Voluntary Veterinary Examination
It is not obligatory for owners to have male ponies examined but the SPSBS Council recommends that a Voluntary Veterinary Examination is undertaken, before any colt/stallion is used as a breeding animal. The examination must be undertaken by a qualified Veterinary Surgeon, who can be of the owner's choice, at any time of year and at a location convenient for the colt owner.
The Veterinary Surgeon will micro-chip the colt/stallion if the pony is not already chipped. The Vet will then take a hair sample for DNA testing from the colt/stallion and post it directly to the Animal Health Trust. The Veterinary examination is voluntary. Colts failing the Veterinary examination may be re-presented as often as the owner wishes. The veterinary examination will be undertaken according to the International Veterinary Standard.
To view this document CLICK
To view Veterinary surgeons check list CLICK
To view Veterinary surgeons forms to be filled in CLICK
All colts/stallions passing the Veterinary examination, and measured at 42" (107cms) or under will be entered in the Stud-Book with a stallion number.
All colts/stallions brought forward for the Voluntary Veterinary examination, will be asked for DNA hair samples from both parents and themselves. Colts/stallions that are able to comply with the parentage verification will have one of the following denotations:
SPC - Sire Parentage checked DPC - Dam Parentage checked SDPC - Sire and Dam Parentage checked NV - Not verifiedWhere colts/stallions are unable to supply DNA from both sire and dam, the following denotation will be shown:
NPC - Not parentage checked
The applicable DNA denotation will be shown in both the colts/stallions passport and relevant studbook entry.
The ideal situation would be for full parentage testing of colts/stallions used for breeding pedigree Shetland ponies.
If for any reason including the following: one or both parents are dead or untraceable or the owners of the parents of the colts/stallions refuse to give a hair sample for DNA testing, this WILL NOT EXCLUDE pedigree registered colts/stallions undergoing a Voluntary Veterinary examination or being used for breeding and all pure bred progeny that meets the entry criteria for the Mother studbook will be registered from these colts/stallions.
The owner of the colt must apply to the office for a Voluntary Veterinary Examination Application Form or download it from the SPSBS web site as detailed below:
The owner will apply to the office on the relevant form (to download form go to menu and click on FORMS then Registrations/Others) and return this with the current fee to cover DNA typing of the colt/stallion and micro-chipping. Please note the fee payable to the Society does not include the Veterinary Surgeons fees, which must be paid in full by the owner of the colt/stallion directly to the Veterinary Surgeon.
If a colt has already been DNA tested AND micro-chipped by a Vet, a reduced fee is payable to the Society . See VVE application form for current prices.
The office will send the relevant paperwork DNA kit and microchip, if applicable, to the nominated Vet who will undertake the examination and then return the paperwork direct to the office. The owner will pay the Vet's fees in all cases directly to the vet.
Colts/stallions passing the Veterinary examination and that measure 42" (107cms) or less will be allocated a stallion number and entered in the Stud-Book as a stallion.
It is the responsibility of the colt/stallion owner to arrange the DNA testing of the colt/stallion's parents if they have not already been tested, if hair samples are available for DNA testing.
DNA Typing
To DNA test a pony, the relevant fee is submitted to the Office along with the name of the pony to be tested. A DNA Kit with instructions are then sent out.
A hair sample has to be taken, preferably from the mane, ensuring that the roots or follicles are still on the hairs. You may take the sample yourself, it is not necessary to use a Vet, (unless a Voluntary Veterinary examination is being undertaken).
If you are asked to provide a repeat sample, this does not mean that a further payment must be made but it does mean that the results are likely to be delayed.
Once the test has been completed, AHT will provide a lab number that will be recorded on the ponys record in the Office.
Ponies need only be tested once in their lifetime unless problems occur which require a further test to be carried out.
The Society reserves the right to use or pass on information regarding blood or DNA samples where appropriate. This applies equally to samples taken privately or at a Stallions Voluntary Vetting Examination, Society Sale etc.
