Northernhorse.com Blog

The latest cloning news comes from the European cloning firm Cryozootech, who have today announced the birth of a clone of the three-time “American Grand Prix Association Horse of the Year”, legendary American Thoroughbred gelding showjumper “Gem Twist”.

Gem Twist - owned and bred by Frank and Mary Chapot - was much loved by followers of the sport of showjumping for an entire generation, winning two Silver Medals at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games under Greg Best, as well as Team Silver at the Pan-American Games, and numerous other Grand Prix. In 1990 he was named the “World’s Best Horse” at the World Equestrian Games in Stockholm.

The only real “downside” To Gem Twist was that he was a gelding - and therefore unable to pass on his excellent genetic material to please future generation of showjumping fans - but now, with this clone, he can!

Thanks to the Equine-Reproduction.com site for this news.

Jos Mottershead, my favorite equine reproduction specialist has published the following news article about happenings with equine cloning.

Charmayne James’ multiple world-champion gelding “Scamper” cannot of course sire foals himself, but his clone - “Clayton”, foaled in 2006 - has proven fertile, with two mares being bred, embryos flushed, and maintained pregnancies identified in the recipient mares. This exciting new development for North American breeders offers future potential for perpetuation of genetics from stallions that have been gelded - something that Professor W.R. “Twink” Allen has been promoting for over 10 years, with his recommendation being that all prospective quality geldings have semen frozen before they are gelded! The “after the fact” technique of cloning means that Scamper’s genes have now been passed on, and it will be interesting to watch the resulting foals in barrel racing performance in the future. Continue Reading »

With the advent of the first equine clone, there was speculation by some as to whether the cloned animal would be reproductively sound. Researchers and scientist had no such doubts, and that has now been proven with the first pregnancies being announced in and by cloned horses. Continue Reading »