Embryo transfer an explanation by Dan Shaw, June 2002 This is when the 8 day old embryo is taken out of the natural dam and placed into a recipient, who goes on to have and rear the foal. The advantages are many in that the valuable donor mare is not at risk in the foaling process, can have more than one foal per year, can carry on competing, ie show jumping, polo etc or may have a condition such as infertility or a broken pelvis that precludes giving birth to a live healthy foal. We are sure to see this procedure become commonplace, especially amongst our elite athletes. The cost is currently $2000-$4000 and the success rates around 40-80% per cycle. The crucial factor appears to be recipient selection and management. The best recipients are less than 12 years old, have had one foal or are maidens, and are big and quiet. As this country’s reputation grows as an equine nursery, and spreads from the thoroughbred industry into other breeds , astute breeders will use the above tools to accelerate the genetic potential of their stock. It is important to remember that reproductive advances continue, and other procedures such as semen sexing embryo preservation, oocyte transfer and super ovulation will be available to breeders on a commercial basis in the not too distant future.