Breeding Classes
The Lewis Ranch is now offering two day courses in
Equine Breeding (Mare/Stallion Reproduction)
at
The Lewis Ranch
Visalia Ca 93292
559-679-4815
or thelewisranch@aol.com
Email thelewisranch@aol.com if interested
Class availability
June 17th-18th- FULL
July 1-2 - FULL
July 15-16th- FULL
More classes will be posted for early 2024
The following breeding courses are $475 per learner per day and are two day courses
(*discount for 2+ people booked together)
*Group discount: $400/day for two or more learners booked together ($75/day discount, each)
(Email for discounts for larger groups at thelewisranch@aol.com).
Mare Owners Course
This class offers a detailed approach to a mare owner’s specific breeding program, allowing each mare owner the opportunity to learn how to set up a band of mares for successful breeding with the optimum body condition, and timing of ovulation when fresh or cooled semen is available, and to learn to artificially inseminate mares with fresh and cooled shipped semen. Learners will get a hands-on look at what takes place on a day to day basis on a horse breeding farm.
· Artificial Insemination
· Breeding with cooled shipped semen
· Breeding with fresh semen
· Tracking the mare's cycle
-teasing protocol
-use of hormones
· Record-keeping and contracts
· Basic color genetics
· Optimum Body Condition
Ultrasound/Artificial Insemination
In this class the learner will learn to successfully read an ultrasound image, track the reproductive cycle of their mare, and detect embryos, follicles, edema, or possible fluid/cysts in the uterus. Within the lecture portion of the course, learners will go over the equipment and supplies needed to set up their own breeding program, complete with contracts and forms, stocks and lab set up. This class will also focus on providing the learner with an understanding of the practices associated with utilizing cooled and frozen-thawed semen in the breeding of mares, along with the development of hands-on skills associated with deeper horn insemination and the use of ultrasonography to assess follicular activity and pregnancy in their own mares.
· Tracking the mare's cycle
-teasing protocol
-use of hormones
-basic color genetics
· Detecting and tracking follicular activity and breeding readiness via Ultrasound
· Record Keeping
· Artificial Insemination with Fresh Semen
· Artificial insemination with Frozen Semen
· Artificial insemination with Cooled Semen
· Detecting pregnancy in your own mare
Stallion Owners Course
In this class the learner will get hands-on practice in stallion handling and management, setting up a laboratory and breeding area, preparation of the Artificial Vagina (AV), and comparing a variety of AVs, semen evaluation, including sperm counting, motility and morphology evaluation, and the proper and safe use of laboratory and collection equipment used in the process. In this class the learner will also get hands on observation of collecting a stallion and observe the techniques used while training a stallion to the phantom, and learning to collect a stallion (hands-on), if desired.
· Training your stallion to the phantom
-safety, care, and handling
· Collection and evaluation of semen
-AV (volume), Microscope (motility), Densimeter (concentration)
-Number of mares that can be bred on farm
· Record keeping
· Basic Color Genetics
· Setting up the breeding area and lab
Cooled Shipped Semen
This class will focus on the development of the hands-on skills and techniques associated with the collection, evaluation, and cooling and packaging of semen for shipping to mare owners across the country. Each learner will participate in the collection, evaluation and processing of semen as well as properly packaging the semen for shipping. The lecture portion of this class will focus on the coordination of shipping cooled semen to mare owners (or their Veterinarians), and the forms, contracts, and paperwork involved.
· Collection and evaluation of semen
· Preparing and packaging for shipment
· Shipping cooled semen
-contracts and forms
-protocol
-coordinating with mare owners/Veterinarians
Freezing a Stallion's Semen
This class will focus on the development of the hands-on skills and techniques associated with the freezing and utilization of frozen stallion semen. Each participant will collect, evaluate and centrifuge semen, perform multiple test freezing and freezing protocols, and conduct post freezing assessment. A portion of the lecture will cover the process of becoming a USDA approved facility for the export of frozen semen as well as the procedures associated with freezing semen for export.
· Collection and evaluation of semen
· Freezing semen
-post-thaw assessment
· LN2 safety and storage
· Record keeping
Contact Sara at thelewisranch@aol.com or 559-679-4815 for more information
and to sign up. You may also arrange for private training courses for 5+ learners at a discounted price
at the ranch, or at your farm or ranch. We take credit cards/ATM, or checks.
We require half down at time of booking and the remainder one week before the start of the course.
*Reproduction courses are $475 per learner per day and $400 per learner per day for the second, third, and fourth learner when booked together. Minimum of 2 learners for a course to proceed.
If you book alone we will advertise and do our best to add a learner. If this doesn't happen, you will be moved to the next course date, or you can opt to take the course alone (private course with more practice/instruction time) and pick up the discounted 2nd learner cost.
All classes are two day courses
Taking multiple courses: If you would like to combine courses and take more than one course at once, we will remove repeat content in each course, and condense 2 day courses into a 3 day course with more hands-on practice time. There is also a discount for customers who have already taken a course with us (Alumni).
Tina Lewis, PhD, and Sara Newman- Instructors
We have loved and owned horses all of our life, and The Lewis Ranch has been a full service stallion station, The Lewis Ranch Stallion Station, since 1998. Tina holds an AS Degree in Animal Science, and a Certificate in Equine Science from The College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California as well as 12 certifications in Equine Reproduction from The Breeder's Assistant in Ramona, CA. She has served on the Equine Committee at The College of the Sequoias, holding an occasional demonstration on collection or cooled semen for the mare production classes there; as well as for Reedley College and Fresno State University.
Tina and Sara both hold several certifications in Ultrasound, Artificial Insemination, Phantom Training, Cooled Shipped Semen, Freezing and Utilizing Frozen Semen, Deep Horn Insemination, Uterine Flushing and Embryo Transfer, Foaling and Mare Management, and Equine Color Genetics, and they have taught foal handling and colt breaking as well.
Tina holds a BS in Psychology, and a Master’s in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Leadership for Higher Education. Sara has her BA as well. We are standing color producing, foundation, and performance bred stallions at the ranch in Woodlake, California. Having been a guest lecturer at Fresno State University, Reedley College, and COS, we now hold private training classes here at the ranch. We enjoy teaching other horse enthusiasts in our community, and the surrounding area, to be more proactive and safe in their own mare, foal, and stallion’s handling and care, with a comprehensive and informative Equine Reproductive Management program, and all it has to offer today’s horse owner.