By Sandro Barbacini, DVM, WEVA Board Member

Breeders freeze stallion semen for a variety of reasons—so the horse can compete during breeding season; for export; or for the future in the event he dies, is injured, or contracts an illness that prevents him from breeding. But there are other reasons, as well, which we’ll explore in this article.

Better Quality Control

Frozen semen allows veterinarians to prescreen stallions for infectious diseases and conduct a post-thaw analysis of motility (movement), concentration, and bacterial growth. Thus, mare owners and veterinarians can breed with confidence they are receiving high-quality semen.

Double-Duty Stallions

A stallion owner might train a competition stallion to be collected for semen freezing when the animal is not scheduled to be in training or the show ring. This allows the stallion owner, trainer, and horse to concentrate on one goal at a time