In a world where technology is increasingly permeating traditional sectors, warmblood breeding is no exception. Innovations such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer have significantly transformed the industry. However, while some breeders are embracing these technologies, there is a growing movement advocating for the preservation of traditional breeding methods. This is where the new “TRADITIONAL BRED” label, introduced by Hippomundo, comes in.

Back to basics

In the early days of equestrian sports, the path to a foal was simple and natural: a mare was serviced by a stallion, and after a gestation period of about 11 months, a foal was born. With the advent of artificial insemination, this process changed. Mares were now inseminated with diluted semen, which quickly became the standard as it was safer for both mare and stallion. The next step in this technological advancement was embryo transfer, where a mare could produce multiple foals per year because her embryos were implanted in surrogate mothers. This way, a mare can have 2 or 3 foals per year.

The advent of ICSI

The drive for optimization led to the development of ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection). In this technique, a mare's oocytes are extracted and fertilized in a laboratory with a single sperm cell from a chosen stallion. The fertilized eggs are then frozen until the breeder decides to implant them into surrogate mares. Over time, the success rates of this technique have increased and the procedure has become increasingly popular, but it has also led to controversy as it allows for the mass production of foals. Whether ICSI foals perform better, worse, or equally well in sport remains to be seen. However, the exclusivity of certain mare lines has significantly decreased, and the prices for ICSI foals, which were initially high, are now beginning to normalize.

TRADITIONAL BRED: a tribute to tradition

Many traditional breeders are concerned about these developments and oppose the mass production of foals via ICSI. Some have even decided to throw in the towel. Some studbooks, including the Swedish studbook, have also taken steps to exclude ICSI foals.

Hippomundo aims to remain neutral at all times and does not make any judgments regarding ICSI. However, Hippomundo stands for complete transparency and criticizes the lack of information about whether a foal is traditionally bred or not. In this light, Hippomundo is introducing the "TRADITIONAL BRED" label, an initiative aimed at ensuring complete transparency and paying homage to traditional breeding methods. The label guarantees that a foal was conceived naturally and was given birth by its own mother, without the use of surrogate mothers. If the mare was inseminated with fresh or thawed frozen semen, this is also considered a natural conception.

Hippomundo invites all sport horse studbooks to join this initiative for free.

Plans for the future

Hippomundo emphasizes the importance of management and consistency in this project and hopes that many studbooks that hold the values ​​of breeding in high regard will join in the fight for transparency and the preservation of traditional breeding methods.

In an era of rapid technological progress, the TRADITIONAL BRED label provides valuable assurance for buyers and breeders who value the tradition and natural origin of their horses. It is a step back to basics, with a focus on a transparent and honest future in warmblood breeding

For more information: info@hippomundo.com