Successful Breeding

Good communication between you, your vet and Craighead Farm is essential. After receiving your booking fee and signed contract, you will be included in the booking list for the current season. Your mare must have a current, clean uterine culture and a uterine biopsy may be suggested. Breeding and booking fees must be received prior to any shipment.

Transported Semen

Our goal is to provide the best service possible for you, your mare and your vet. When your mare comes into heat, you or your vet, must call Craighead Farm to give us advance notice of pending shipment. In addition, your vet must inform us of the exact day you'll need shipment (48 hours notice required for Federal Express, 24 hours for airlines). Craighead Farm will collect at 6 a.m. EST and will ship daily via airline or Federal Express. You must pick up and deliver the container to your vet, who will inseminate your mare on the day of shipment. Only one insemination dose will be supplied. The container must be returned by UPS, Federal Express or Express Mail (next day service). Your vet must check your mare until she ovulates or it's determined that you need another shipment for that heat period. Your mare must be examined at 16-18 days post-insemination with an ultrasound and again later as directed by the breeding contract. Our goal, like yours, is a foal.

Artificial Insemination on Farm

All arrangements must be made in advance with the mare manager. A one-time mare care fee for supplies will be charged, as well as a per diem fee for boarding. Your mare must arrive with a current, clean uterine culture and health record. She must be recently wormed and current with all shots. In addition, we ask that you please remove her back shoes as a safety precaution. Our mare manager will bill you for board, blacksmith and insemination expenses. Veterinarian expenses will be billed separately by the vet clinic. All expenses must be paid before your mare can be released. We advise that your mare be kept on the breeding farm until she is 40-55 days in foal.