Not wanting to beat a dead horse here, but Brook Ledge and Sallee can also deliver semen. Im sure they would be cheaper, and far more flexible than Fed Ex. Would lower their costs dramatically and still give a decent income. And yes, theres an entire industry built on mare care. No matter how they are bred, they still have to be boarded. They will still be in Kentucky, where do you think those mares will go?
How many people have you known who have had mares booked in KY, and got pushed back 5, 6, 7 days and didnt get bred. How is that helping anyone? With AI, when mares need to get bred, they get bred.
I have a friend who managed an Arabian farm using the top stallions in the business. They used to use shipped semen, and they stopped because their results were so poor. They ended up shipping their mares out, but they still used AI, just had the semen shipped cross town instead of 1000 miles. Efficient, safe, and a booming mare boarding business.
Ive just never thought that the AI decision by the Jockey Club was about the health and safety of the horse, and steamlining the business model. As I dont believe this 140 cap on stallions is about the future of the Thoroughbred. All it will help is the top percentage of owners and stallions, the rich will get richer, and the rest? I guess weāll see, but Im not optimistic.