Gennifer Houchins is the newest addition to the Walking Horse Reports’ advertising and editorial representative staff. Houchins has shown several walking horses including Beam’s Rapid Express and Spellbound Generator. Originally from Mooresville, N.C., she now resides in Shelbyville with her family.
REPORT READERS RESPOND
This is the first edition of my new monthly column, What Do You Think. In this column I plan to pose several questions to The Report readers and publish their responses. For the first column, I chose to ask the readers about which veterinarians they use for breeding purposes.
When I decided to pose this question, I hoped to show those interested in breeding in areas other than Middle Tennessee that they have many options. Transporting mares for breeding can be costly and time consuming leaving mare owners to feel their options are limited. The replies I received indicate there are many competent veterinarians in many areas of the country. Just like we love our horses, we also love our vets.
I posted this question on the Walking Horse Report's message board asking people to send in their replies. I received numerous responses from all over the country, and I would like to extend a special thank you to all who responded so positively.
Question: What veterinarian do you use or would use for breeding services? and why?
=p=Alicia Perry, Gaffney, S.C.
=p=“Dr. Nichopolos in Shelby, N.C., is highly recommended in our area. He does a great job, is very patient and has gotten several of our mares in foal artificially and naturally. Also, Dr. Bebe Freer in Landrum, N.C.”
=p=Joyce Woods, Jemison, Ala.
=p=“Dr. Alan Simpkins in Clanton, Ala. He really knows his stuff, with no fluff. He is an expert when it comes to breeding, also. We, at Oakdale Farm, Jemison, Ala., couldn’t do without him. I even have him on the Nextel.”
=p=Debbi Stewart, Robertsdale, Ala.
=p="Dr. Tim Stewart in Summerdale, Ala. He does a great job with our mares and even does the ET's [embryo transfers]. He nailed ours on the first flush! He is a great vet for other services too."
=p=Pat Eames, Admiral Equine Services, Lake Geneva, Wis.
=p="I'm not in the breeding business any more, but when I was I used a facility that specialized in breeding mares internationally using shipped and frozen semen. This is an expensive project, but not as expensive as hauling a mare from Wisconsin to Tennessee and leaving her at a breeding facility. The mare reproductive service that I used took care of the whole process and 99% of the time got the mare in foal on her foal or 30-day cycle. I used this service from the time that the breed allowed shipped semen until 2002 when I sold my broodmares. Problem mares are not candidates for shipped semen programs. This is the only way you can breed to WGC's and keep your mare at home. good luck!"
=p=Ben Phillips, Greenville, S.C.
=p="In Shelbyville I like Randy Baker and Richard Wilhelm. In South Carolina, where I'm from, Ben Phillips and Derek Wessinger are tops."
=p=Tony Temple, Bailey, Miss.
=p="Dr. Roger Seal from Seal/Laird Veterinary is an excellent vet in the Meridian, Miss., area."
=p=Larry Lowman, Shelbyville, Tenn.
=p="We use Krista and Brad Gillam with Rolling Hills Equine Clinic. To me, Krista is the best in the area for palpitating a mare and foaling. One of the best things is she tells it how it is and is wonderful with customers."
=p=Marty Irby, Shelbyville, Tenn.
=p="We use Dr. Mike Harry. He is the best of the best. I consider him the best reproductive vet in Middle Tennessee. He is a pleasure to work with and one of the easiest people to get along with."
=p=Stay Tuned For Next Month's Edition Of What Do You Think?