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A
frozen embryo transfer foal finds a new home.
First Frost
Story
and photo by Ginger Larson.
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Two
years ago, history was made when veterinarians completed the first
equine frozen embryo transfer in Florida. The resulting foal, appropriately
named "Frosty," was born thanks to the ingenuity of Peterson
& Smith Equine Reproduction Center in Summerfield, Florida.
Today, Frosty is owned by 4-H member Jenna Thursby. In 2004, Jenna
won Frosty in a drawing through the Marion County 4-H Horse Specialty
Club.
"It's pretty cool to have the first frozen embryo," Jenna
said.
Although Jenna had trained a Morgan pony five years ago, she did not
have experience training a yearling. But that wasn't going to stop
her. |
Jenna Thursby
is the proud new owner of "Frosty," a Florida-bred frozen
embryo transfer foal. |
When Jenna and Frosty first met in his stall at the Ocala Livestock
Pavilion, she got a glimpse of what it might be like training a young
horse. He grabbed a hold of her show jacket and took a big bite!
"Biting was his worst habit," said Jenna. "He's always
been laid back and not scared of anything. He's never kicked. But
he bites."
With Jenna's consistent training, it only took a couple weeks for
Frosty to stop the biting habit. Jenna has also taught Frosty to obediently
walk, trot and canter in the round pen. And sometimes, when Jenna
is riding her other horse, "Timmy," it's not uncommon for
her to have a guest in the pasture.
"Frosty follows Timmy and me over the jumps on his own,"
said Jenna. "He followed us into the pond yesterday and we went
swimming."
"Hopefully, Frosty will be my horse for next year to show,"
said Jenna. "His show name will be First Frost."
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The
Frozen Beginning
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Frosty
is the first embryo in Florida to be transferred from a donor
mare, frozen, thawed, placed in a recipient mare and foaled.
This new technology took place at Peterson & Smith Equine
Reproduction Center in Summerfield, Florida in 2003.
"Horse owners are becoming more and more aware of the technology
and advantages of frozen embryo transfer," said Dr. Philip
M. Matthews, director and co-owner of Peterson & Smith Equine
Reproduction Center.
Two years ago there were no frozen embryo transfer births but
now Peterson & Smith Equine Reproduction Center performs
approximately six per year, according to Matthews. The technology
is improving, making it more economical and more reliable.
"The freezing process is quicker which means it is several
hundred dollars less expensive," said Matthews. "For
every transfer, 70 to 75 percent will result in a successful
birth." |
Ginger
Larson, a senior agricultural communications
major at the University of Florida, met Frosty for the
first time in 2003. Read Ginger’s story about Frosty’s
unconventional conception in the Winter 2003-2004
issue of ec magazine, online at
www.ecmagazine.net.
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