Born at CEH on February 23, 2018, Petri was the first all-UC Davis foal created by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). A happy, healthy foal, Petri spent the first years of her life at CEH. She was adopted by a UC Davis veterinary neurology resident just before her 3rd birthday.
The two are still a team. Now 7-years-old, Petri lives at a local barn and she and her owner train in dressage and enjoy trail rides. According to her owner, she is a big horse with a big personality who loves to work.
It is important to understand the benefits and costs of assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) to ensure alignment with breeding goals. We collaborated with specialists in the UC Davis Equine Reproduction Service and Veterinary Assisted Reproduction (VetART) Laboratory to provide current information on these technologies.
Understanding equine pregnancy is essential to ensuring the best care for mares and foals. In particular, accurate foaling predictions are important for organizing surveillance in case the mare needs veterinary assistance. They also help breeders make decisions about future breeding dates, participation in competitions, and sales.
Embryo collection by embryo flushing after breeding has been available in horses for decades. More recently, the ability to produce embryos in a laboratory (in vitro) has expanded and refined equine embryo production, greatly benefitting the equine industry. This technique has gained widespread adoption due to its growing potential and economic advantages. Beyond its role in fertility management, there are significant applications in breeding, genetic preservation, and research.
The Equine Reproduction Service at the UC Davis veterinary hospital’s Large Animal Clinic provides routine and advanced reproductive care for equine patients.
West Coast Equine Reproduction Symposium
UC Davis is hosting the West Coast Equine Reproduction Symposium: Diagnostic Tests and Therapeutic Protocols at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott, Buellton, CA, November 6-8, 2025.
Emerging from winter into spring means more daylight hours – which for many of us translates into more barn time! At CEH, we love seeing our horses enjoying time grazing in the pastures and taking naps in the sunshine.
The Equine Surgical Emergency and Critical Care Service at the UC Davis veterinary hospital provides 24-hour access to specialized emergency surgery and intensive care management of colic, trauma, and orthopedic emergencies. The integration of experienced and knowledgeable clinicians, veterinary technicians and students in a fully equipped and technologically advanced facility enables a high standard of care for critically ill horses.
