Pelion Stud

The centre consists of 50 boxes separated into: a DEFRA approved semen collection and export centre: this dedicated barn houses our resident stallions, those staying for a month or more, or stallions sent to us to have their semen frozen for international export. The unit totally self contained for safety and quarantine purposes. Stallions have their own entrance to the arena, and a special turn-out area which contains three 18x18m pens; double-fenced with 6ft, 4 rail fencing. The Visiting Stallions Barn: housing stallions who are here for walk-in collections, and those staying for 4 weeks or less, or those visiting for semen freezing for UK use. The Mare AI & ET Unit: housing mares who are in for artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer (ET). And the Foaling Unit: which consists of two large foaling boxes with a sitting up room in between.

Our semen collection area is fully rubber matted, with a high quality dummy mare designed and manufactured in the United States. We also have a teasing wall which we have found is the safest and easiest option for when a teaser mare is required. Leading straight out from the back of the collection area is our semen analysis, processing and storage unit. Semen samples can then be carefully analysed using our big screen videomicroscopy system, and are then processed by experienced technicians using the latest techniques and best equipment available.

The mare AI unit also includes custom-built stocks to keep even the most tense or worried mares happy and relaxed, while maintaining safety levels for our vets and AI technicians. We also have embryo flushing and transfer facilities. We had excellent success rates in 2009, with around 80% of flushes yielding at least one embryo, and 75% of transferred embryos producing sound pregnancies in recipient mares.

In addition to our breeding facilities, we also have a fully rubbered hot water wash bay with power shower, a solarium, 60mx20m all weather arena, lunge pen, horse walker, and over 100 acres of turn-out. We also have a large car park and facilities for lorries to hook up to a power supply when required.

We live on site, and so are able to give 24 hour supervision when required.

Our team

Anita Hall - yard manager and AI technician - Anita has been running yards for the last 15 years. She is a qualified riding instructor and DEFRA licensed AI technician. She competed up to Intermediate level eventing and won the team chase championships in 2007. She now concentrates on running the stud, and oversees the care of all the stallions, mares and foals on site.

Mark Cubberley MRCVS - Stud Vet - Mark is an RCVS accredited specialist in internal medicine, as well as being a very experienced stud vet. Mark worked on a huge number of studs, inclduing a large Arab stud in the west country for nearly 10 years, where he was responsible for managing the mare herd as well as the stallion barn. Mark is now head of internal medicine at Scott Dunn`s Equine clinic and we are lucky enough to have him as part of the team here.

Carmel Welsh MRCVS - Stud Vet - Carmel graduated from the Royal Dick vet school, and has worked with various studs in the UK, Ireland and Australia. She is hugely enthusiastic about reproduction, and is especially interested in disorders the stallion`s reproductive tract.

Jamie Anderson BA Physiol (Oxon) - equine reproductive physiologist, AI technician, and stallion handler - Jamie read physiological sciences at the University of Oxford, and specialised in equine reproductive physiology. He has sinced trained with Jos Mottershead of Equine-Reproduction.com, Dr Guillermo Balbuena of the CRIA embryo transfer centre in Cordoba, Argentina, and at the Equine Reproduction Lab at Colorado State University. He founded Equine Reproduction Ltd in 2007, and now provides the stallion services at Pelion Stud, as well as acting as general reproduction consultant at the stud.

Louise Garland - Head groom - Lou had her first horse at the tender age of 7 months old; a mini-shetland called Barney. Her qualifications include BHS levels 1, 2, and 3, her groom`s certificate and PTT. She also worked for Grand Prix dressage riders, studs, and as a vet nurse for a large practise in Berkshire before joining us at the stud. Lou was also equitation champion 5 years running at the National Coloured Horse Championships. She has a cob called Wally who she is aiming at RIHS and HOYS this year.

Ellie Howard - stud groom - Ellie has a show jumper called Leo, who she competes regularly, and is working towards her level 2 NVQ in yard management.

Megan Parsons - stud groom - Meg studied for her First and National Diplomas in Horse Management at Sparsholt College before joining us in 2008. She is the proud owner of a small black and tan Patterdale called Bandit (or Dave), and is working towards her level 3 NVQ in stud management.

Daniella Levitt - stud groom - Dan used to work at an event yard before joining us in 2009. She has an eventing mare on loan called Ellie, and a small JR puppy called Branston.

Holstein Studs > http://pelionstud.co.uk