Stud farms try to fight spread of coronavirus

Nature dictates that the Thoroughbred bloodstock industry proceed with its business, even as the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic. In the Northern Hemisphere, the breeding season is well under way, and with mares and their attendant staff shipping to stallion farms, the farms have begun rolling out policies to limit interactions between people that may spread illness.

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Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky., which stands 10 stallions, including Grade 1-winning newcomers Divisidero and Preservationist, announced modified booking and breeding shed policies to limit interactions on Tuesday. The farm has asked those booking mares to forward all essential forms by email, fax, or text prior to bringing a mare to the farm. Airdrie also will limit farms to sending only one person to the breeding shed with a mare.

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International leading operation Juddmonte Farms’s Banstead Manor Stud in Newmarket, England, has adopted a similar policy.

“Staff accompanying visiting mares should stay in their vehicles, and our experienced stallion team will take care of mares during covering,” Juddmonte posted on its Twitter account. The farm stands five stallions in Europe, including unbeaten champion and standout sire Frankel, and two in Kentucky, including champion and leading money winner Arrogate.

Horses can be affected by a type of coronavirus known as equine enteric coronavirus, which is a gastrointestinal disease. This is a distinctly different strain than COVID-19, which causes respiratory symptoms, among other effects, and is affecting people worldwide. There is no evidence that either equine enteric coronavirus or COVID-19 are transmissible between species, and there is no evidence that horses could contract COVID-19.