Equine reproductive services

Artificial insemination

Chilled semen

Once you have chosen your stallion, you must contact the stud and arrange a contract with them. 

It is important to find out contact details of the stud for when semen needs to be ordered and these need to be given to us when your mare is admitted.

Your mare will be admitted at the start of her oestrus period (heat/, season). 

She will then be monitored daily by ultrasound examination to detect when she has a developing follicle.

• When the follicle reaches 35mm, the semen is ordered for delivery the next day.
• An injection of hCG is usually given once the order is confirmed, which should ensure ovulation within 24 hours of insemination. 
• The mare is discharged after ovulation, provided there are no problems, and scanned at 15-16 days post-ovulation to check for pregnancy. 
• If she is not pregnant, she can be readmitted for a further cycle. If she is pregnant, we advise at least one further scan at about 25 days.

It is important to note that problems can occur if semen is required at weekends when courier services do not offer next-day delivery. 

If the semen is coming from the UK on a weekend, it is often easier for you to organise the transport of the semen yourself.

If the semen is coming from abroad, delivery is usually not possible on Saturday, Sunday or Monday, and occasionally semen has to be ordered earlier than needed to avoid delivery issues over weekends. 

Some studs on the continent also require 48 hours notice for semen collection, which is why it is important you know how the stud you have selected operates in advance, to avoid delays with semen delivery.

Unfortunately, we regularly have problems with shipments of semen being delayed when coming from abroad. When this happens, ovulation has often occurred by the time the semen arrives, and so the chances of AI success are dramatically reduced.

To try and reduce the risk of delivery delays if using a stallion from abroad, we recommend you check that the semen will be collected at an export-approved semen collection centre.

The semen must travel with the original of the correct EU certification, and this needs to be signed by a vet in the country of origin. 

If the semen arrives without the correct paperwork, it is illegal for it to be used, and we will not inseminate your mare in order to safeguard their health.

Frozen semen

Frozen semen is ordered before the mare is admitted to the clinic and stored in one of our liquid nitrogen canisters. 

The number of doses delivered depends on the contract you have with the stud (usually two doses are delivered, with a further one available if required). 

If frozen semen originates directly from abroad, the semen must travel with the original of the correct EU certification – this needs to be signed by a vet in the country of origin. 

If it has come via a storage centre in the UK, this paperwork is allowed to be a copy if the shipment has been split.   

The procedure for frozen semen is similar to that for chilled semen. The key differences in the procedure are:

• When the follicle reaches 35mm, the semen is ordered for delivery the next day.
• An injection of hCG is usually given once the order is confirmed, which should ensure ovulation within 24 hours of insemination. 
• The mare is discharged after ovulation, provided there are no problems, and scanned at 15-16 days post-ovulation to check for pregnancy. 
• If she is not pregnant, she can be readmitted for a further cycle. If she is pregnant, we advise at least one further scan at about 25 days.

The advantage of frozen semen is that there are no problems with the logistics of ordering semen during the mare’s oestrus period. 

However, it is more expensive per cycle as there is more frequent scanning involved.

AI packages

We offer competitively priced AI packages to help you budget for the costs of AI. 

This includes an in foal fee, payable if your mare is in foal at her second scan (at approximately 25 days). 

This means that if your mare fails to conceive on her first cycle, the costs are kept lower.

Package charges

Chilled semen

At grass – £370 (including VAT) 

Stabled – £460 (including VAT)

Frozen semen

At grass – £550 (including VAT)

Stabled – £650 (including VAT)

In foal fee – £170 (including VAT)   

Important information

• These prices do not include sedation and other treatments.   
• The in foal fee is payable when the mare has her first pregnancy scan at 15 to 16 days. 
• If the mare does not come back to us, it will be assumed she is pregnant and the fee will be payable.   

Alternatively, you can opt out of the package and pay for all services individually.   

The package includes:

• Initial examination to determine the stage of cycle of the mare and one dose of pProstaglandin to bring the mare into season if required. Any further scans or drugs required to get your mare cycling will be charged extra.
• Monitoring by regular ultrasound examinations for the following cycle at our hospital. 
• Insemination of the mare, including liaison with the stud collecting the semen to arrange delivery.
• Ovulation induction agent. 
• Endometrial swab and culture (if required).
• Post-insemination oxytocin injections. 
• Single intrauterine antibiotic treatment post-insemination.
• Up to seven days keep (either at grass or stabled depending on package). 
• Two ultrasound examinations for pregnancy, provided they are conducted at the hospital.
• Caslick’s operation (if required).

Not included in the package:  

• Post-insemination flushing.
• Livery beyond seven days.
• Sedation (if necessary).
• Repeat veterinary work on subsequent cycles (this will be charged at the same rate as the first cycle).
• Any other treatments which might be required by your mare, or any treatment required by a foal at foot. 

All treatments are conducted at Chine House Veterinary Hospital. Any visits will be outside of the package.