Breeding - AI - who has used it?

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I was always intending on a natural covering for Asti, but made the mistake of buying horsedeals on Saturday as there was a massive stallion list and have been drooling over some of the stallions.

There is one that I have liked from day one, always been in the back of my mind, but he is AI only and I just really, really want!!!! And he just happened to be in there...

We've only ever done the natural route, Tini was covered, Byter ran with the stallion, so we've never even looked at this route.

What exactly is involved, idea of costs etc. Do you need a specialist or would my vets be enough as they already do AI on cows (that may be a really silly question but I thought worth asking as I really trust my vets!)

See that way she *could* stay at home and just go on short visits as necessary... have trailer, will travel!

Dammit its confused me even more! But look.....

So Black Alarabi
 
Used it on my mare who is due to foal at the beginning of May. We actually took her to the stud, but its only about 5 miles down the road, so that was easy, but the vet who the stud uses will also come to your stables, and the total cost for the vet (excluding stud fee) was £250. That covered pre-AI testing and examination, prostaglandin injection to bring the mare into season, and a scan to see if mare was in foal 2 weeks afer she was AI'd. I don't know about using a vet who doesn't have experience of AI with horses, I guess the best idea is to ask them! They might recommend a specialist in your area?
 
My 2 NF mares are in-foal through AI.

Had a few problems though, nothing to do with AI though i don't think.
Bramble got in-foal, then re-absorbed, then din't take and then got in-foal.
Teazle got in-foal first time only for it to be twins, she had a successful pinching though thank god.
Lottie did not get in-foal, haven't a clue why but stud thinks its because she doesn't take to AI, which we'll find out this year as shes being covered naturally.

Its cost £2,100 so far for 2 unborn foals!!!!!!!!!!!

It should have been £600 extra for livery fees (the stud was really nice to me because i had such an awful time) and the stud fee should have had been more coz i was originally using a young WB at only £400 (no VAT). He got injured and i was lucky enough to be able to use Goshka Ringo for £400 when it should have been £550 plus VAT.
 
We failed miserably with AI with Amy. However, most of the other mares at my yard are routinely AI'd with no problem. I therefore doubled my costs unfortunately.

However, ultimately it's usually slightly less expensive unless of course the mare goes to stud to be AI'd, thereby incurring livery costs as well.

My vet is an experienced AI technician, and I wouldn't consider using one that wasn't. I had what's called a 'pregnancy package' which was around £450. This included all vet visits, insteminations and scans. For me the price was an absolute bargin because we tried 5 times (over two seasons) with AI. So obviously lots of visits and scans etc. However, if the mare had taken first time maybe would have been a little pricey. I think that it's probably horses for courses though by the time you calculate all the costs.

Each collection from the stallion was £60 then on top of that there was transport costs for the semen. I ended up driving to Devon twice to collect fresh, and had chilled sent DHL three times.

If I put Amy back in foal she'll only have a natural covering. It's just so much less hastle.
 
Hmmmm. Need to do some reseach then... Stud fee is £400 no VAT and I assume that is chilled or frozen but I haven't asked that yet. So there would be collection and transport fees on top of the stud fee?

Plus at 14 years old and a maiden mare, AI may not be as successful or easy as a natural covering?

I really do love that stallion, he is just gorgeous, but my instinct is saying that at 15hh, with Asti at 15hh (and her mum being 14.2) - I'm possibly risking getting something under 15hh which is not what I want.

Have found some other fab stallions mind, some fairly local, some even coloured - though the colour isn't a problem, the right type and size is far more important.
 
Yes there will be transport fees im afraid which are quite expensive. Thats why i chose to take my mares to the stud as all AI procedures were included.

TBH if shes 15hh and hes 15hh and you don't want anything under 15hh, I'd definitely go for a 16.2 stallion. That way you'll get a decent sized horse. Of course it doesn't guarantee a bigger horse but it does help.
 
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So there would be collection and transport fees on top of the stud fee?

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Yes plus VAT on the stud fee and collection charges.

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Plus at 14 years old and a maiden mare, AI may not be as successful or easy as a natural covering?

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Wouldn't worry in the slightest about that - I was told that the age was immaterial.

Height wise - well as it's a first foal you're not really going to know - but I suppose realistically it's not going to be very big.
 
Ideally a 15hh is what I'd like, but I'd manage on a 15.2! Well to be honest I'm short so at the end of the day if I get a healthy foal even the size won't be a problem, I'd just rather have 15hh to 15.2 though I know nothing is guaranteed!

Have also found a cracking hanoverian, oh and this one who again might be a bit on the small side but how gorgeous is this too?

Sameon Sun Dance
 
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Height wise - well as it's a first foal you're not really going to know - but I suppose realistically it's not going to be very big.

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Well Asti is 15hh from a 14.2 mare and a 16hh stallion, and was huge when she was born, especially for a first foal.

Ivy is already 15.2 but her backside is up and she's not even 3 yet, out of a 15.2 TB mare and a 15.2 Welsh D so I know its not easy to predict! Though we knew the Sec D threw BIG foals from his mares.

Am just like a kid in a sweet shop at the moment!
 
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Am just like a kid in a sweet shop at the moment!

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It is soooooo exciting. Secretly planning another for Amy (shush, secret), so know just how you feel!!
laugh.gif
 
If your mare is a fit and healthy fourteen i wouldnt expect A.I to be a problem.
A good vet who does a lot of A.I is the best investment ,he could save alot of money for you .
Not all stud fees , infact quite alot dont have VAT added on to them.
Yes there are collection fees and postage added on but this need not be hugely expensive.
We post out for 9am delivery and it costs around £15 the only thing is that weekends are a no go so you would have to go and collect it.
Something to bear in mind if the stallion is a long way away.
Collection fees vary too some people are more greedy but there is no reason for it to be more than £30 really.
 
I was planning, as she's not an easy mare to spot in foal, to most likely inject or regumate her for a planned date, then it would be easier to arrange the delivery! Obviously I'd contact the stud etc and check everything out and plan it to the last tiny tiddly detail but this is a good help on basic fact finding,

thankies everyone!
 
Are you far from Beechwood grange they take mares to A.I to outside stallions.
There vet is Johnathon Pyecock who is one of the best in the business.
They also do a vets package that is really good value so worth a thought.
In the long run it could save you a lot of money.
 
Hannah is (hopefully) in foal via AI, and was covered once with frozen semen and took straight away - in fact showed up with twins on her 14 day scan!

I used AI because the stallion I was using was down South, and Hannah is not a fantastic traveller. Also, he was away on the dates I wanted her covered (I was living in London for 4 weeks so it was the ideal opportunity to send her to stud) so it was a case of having to use AI, but I would not hesitate doing it again. I believe it gives mare owners more options when it comes to stallions, and although it can work out quite expensive it was worth it for me to be able to use that stallion.
 
My Stud Fees were getting too much a few years ago so I bought my own stallion and then we started doing AI because it sooo much safer for both mare and stallion, but the cost was getting too much at the different AI centres for my little brood so I went and did my AI Technicians course so I DIY everything now - lol! Anyway that is totally off the topic just wanted to share!
But I have the current price list for Twemlows just arrived today if you want to know what they charge for AI??
Also which stallion do you want to use?? I just being nosey really but I like to see what stallions other people are choosing to use!
 
Mo was AI'd because she is a maiden & the stallion went at it like a bull in a china shop therefore frightened the life out of her (shame they did not mention that before). I went to Warks collected it Sat, she was inseminated, scanned Sunday which showed her releasing the egg & that was that. It actually worked out cheaper to pay the package & go AI, & if I had known how green the stallion was at covering I could have got Mo into foal a lot sooner. The year before Sas went to stud, only to come back covered in blood, which the stud omitted to tell me about. Seems another mare cornered her & kicked the hell out of her. So, if in the future I breed again it will be using AI.
 
Can you pm me it or I could give you my email address? Would give me a good idea thanks!

Currently have 3 possibles for arabs or near arabs - So Black Alarabi and Sameon Sun Dance are the two above, plus a lovey little bay called Judals Raphael.

Also we have locally a polish coloured warmblood called Wainstones Fandango (by Centyfield Nico) and a British Spotted called Lambrigg Valentine - both around the 16hh mark.

And the hanoverian I've seen is 15.3 Elysian Jasper - by Eugano who a friend used to own.

Vincent II (15.3 coloured warmblood out of a Samber mare), Waccabuc Bay Charger (15.2 QH), and Umenno - a gorgeous 16.1 colored dutch warmblood - chestnut and white.

Well thats what's caught my eye in my price bracket and mostly local which I'd prefer!
 
twemlows work out pretty pricey i think as you have to pay them a scanned in foal fee of something like £125.
Thats on top of everything else.
I sure that Beechwood granges vet package isnt much more than that
 
Thank you! She's my little Ginger pride and joy. She was being really clingy on Sunday, I was mucking out and she kept following me for cuddles (and I didn't have treats or anything) it was so sweet , I got lots of kisses!

Mind you she made up for it nearly chucking me off at the other side of the lane when some piglets went running across the field next to her, little minx! She hates them!

That photo was when she was playing at shiny-show-ponies last year. Now she's a muddy field monster/hack/dressage instructor!
 
Waccabuc Bay Charger - Would probably suit her. His stud fee is very reasonable (as are their keep charges) especially for a QH. The only drawback is if you have to sell, QH X's are not that commerical. There was a good article in H&H last wk on breeding, & coloureds were mentioned. Your mare looks a nice sort & being 3/4 TB would suit a lot of stallion breeds (still taking into account any confirmation weakness).

As I said for me it worked out cheaper to go the AI route, & this was with Mo spending a week at the vets. The package included all the scans, & this told us when she would be ready to be inseminated. Being on site made it easier for the vets even though they are not far from us it made sense to just leave her there.
 
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Got a reply from the owners, his sire and dam are both 15.1 the same as him.

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Ah, so all along the right lines hight wise then.....

I thought he was lovely.
 
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They are only using him for 10 mares so a select group! I've asked for more info...

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What's his stud fee??
 
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