As You Begin Processing Your Own Opinion on the Issue of Cloning, Take
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As you begin processing your own opinion on the issue of cloning, take a moment to look at some of the horses that have been produced by this technological advancement. Horse people today are using this technology with the belief that chromosomal DNA is the most powerful element to be considered in the performance horse world. We are now witnessing how cloning is challenging the way the equine communities understand genetics, value DNA, and may promote bloodlines in the 21st century. Without question, the technology is here, and now it’s time to learn about it. n the performance horse industry, genet- valuable enough to fork out the enormous cost common with cloning. ics have always played a key role in pro- of over $100,000 to rebuild another champion, Much has changed in the eight years since ducing the best horses. Therefore, cloning even if it means the horse will be without a set the first horse was cloned in 2003, and we al- is being used to take the guesswork out of of papers. ready have a growing list of reclaimed champion Ithe breeding process, by continuing bloodlines For breed registries such as the AQHA, there bloodlines. Undeniably, cloning has the veteri- that have been proven successful. While there remain hurdles within the rulebook which sci- nary community, the world’s leading scientists still are some skeptics in the horse industry as to ence must defeat in order to have a hope of and equine enthusiasts all pulling out their own the quality and functionality of these horses, the these organizations allowing the registration of points of view. What we may know for certain is cloning process is now on the edge of illustrat- clones. Veterinarians are now explaining how that cloning is not going to disappear from our ing its’ role in today’s performance horse world. good these horses actually are and what positive industry, and now it is up to us to find how its’ In North America, the cloning process has benefits clones offer to the genetics of the major capabilities can be of use to the horse world, and been dominated by the commercial company, breeds. how it should be managed within breed and ViaGen Inc. (based out of Austin, Texas), and Artificial insemination and embryo transfers sport associations. through a research laboratory at Texas A&M triggered the evolution of the breeding indus- We’ve have compiled this report on the ad- University. Through both the research of these try, and cloning promises to change it dramati- vances and experiences of those involved in institutions and the offspring of this research, cally and permanently. Every horse owner has an the business and practice of cloning during the we are watching history unfold. opinion on cloning, and generally, those opin- past eight years. Read on to find out what hap- The American Quarter Horse Association ions are a strong “for” or “against.” Some believe pened to the Smart Little Lena clones, whether and other breed associations are continuing to that the horse industry began a slippery slope Scamper’s clone has potentially produced new stand firmly against the registration of cloned of descent with the allowance of transported barrel racing champions, and what the industry horses. Despite this, many throughout the cooled semen. Others contend such breeding experts are saying today – about the business equine disciplines are finding this technique interferes as embryo transfers have nothing in and ethics of cloning. 42 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 WESTERNHORSEREVIEW.COM 43 Smart LITTLE LENA CLONES The entire world watched as the Smart Little Lena LLC syndicate auctioned off their four clones in December of 2010, at the Western Bloodstock sales, held during the National Cutting Horse Association’s annual Futurity. Despite these horses carrying the DNA of one of the greatest sires in AQHA history, with offspring earnings in excess of $26.5 million, the four 4-year-olds passed through the sale in Texas without breaking any records. The highest selling clone went for $28,000 to prominent cutting horse breeder (and Smart Little Lena LLC shareholder), Jack Waggoner of Bridgeport, Texas. As owner of Smart Aristocrat, a $3.2 million sire, and High Brow Cat, a $49.5 million sire, Waggoner is already heavily invested in the business of breeding. This horse, known as Bogie, is now standing at the Weatherford Equine Breeding Center in Weatherford, Texas, advertised as the genetic identical twin to Smart Little Lena. The second high selling clone sold to NCHA October of 2010 that one of the five remaining only ever interested in his DNA. He was the Hall of Famer Richard Bull of Tamarang Ranch foals passed away due to a tumor. Dr. Hinrichs most fertile of the clones. Reports that he was in Australia for $27,000. The final two horses noted that there was no autopsy done on the sub-fertile and broke (rideable) both turned sold: 1) $3,000 to Jeff Chase from Texas, and horse to verify the cause of death. According out to be false, as his fertility is excellent and 2) $2,400 to James Mora, a cutting trainer from to Bankson (published in the same article), de- it quickly became evident he had never been Arkansas. spite what had been written, these clones were saddled.” Perhaps adversely affecting their sale prices healthy and capable of producing viable semen “Salute” is now standing in Australia. Bull was the prevalence of bad press the clones re- and the syndicate was only selling these clones told us of the success of this stallion, in standing ceived before the sale. A legal battle surround- to settle their own internal disputes. to the public. ing the Smart Little Lena LLC syndicate and Trainer Jeff Chase purchased a clone at the “Mare owners are excited to have access to health issues published about the clones caused sale. This horse is now in the hands of Jason Smart Little Lena’s genetics in Australia. Salute many to question the quality of these horses. Abraham of Canadian, Texas, for the purpose is covering 100 mares this season, including According to their original creator, Dr. of being re-cloned. The horse was listed as in- some of the leading performers in the country. Katrin Hinrichs DVM, PhD, and Professor at fertile in the Western Bloodstock sale catalogue, “Through Salute, we are allowing Australia Texas A&M University and equine reproduc- and according to Gregg Veneklasen D.V.M., of first-generation access to one of the most influ- tion specialist, the Smart Little Lena clones Timber Creek Veterinary Hospital in Canyon, ential stallions to ever exist in the performance were intended as part of a research project. Texas, had crooked legs, as well as reproductive horse industry in North America. Australia “We were looking at different methods for issues. presently has only one Smart Little Lena daugh- performing an important step in the cloning In the last 30 years, Dr. Veneklasen has led the ter, so the introduction of Smart Little Lena’s process – that is, signaling the egg (oocyte) to veterinary community in reproductive develop- superior genetics offers tremendous opportu- start developing into an embryo. We found one ments such as embryo transplants and cloning. nities to upgrade broodmare strengths in our method that produced better embryos than the Just last year, he was nominated for Professional industry.” others, and published these findings in a scien- Rodeo Cowboy Association Veterinarian of According to Bull, at the time Salute arrived tific journal. the Year by 11-time World Champion, Trevor into Australia he was legal for registration un- “With the Smart Little Lena cells, we trans- Brazile and 10-time Wrangler National Finals der the rules of the Australian Quarter Horse ferred 13 embryos and nine produced pregnan- Rodeo team roping qualifier, Travis Tryan. Association, but this is now a subject of litiga- cies. Two were lost during gestation, one foal “This horse was purchased because they saw tion. was stillborn, and six pregnancies resulted in the genetics to be invaluable,” says Veneklasen. Tamarang is expecting foals after the first live foals. One foal died of pneumonia two days Richard Bull, the Australian clone buyer, saw of August, 2012 – the start of the Australian after birth.” the potential in owning a clone of Smart Little breeding season. Bull feels these Smart Little Jimmy Bankston, Smart Little Lena Clone co- Lena for breeding purposes. Lena bloodlines will add to the quality of the manager, stated to the Quarter Horse News in “We weren’t interested in his looks – we were country’s Quarter Horses. 42 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 WESTERNHORSEREVIEW.COM 43 FRENCHMANS GUY CLONES The barrel racing world has been led domi- education to convince them of how valuable this These three Frenchman’s clones are not the nated in the past decade by horses sired by the fa- process would be to their breeding operation. only clones in the rodeo world, and what Myers mous 1987 palomino stud from Myers Training After determining that cloning passes along the saw in the rodeo arena last year made an impres- Stables, located in South Dakota. His offspring same performance qualities, he decided it was sion on him. have won in excess of five million dollars. time to take a chance with this process. Seeing “We saw the clones of Panhandle Slim (the Choosing not to lose an opportunity to continue these foals on the ground, he is satisfied know- 1997 PBR Bucking Bull of the Year) bucked last the power of Frenchmans Guy bloodlines, Myers ing the genetics that would have died with winter and we were very impressed.” Training Stables took a chance with science and Frenchmans Guy are now going to be available to While Myers feels the concerns of the criti- recently cloned their aging stud.