Fran Jurga: Equestrian Sport News

"Exact copies are making headway in the sport but there is also stiff resistance," reports Cal Flyn.

"It was not until earlier this month [June] that the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), showjumping’s governing body, gave the go ahead for clones and their progeny to compete at a professional level.

"However, many of the biggest names in showjumping remain resistant. Only two major breeding registers, Studbook Zangersheide and the Anglo European Studbook, will accept clones onto their books."

@franjurga writes: Reproduction politics is a global debate--and even an inter-species debate. Will people's religious views transfer to equine clones? Can you be against human abortion--ending life, in the views of some--yet in favor of cloning animals--manufacturing life, in the views of some?

The FEI's decision reminds me of a joke a few years ago--I forget where I saw it--about a future three-day event open only to the offspring of Australian team eventer Lucinda Fredericks' great mare Headly Brittanica. The mare is well-known for being bred and having her embryos transferred to surrogate mares.

Maybe it's not a joke anymore...Stay tuned for more on this subject.

Click on the headline to read the full article in The Telegraph.

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