The paperwork required before covering
Breeding a Thoroughbred isn't just about the biology – there's essential paperwork to have in order before a covering can take place:
- Broodmare registration – the mare must be registered as a broodmare with the General Stud Book at Weatherbys, including accurate ownership details. It is a legal requirement to compete a Transfer of Ownership within 30 days of any transaction taking place.
- Stallion service contract (usually a nomination agreement, breeding rights or stallion share) – a private contract with the stud farm, setting out stud fees and payment terms.
- Veterinary swabs and health checks - certificates will be submitted in advance of covering to confirm these tests have been carried out and that the results do not present an infectious disease risk to other horses. For low-risk GB-domiciled mares, these will include blood tests for EVA and EIA, plus a CEM swab as a minimum. Vaccination history will also be checked to confirm correctly initiated and maintained courses of Equine Influenza (EI) and Equine Herpesvirus (EHV 1,4) vaccines.
- Boarding Stud Agreement - if the mare is to board at the stallion stud or an alternative public stud, then an agreement should be put in place between the Stud Manager and owner of the mare. A template agreement can be found here.
Processes completed post-covering:
- Covering record - the stallion stud will submit an official record of the covering to the General Stud Book at Weatherbys.
- Stallion Covering Certificate - once the nomination fee has been paid, a digital covering certificate, confirming the details and dates of service, will be released. This document is required when registering the resultant foal.
- Non-live foal return - should the mare sadly not produce a live foal, then the outcome of the covering should be reported to the General Stud Book at Weatherbys.
Getting this paperwork right isn't just a formality; it's what underpins the integrity of the General Stud Book and ensures every Thoroughbred's pedigree can be trusted for generations to come. Register now for the upcoming webinar with the National Stud's Jamie Jackson on the admin side of breeding - the paperwork that's easy to overlook, but essential to get right.