End of Season Newsletter
2006
HOBGOBLINS STUD
EQUINE REPRODUCTION CENTRE
END OF SEASON NEWSLETTER 2006
2006 was a busy season – the number of mares exceeded 130 for the first time, and we performed just over ninety chilled semen collections. The semen freezing side of the business continues to grow, as does embryo transfer – one of the 2007 embryo transfer foals, by Just Gotta Shine ex Lighthearted Gal, born to HG Dilemma, is featured on the front of our 2007 brochure. Dilemma is the daughter of another of our recipient mares, HG Emma, who last year gave birth to the UK’s first Quarterhorse embryo transfer foal, also ex-Lighthearted Gal.
The season got off to a good start with our first Open Afternoon. We were blessed with good weather, and the sizeable audience was treated to a ridden display of the stallions Stanhopes Diddicoy; Millenium; Jetset and Little Foxy Knoxie as well as a loose-schooled exhibition of Vedonau. Tea was served along with a brief lecture on the latest in equine reproduction techniques from Dr Madeleine Campbell, and guests then had a tour of the new stallion barn and an opportunity to examine the stallions and chat to their owners. We will be repeating this format (with additional new stallions – see our 2007 brochure!) on April 1st 2007, and the Open day will once again be generously sponsored by Dodson and Horrell and Kruuse. This year’s talk will be provided by one of Dodson and Horrell’s nutritionists on the topic of feeding breeding horses and youngstock. Please call the office to reserve your complimentary tickets and keep an eye on our website for an up-to-date list of the stallions being displayed.
It was a thrill for Hobgoblins Stud that both of the resident stallions, Stanhopes Diddicoy and Millenium, were invited to parade in the SHB(GB) display of leading sires at this year’s Badminton. In the course of the display, Diddicoy was awarded the Henry Tudor Fertility Cup by SHB(GB). Both stallions attracted much attention, and each went on to have a very successful season – Diddicoy (an old hand at the breeding game!) had 43 mares nominated (84% on-farm pregnancy rate), and Millenium achieved a 93% pregnancy rate for mares inseminated at Hobgoblins Stud – not bad for his first stud season! There are also 2 embryo transfer foals by Millenium currently incubating away inside recipient mares, whose births are eagerly awaited. We are absolutely delighted that Diddicoy and Millenium will both be standing at Hobgoblins again for the 2007 stud season, and would like to encourage the owners of mares due to foal to these stallions in 2007 to consider entering them for the BEF Futurity Competition – for further details and an entry form please contact the Hobgoblins Office.
In addition to her clinical work, Madeleine Campbell had a busy year of research and teaching. The “Equitainer Project” being conducted in conjunction with the Royal Veterinary College, looking at the effects of airport x-ray machines on equine semen, continued and more in-vitro work is planned for 2007. In August, Madeleine was invited to present two pieces of research at the 9th International Conference on Equine Reproduction. This conference is the largest international meeting for equine reproduction, and was this year held in Holland. The abstracts from these two pieces of work, one in mares and one in stallions, are available from the office upon request. Madeleine was also, in December 2005, elected to the Council of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), and subsequently appointed Chairman of BEVA’s Artificial Insemination Committee. As a result of this appointment and her appointment as Veterinary Representative of the BEF’s Quality Mark Scheme for studs, Madeleine was invited, with co-authors James Wood and Libby Archer, to write the joint BEF/BEVA/BHS briefing document on Equine Viral Arteritis, the purpose of which is to raise public awareness of how this horrible disease can be transmitted and what the horse-breeding fraternity needs to do to keep it out of the UK. The briefing document is available on-line on the Hobgoblins website. In March, Madeleine was invited to launch the briefing document in a presentation at the National Equine Forum, where the guest speaker this year was the Princess Royal. Also with her BEVA hat on, Madeleine has this year met with the Horse Race Betting Levy Board, and as a result of these meetings a new page listing requirements for shipped semen for AI (written by Madeleine) has been included in the HBLB’s Codes Of Practice. Copies of the Codes are available free of charge from the HBLB – www.hblb.org.uk. In December, Madeleine was invited to become a member of the Horserace Betting Levy Board’s Sub-Committee on Venereal Diseases, specifically to advise on the non-Thoroughbred breeding sector.
As always, the off-season is a time of renovation and reconstruction at Hobgoblins Stud. The hedges which we planted this time last year to create walkways between the fields have been pruned and are growing vigorously. Having built the new stallion barn last winter, we plan this winter to re-build our outdoor (semen quarantine centre) stables and to top up the riding arena surface. Most of our 2006 staff will be re-joining us for the 2007 season, and we look forwards to welcoming them and you back to Hobgoblins in the New Year. Meanwhile, thank you for your support during 2006 and best wishes for a peaceful and productive 2007!
Hobgoblins Stud and Equine Reproduction Centre:
www.hobgoblins-stud.com 01825 713631
For further information about the 2006 season please e-mail your personal details by clicking below:-