Robbi KnudsonQuarter Horse andThoroughbred foals areraised at <strong>Vessels</strong><strong>Stallion</strong> <strong>Farm</strong>.According to Rich Decker, <strong>Vessels</strong> <strong>Stallion</strong> <strong>Farm</strong> ownsabout 120 broodmares, approximately half of which areThoroughbreds and half are Quarter Horses. Countingmares that are shipped to the farm for breeding, foaling,or other reasons, the resident broodmare count is usuallyaround 400. The farm points all of its young horses towardthe yearling sales, Decker said. <strong>Vessels</strong> animals havebrought top dollar at sales in recent years, often leadingthe day's sale prices.Decker understands the many details that must be consideredin the course of a breeding season. He explainedthat, in order for a horse to be registered as aThoroughbred, the mare must conceive from a live cover,so Thoroughbred mares are shipped in for breeding.Quarter Horses, on the other hand, may be producedthrough artificial insemination or by embryo transfer, sothe farm's reproductive center offers cooled shipped semenby contract. All offspring of First Down Dash, in fact,result from artificial insemination rather than live cover.Embryo transfer, a somewhat more complicated procedure,involves flushing an embryo from a mare's uterus early inthe pregnancy and implanting it in the uterus of anothermare who then carries the foal to term. The resulting foalis eligible for registration as the offspring of the first mare,although this horse may have long since returned to racing,showing, or another career, or may even have beenrebred to produce multiple embryos in the same season.Decker and the other staff members bring valuableexperience to their jobs, and all their skills are needed tokeep the large and complex operation running smoothly.Some, including Decker, have college degrees, but allwould probably agree that years of hands-on work withthe horses is at least as valuable as any classroom learning."It takes a lot of people, and a tremendous amount oftime, to handle the various horses every day," Decker said.An integral part of horse farm management is the nutritionalprogram that is used. When Decker joined the <strong>Vessels</strong>team, he asked Dr. Joe Pagan, president of <strong>Kentucky</strong><strong>Equine</strong> <strong>Research</strong>, Inc. (KER), to evaluate the farm's feedingprogram and suggest ways to improve it. Pagan, whosetraining and experience include formulating special feedsfor top equine athletes in many disciplines, worked withKER Team Member Associated Feed in Turlock, California tomanufacture a custom 14% sweet feed. The product, whichis fortified with KER's proprietary vitamin-mineral-proteinbalancer pellet, meets the needs of stallions, broodmares,and young horses. Yearlings being prepped for sales are feda second formulation in which some of the grain is replacedwith beet pulp, a fermentable fiber that delivers energy inan extremely safe fashion."Other than the pedigrees of the sire and dam, nutritionis one of the most important, but often overlooked, factorsin allowing a foal's genetic potential to come through,"Decker commented. "We have been very pleased with theservice provided by Associated Feed. The professionals atAssociated Feed and <strong>Kentucky</strong> <strong>Equine</strong> <strong>Research</strong> have goneout of the way to be sure we have the consultation andproducts to keep our horses in good condition. I feel theyhave definitely improved our overall nutrition program."Recent research has pointed out the impact of feedingpractices on proper skeletal development, and Decker saidthe rate of metabolic bone disease has decreased amongthe young horses at <strong>Vessels</strong> <strong>Stallion</strong> <strong>Farm</strong> since KER's recommendationshave been in place.Producing the best horses may well involve an elementof chance, but luck can be helped along by planning, innovation,and attention to detail. Improving the land,acquiring premier breeding stock, building an experiencedand capable staff, and following expert nutritional advicehave moved <strong>Vessels</strong> <strong>Stallion</strong> <strong>Farm</strong> to its position at the topof the equine industry.<strong>Equine</strong>ws/Volume 8, Issue 2 17
Invest inSuccess!Use• Unsurpassed vitamin E nutrition forhorses of all ages.• Contains a minimum of 500 IU/mlof natural vitamin E as d-alphatocopherol.• Water-soluble formula is readilyabsorbed.• Ideal for foals, broodmares, andperformance horses.Call 800-772-1988for more information.Sold through veterinarians only.Marketed by:11-291P.O. Box 1013, Versailles, KY 40383www.kentuckyperformanceproducts.comDEVELOPED BY KENTUCKYEQUINE RESEARCH18 <strong>Equine</strong>ws/ Volume 8, Issue 2
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