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.