STUD HEALTH SCHEME

STUD HEALTH SCHEME

Please note the below requirement with regards to Stud Health, as detailed in the Rules of the NHA.
Every mare OWNER and every stallion OWNER shall comply with the requirements of the Stud Health Scheme as published in the RACING CALENDAR from time to time and detailed in the Rules of the NHA. 

Failure to comply with the Stud Health Scheme constitutes a serious veterinary health risk and may result in the cancellation of the REGISTRATION of the Breeder and Stud Farm concerned.

DOURINE
Dourine is a serious and often chronic venereal disease of horses. All maiden mares and barren mares, as defined below, shall be tested for dourine prior to being subsequently covered.

All REGISTERED stallions shall be tested for dourine annually prior to the first covering of the season.

BARREN MARES
All barren mares (those failing to conceive), as defined below, shall be examined for breeding soundness by a veterinarian prior to such mare being covered again. The mare OWNER shall ensure that a certificate for breeding soundness for barren mares is completed at the time of the veterinary examination.

There must be three copies of such certification:
  • One copy of the abovementioned certificate shall be retained by the mare OWNER or the studmaster,
  • one copy thereof shall be given to the OWNER or the studmaster of the stallion which subsequently covers the mare and
  • one copy thereof shall be given to the veterinary surgeon who performed the examination for certification of breeding soundness.
By definition “Barren Mares” include mares:
  • which did not conceive in the previous season;
  • which aborted;
  • which produced a stillborn foal;
  • whose foal died within seven days of birth;


MARES WHICH ARE NOT BARREN
All mares which are not barren but which are suspected to be suffering from a genital infection, or which at any time during the previous calendar year, have been in contact with a stallion known to have been venereally infected at the time of such contact, shall be examined for breeding soundness by a veterinary surgeon.

The mare OWNER shall ensure that a certificate for breeding soundness is completed at the time of the veterinary examination.
One copy of the abovementioned certificate shall be retained by the mare OWNER or the studmaster, one copy thereof shall be given to the OWNER or the studmaster of the stallion which subsequently covers the mare and one copy thereof shall be given to the veterinary surgeon who performed the examination for breeding soundness.
Mares which are not barren but are suspected to be suffering from a genital infection include:
  • foaling mares showing evidence of a genital infection;
  • foaling mares which have retained the placenta;
  • mares which are in foal and are suspected of harbouring a genital infection.

VENEREAL CONDITIONS
Should an organism known to cause a venereal condition in the horse be cultured from a sample taken from a mare, such mare shall not be covered until a veterinary surgeon has certified that it is safe to do so.
Organisms known to cause venereal conditions shall, inter alia, include Taylorella equigenitalis (Contagious equine metritis or CEM ), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and all Klebsiella species.