The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) has approved a new rule regarding the use of semen, embryos and oocytes which DOES NOT affect horses born PRIOR to 2015. This new rule only affects the semen, embryos or oocytes of those Quarter Horses born in 2015 or after. The new rule is that sperm, embryos, and oocytes from foals born in 2015 or after can only be used for two calendar years following that horse’s death or sterilization.

Francesca from SBS Italia was at the SVAG CS Classic July 4-6th at the CS Ranch in Switzerland last week and would like to congratulate Tina Kuenstner Mantl of Jac Point Quarter Horses who tied for the $20,000 added Non Pro Championship title on her beautiful stallion Heza Sure Whiz. SBS frozen semen is available on Heza Sure Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Im Not Blonde) through our SBS affiliate lab - Equine Services in South Germany.

SBSW wishes to congratulate Bob and Pam Loomis on Topsail whiz becoming the first and only "NRHA Nine Million Dollar Sire". What an accomplishment! We are so pleased we can help continue his legacy through the use of frozen semen.

Our hearts go out to Tim and Colleen McQuay as they deal with the untimely loss of their wonderful stallion, Colonels Smoking Gun, fondly known by all as Gunner. The gifted athlete and proven sire was always a pleasure to be around. SBS had the honor of working with Gunner throughout the years. He will be missed by many. However, his legacy will live on with his sons and daughters.

We have lots of news to share with you on the successes of our clients, their stallions and offspring around the world. Four Sixes Ranch reports some fantastic results for their stallion, One Famous Eagle (photo left). His first foals are now 2 years old and beginning their racing careers. So far his offspring have earned $2,382,014, making him the leading freshman sire of all time for racing Quarter Horses, breaking the record previously held by First Down Dash. His biggest runner, ONE DASHING EAGLE, is currently the #1 money earner this year. He won the $1 million Ed Burke Million Futurity, was the fastest qualifier and winner of the $2.4 million All American Futurity, and was the fastest qualifier and winner of the $1.118 million Golden State Futurity on November 4th. With this recent win the colt set a record for most money earned by a racing Quarter Horse of any age in a single season.

Select Breeders Southwest, Inc. wishes to express our condolences to the Schmersals, Dorminy Plantation and the Driscolls for their loss of Commanders Nic. We had the opportunity of standing this wonderful stallion for the partnership during the 2006 and 2007 breeding seasons. He was wonderful to be around and a great athlete. We are honored to have processed his frozen semen and sending the shipments throughout the world so that all who wished could have a little bit of Commander Nic. His legacy will live on through his offspring.

The reining horse world lost a great sire this month when Royal Chic Olena passed away. Select Breeders Southwest in Aubrey, TX was fortunate to have spent time with "Roy" and his owner Marian Hunter. In his 20 years he sired earners of over $198K. Though he may be remembered by some as an Equi-Stat Top 20 Leading Reining Sire or an NRHA Top 25 leading Sire is 2004, he will be remembered by all who knew who him as a gentle soul who will be missed in this world. May his athleticism and kind spirit live on through his offspring.

News from SBS Italia - Spat Split and White (Spat Olena x Arc Joy Surprise) and Massimiliano Ruggeri were the Level 4 Open Champions with a score of 224 at the NRHA/IRHA Derby in Reggio Emilia May 13-19 2012. Congrats from SBS - a well deserved win!! (photo left).

News from our consultant, Dr. Ed Squires, reported in The Horse magazine regarding the new formulation of the ovulatory agent, Deslorelin. Data shows that a 1.8-mg/kg dose of this product was safe and effective in inducing ovulation in mares and pregnancy rates for treated mares were similar to those of untreated controls.

This past weekend the jumping world lost one of it's own. The Dutch Warmblood stallion Online passed away at the age of 16. Along with his many accomplishments he won the $10,000 Grand Prix of St. Louis in March 2009 and the $30,000 Lamplight Grand Prix in July 2009. We express our condolences to Kate Bomgaars and Newstone Farm as they cope with the loss of her beloved stallion. May his legacy live on in his offspring through the use of frozen semen.

Many of our Arabian clients achieved great success at the World Arabian Horse Championships, held in Paris in conjunction with the Salon du Cheval, a multi-discipline equine extravaganza that should be on the to-do list of all equine enthusiasts! Highlights include for agent Michael Byatt Arabians (owner, Al Shaqab Member Qatar Foundation) - Sire of the World Championships with Marwan Al Shaqab for the 5th year in a row! Marwan sired the Gold, Silver and Bronze medal Senior Stallions, Marquis Cahr, QR Marc and Marajj respectively and the Gold Medal Junior Stallion, Kahil Al Shaqab. QR Marc was presented by SBS Italia client, Paolo Capecci (owner, Knocke Arabians) and Marajj (photo left) is owned by SBS Italia clients, Albidayer Stud.

The 57th Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners was held November 18-22 in San Antonio, Texas. Paul Loomis attending the conference and prepared this brief summary of a few of the interesting papers presented in the area of equine reproduction.

We have lots of successes to share this month! Firstly news from the NRHA/IHRA Reining Futurity in Manerbio, Italy, November 5-12. Francesca Bellingeri from SBS Italia reports - Another success for Spat Split & White and Massimiliano Ruggeri who won the €1500 NRHA Open & the Italian Open Champion title. Massimiliano was interviewed after his win: "Spat Split & White is a very sensitive horse. I just have to ask, and he gives me everything he has. This is the first Italian Championship I have won, so it is very special. Spat Split & White is only 5 years old and I am positive we will have many more successful events together". Spat Split & White (left) is frozen and distributed by SBS Italia.

The famous stallion, Hickstead, ridden by current No. 1 international show jumper, Erik Lamaze, from Canada collapsed and died after completion of a jumping round at an FEI competition in Verona, Italy on November 6th. Subsequent postmortem analysis determined the cause of death to be an acute aortic rupture.

It was definitely an exciting week at Dressage at Devon and SBS would like to congratulate our clients who participated in the week long breed and performance show, September 27th - October 2nd. Don Principe, owned by Maryanna Haymon and Harmony’s Baroncelli, managed by Hassler Dressage, both competing in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle. Bugatti Hilltop, owned by Hilltop Farm placed in the top 10 in the PSG with his rider’s first time out in a CDI. Don Hill, owned by Virginia Leary and managed by Hilltop Farm (photo left), placed 1st in the 4 year old and older stallion class.

In 2010 the Arabian horse industry witnessed history in the making with the first Ruminaja Ali foals born in 13yrs. David Cains of Stonewall Farm Arabians, Scottsdale, AZ was assisting the Dubai Arabian Stud director, Mohamed Al Tawidi, in selecting horses for their breeding program. Daughters from the legendary Arabian sire Ruminjara Ali were on their wish list, but these mares were rare and seldom available for purchase. Whilst researching the possibilities, David learned about Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) and realized what a fantastic opportunity the technology offered. Al Tawidi and Cains carefully selected a group of elite mares to breed to Ruminjara Ali using this technique. Frozen-thawed sperm were injected directly into harvested oocytes, then the fertilized oocyte was transferred into a surrogate mare. The resulting foals (pictured below) demonstrate that dreams can come true and what was once considered a possibility, could be reality. Ruminaja Ali is owned by Bergren Family Arabians and was frozen by Select Breeders Southwest.