Artificial Insemination

Newcombe and East veterinary surgeons have been successfully performing the artificial insemination of horses for over 20 years! In this time the practice has gathered a huge amount of experience in all aspects of assisted reproductive techniques in horses. In 1992 we performed the first successful frozen semen insemination in the UK, with semen actually frozen in the UK, achieving a pregnancy in one of John Newcombe’s own mares, foaling down in 1993.

Every year Warren House Farm accepts over 100 mares for insemination using chilled or frozen semen. Artificial insemination does not exclusively have to occur at our fertility clinic. The practice also routinely examines mares on our clients’ yards or satellite surgeries, which enables the accurate timing of insemination with fresh or chilled semen.

Newcombe and East is a BEVA certified AI practice for fresh, chilled and frozen semen.

WHY ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION?

The use of artificial insemination has many advantages over natural cover/mating, these include:

 Mares can be bred by stallions that would otherwise be inaccessible, eg. from other countries, or
those competing/training.

 Mares and foals do not need to be transported to the stallion, avoiding the stress and expense involved.

 Training and competition schedules need not be disrupted.

 Injuries resulting from natural cover ( eg.kicks to stallion) eliminated and reduced risk of injuries to staff involved.

 Reduced risk of venereal disease transmission.

CHILLED OR FROZEN SEMEN?

When you are deciding what kind of semen you are going to use for your mare there are a number of factors to take into consideration:

 Is the stallion of your choice available in chilled (delivery within 24 hr.), frozen or maybe both?

 Your mare: what is her age, is she maiden, etc?

E.g. in general, older maiden mares are harder to get into foal and therefore you might want
to go for chilled instead of frozen.

 Are you prepared to leave your mare with us? For using frozen semen the insemination has to be

timed more accurately than chilled and therefore your mare has to be living with us for a number of

days. For using chilled semen this is not always necessary.

If you would like us to advise you on what type of semen is most suitable for your mare, do not hesitate to contact us.

OUR FULLY INCLUSIVE ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION PACKAGE:

£350 + VAT

 All necessary examinations up to the third day after ovulation for TWO breeding cycles

 All necessary swabs

 Insemination fees

 All routine drugs

 All examinations for pregnancy up to 42 days (including reduction of twins when necessary)

 Storage and handling of semen

 Paperwork and certification

 Full livery up to 7 days

Extra charges:

 Livery in excess of 7 days

 Examinations, insemination and routine drugs at subsequent breeding cycles