Artificial Insemination Regulations for Thoroughbreds

With technological advances and developments, artificial insemination has brought changes to equine breeding. As of 2010, the Jockey Club, the body in charge of Thoroughbred registration, is the only major horse registry that does not allow artificial insemination techniques, explains The Horse website. When breeding a Thoroughbred, it is important to consider all available options before deciding on how to breed each horse.

  1. Jocky Club Rules

    • The Jockey Club, the thoroughbred breed registry for North America, has explicit rules against the use of artificial insemination (AI) in horses to be registered. The Jockey Club rulebook states that horses eligible for registration must be the result of a stallion/broodmare breeding, defined as one including "the physical mounting of a broodmare by a stallion with intromission of the penis and ejaculation of semen into the reproductive tract." It is also noted that "any foal resulting from or produced by the processes of Artificial Insemination, Embryo Transfer or Transplant, Cloning or any other form of genetic manipulation not herein specified, shall not be eligible for registration."

    Performance Horse Registry

    • In 1994 by the Jockey Club created the Performance Horse Registry (PHR) to help document Thoroughbred and half-Thoroughbred performance away from the race track. In 2004 the PHR became part of the United States Equestrian Federation and is now open to all breeds of horses. The PHR has no limitations on artificial insemination for horses to be included on its registry and offers an option for registration of Thoroughbreds born through artificial insemination.

    Considerations

    • While Thoroughbreds born as a result of AI are not eligible for entry into the Jockey Club Registry, most non-breed-specific equine events do not require the horse to be registered with a breed registry for competition. The Horse explains that there are many benefits to using AI in horses including reduced risk of injury for horses, increases use of stallions without overworking and allows for older stallions and those with poor breeding habits to continue breeding. It also allows for monitoring of sperm count and motility.