The eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano has closed airports and canceled flights in Europe, leading to the suspension of equine frozen semen shipments at the height of the breeding season.

Jamie Anderson of Equine Reproduction in Berkshire, England, said that his and other companies are having difficulty getting frozen semen to clients.

"People in the U.K. were hoping to order chilled semen from Baloubet du Rouet (from Belgium) today," said Anderson, "but that was not possible because of the canceled flights. Luckily, we have a reserve of Baloubet du Rouet frozen semen in stock, and so have been meeting the UK demands that way."

Baloubet du Rouet, a Selle Francais stallion, is an Olympic gold medalist jumper