guarantees that your
mare will get in foal.
15. How will I find out if my mare is in foal?
Most vets will scan the mare 14-16 days after
she was inseminated to determine whether or not
she is in foal. Once the mare is in foal, she
can be scanned at other intervals depending on
your requirements and your vet's recommendations.
At the very least, the mare will need to be scanned
at the beginning of October to provide the pregnancy
certificate and determine her needs and management.
16. What happens if my mare is not in foal by
the end of the season?
This will depend on the terms applicable to the
stallion, which can be found on our 'Prices' page.
Some stallions will be provided on 'no foal free
return' for the mare the next year, some on a
discount on the stud fee paid if the mare is not
in foal, and some will be sold with no guarantee.
Please contact us to confirm each stallion's terms
prior to purchase as the prices and terms on which
the stallions are sold are occasionally subject
to change.
17. How do I register the foal?
Your vet will issue you with a certificate of
pregnancy after the 1st October. On receipt of
this certificate, we will arrange for the relevant
stud to issue you with a covering certificate.
You can use this covering certificate to register
your foal with the appropriate breed society.
Please ensure that the stallion you choose is
approved for the breed society you wish to register
the foal with prior to ordering semen. Please
also ensure that you provide us with the pregnancy
certificate as soon as possible.
18. What if I have further questions or need more
detailed advice?
If you need any further information or advice
at all please do not hesitate to contact us. If
you require very detailed breeding information,
or information specific to your mare, your vet
should be able to provide this for you.
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