We are successfully involved in the use of artificial insemination, cooled shipped semen and embryo transfer on both our own mares and those of our clients.  Many previously infertile mares have conceived and carried foals to term after becoming part of our program.  This is an area of great interest and emphasis for us.  We enjoy the challenges associated with breeding this type of mare.

In 1998 we constructed a new facility, part of which was devoted solely to our breeding operation.  The breeding area was designed to maximize mare and stallion safety.  It is isolated from the rest of the barn and contains a padded foal box, padded tie spot for the mare and palpation stocks.  There is a laboratory with all the appropriate equipment needed to properly process collected semen for artificial insemination or shipping cooled semen.

We collect the stallions ourselves, microscopically examine the semen for motility, determine its concentration by use of a calibrated sperm counter and then process it.  The collected sperm can then be cool shipped to be used in 24-48 hours or used immediately. This allows much more efficient use of the stallion.  (We can breed several mares from a single collection of one stallion).  (The use of artificial insemination as well as other management tools on "problem mares" can definitely improve the conception rate.)

The cooled shipped semen program has been a great bonus to breeders all over the country.  It has provided them with the opportunity to breed to our fine stallions without having the anxiety and expense of shipping their mares.  This is especially appealing to those people whose mares have a foal by their side.  They are not subjected to foreign environments, strange horses and new people.  The reduction in stress is immense.

The newest exciting addition to our reproductive arsenal is embryo transfer.  Since our first implant in 1997, we have foaled six embryo transfer foals(4 fillies, 2 colts).  The most challenging transfer was done as part of the world famous ET research at Colorado State University. "Spirit of the West" was foaled in the summer of 1998.  This amazing black filly is the daughter of Pride’s Bronze Spirit and Traveler’s Red Alert.  She was carried by a recipient Quarter horse mare.  This procedure was the only remaining way for Bronze Spirit to produce a foal.  Time and scar tissue prohibited all other options.  We consider her to be a true scientific bonus.

Two of the 1999 Embryo Transfer foals provided us with strong new additions to our gene pool.  Two sorrel colts were foaled on June 26 and July 16 .  The donor mare was the World Grand Champion - Bo’s April Charm (owned by Judy Middleton of Nixa) and the sire was our World Grand Champion - Traveler’s Red Alert.  This should be a very interesting situation to follow in the coming years!!  Full brothers, only 20 days apart in age.

All of our embryo transfer work is done at Colorado State University or at a private equine practice here in Missouri.  This is not something that we will do on a large scale.  It will be for certain medical reasons, to get foals out of a certain mare but by two different sires, to allow a mare to show and reproduce concurrently, or for those "special crosses".  It allows us new and exhilarating possibilities.

The key to establishing and maintaining successful bloodlines is to base them on true, natural ability.  There is no substitute for it and nothing else is acceptable.  We take great satisfaction that we are breeding and showing the fourth generation of our bloodstock; horses that are proven successful in the showring before they are allowed to reproduce.  We look forward with great anticipation to the future of our bloodlines within the Fox Trotting breed and appreciate all those horses and people of the past who helped us arrive at this position.