Genetic Excellence

At Carrera Stud, our commitment to innovative breeding is at the forefront of our vision to produce world-class sport horses that not only meet but exceed the demands of international sport. By embracing cutting-edge equine reproductive technologies, we are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in equine breeding, ensuring that every horse we produce is of the highest calibre. Our goal isn’t just to breed exceptional horses - it’s to create the champions of tomorrow for the future of equine sport.

The science of breeding champions

We focus on two primary advanced 
breeding techniques at Carrera Stud:
Embryo Transfer & Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection.

ET (Embryo Transfer)

In this method, we take a world-class mare that has been bred with an elite performance stallion and implant her with an embryo. After this, the embryo is retrieved and transferred to a surrogate mare. The surrogate carries the pregnancy to term, offering us the opportunity to produce high-quality offspring from proven bloodlines.

ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection)

This technique involves extracting eggs from the world-class mare and fertilising them in a laboratory with carefully selected sperm from an elite performance stallion. The fertilised eggs are cultured for approximately 10 days before being frozen. This allows us to store embryos for 20-30 years. These embryos can be implanted into a surrogate mare months later, ensuring that we have the ability to breed horses with exceptional potential in sport, even with a time delay.

Breeding with purpose

The process starts with the careful selection of elite mares and stallions that possess superior genetic traits. We focus on the mother line as much as, if not more than, the stallion’s line. Scientifically, it has now been proven that the female chromosome holds the vital traits - particularly dopamine, which contributes significantly to a horse’s mental and physical performance. This shift in focus from the stallion to the mare’s genetics is at the core of our approach, and we believe it’s a key factor in creating the champions of tomorrow.

Once the ideal mares are selected, we then use the best possible sperm from renowned stallions to ensure a top-quality pairing. Whether using Embryo Transfer or ICSI, the goal is to produce future champions with the physical and mental abilities needed to perform globally.

Redefining breeding

Our approach stands apart from others in the equine breeding industry, primarily because we take a holistic approach to each horse’s development. We focus not only on genetics but on the overall well-being of each horse.

  • Data-driven breeding

    With advanced data at the heart of everything we do, we’re able to deeply track and analyse pedigrees, performance results, and bloodlines with remarkable precision. This data-driven insight empowers us to make informed, strategic breeding decisions, ensuring that every horse we produce has the genetic potential and performance profile needed to reach the highest levels of sport.

  • Horse welfare first

    The welfare of our horses is always our top priority. They are never treated as breeding machines, but as individuals with their own needs. Each horse follows a personalised care plan, from tailored nutrition to daily exercise. Regular turnout and time in grass paddocks support their physical and mental development. At every stage, we prioritise comfort, well-being, and a natural, balanced upbringing.

  • Focus on female power

    One of our core principles is a strong belief in the power of the mare. For decades, the equine world focused primarily 
on stallions, but science has shifted that view. Today, we understand that the maternal line plays a crucial role in performance. By selecting mares with proven strength and success in their lineage, we are shaping the next generation of sport horse champions.

We don’t just breed horses for sport,
we protect the bloodlines that shaped the past, elevate them with science, and build a future where excellence is never left to chance.

At Carrera Stud, our goal goes far beyond producing exceptional horses — we aim to advance equine sport by breeding champions that will leave a lasting legacy for generations.

While we recognise the promise of cloning, it’s one of many tools we use to preserve the genetics of extraordinary horses. One such example is our cloned mare, Kantara — a direct genetic replica of a daughter of Chacco Blue, one of the greatest show-jumping stallions in history.

By combining advanced techniques like ICSI and embryo transfer with our deep expertise in bloodline selection, we’re able to push the boundaries of what’s possible in sport horse breeding.
Every horse we produce isn’t just prepared to compete, it’s bred to lead. Through innovation and care, we’re shaping the future of show-jumping and ensuring a legacy of excellence that lasts.