Horse Serious

The future is here! What was once an alien concept is now actually somewhat accessible. Although it is still far from mainstream, the technology is available and is playing a vital role in genetic preservation.

What Is Cloning?

Cloning is essentially replicating genetic information from one animal to another. Horses are often cloned to preserve their valuable bloodlines. In most cases, a highly valuable horse has died or has been gelded, and obtaining offspring is not an option. In addition to cloning horses, cloning other animals is becoming increasingly common amongst rare and endangered species.

Is Cloning Horses Legal?

Yes, cloning is legal. However, the laws and rules around it vary within the equestrian industries and studbooks. Cloning horses is allowed in the thoroughbred industry and the FEI allows cloned horses to participate in their sports.

How Does Cloning Work?

Cloning horses requires samples of tissue and DNA from the desired horse. The nucleus of the cells is transferred into an egg or oocyte which has all of its DNA removed. This egg is then implanted into a mare and is carried to term like a normal pregnancy.

How Much Does Cloning a Horse Cost?

To start the cloning process, you must preserve the cells. This costs approximately $500 USD at Gemini Genetics, plus the additional storage costs. The next step is when the cells are cultured and cost around $1500 USD with Gemini Genetics. The actual cloning procedure is the most expensive part of the package. All species vary, but with horses, you’re looking at around $85,000 to clone a horse.

Can You Clone a Dead Horse?

Yes, it is possible to clone a dead horse. However, you must act very quickly. Tissue and DNA samples must be taken at most 5 days after the horse has died and as long as the horse has been kept in good condition. The chances of successful DNA preservation decreases every day the horse has been deceased.

Who Is The Most Famous Cloned Horse?

There are several famous cloned horses. The double Olympic silver-medal winner showjumper Gem Twist has two clones currently; Gemini CL, who is now 13 and is currently in Europe in the showjumping circuit. The second clone from Gem Twist is 10-year-old Murka.

The Olympic eventing stallion, Chilli Morning, has three 4-year-old clones right now as well. Additionally, Olympian Tamarillo has also been cloned.

Do Clones Look Identical To The Original Horse?

Although their genetics are exact replications, they do not always look identical to the original horse. The biggest differences are often the variations in markings. Markings are not based on genetics, rather they are caused by the random migration of white cells during fetal development.

Do The Clones Share The Same Personality As The Original Horse?

Just like humans and most animals, their personalities are influenced by their environment and their genetics. Some clients report that their clone reminds them of the original animal’s personality despite them not being exactly alike.

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