Clinics, Equine Reproduction Services, Karen Berk, Frozen Semen, Clinics, Florida, reproductive services, stallion breeding

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Two Clinics presented by
Equine Reproduction Services and Karen Berk
Advanced Technologies In Reproduction
Nationwide Clinic Tour

Hosted by La Escondida RP Ranch, Florida ~ June 10 & 11
" Home of World Champions Coosa Zip To Win & Coulda Been Awesome."
Robert Paredes is your host

Hosted by Bar M Quarter Horses,
Bar M Quarter Horses, Lame Deer MT. ~ July 15 and 16
Hosted by Rita and Art McDonald

REGISTRATION FORM Fee: $275.00 Each (Spouse Reduced Rate $250.00)
Clinic's Agenda ~ Registration Form ~ Release Form

As part of her quest to educate and inform today's horsemen, who are serious about breeding, Karen Berk has established a Nationwide 2 day clinic program for which Cindy and Tim Harris, of Harris Paints are proud to host. Sponsored by Purina, EquiMount Phantoms, Fertility Factor Products, Exodus Breeders Supply, IMV International, and Har-Vet. The ERS National Tour includes Classroom and Wet Labs, Demonstrations and Hands on training. Participants are encouraged to actively participate in all the clinics activities, from stallion collection, semen analysis, lab equipment, inseminating and freezing semen. Also open forum discussion with our guest vets, specialists, and breeding industry leaders. Karen has been a featured speaker at major US venues and abroad, in addition to being a published author, respected clinician, breeder and carded judge. As founder of Equine Reproduction Services (ERS), Karen works with the worlds top stallions and breeding operations throughout the Equine industry, always working under the auspices of veterinarians. Karen is also a member of the International Association of Equine Practitioners.

2 day clinic fee $275.00 per person
Reduced spouse fee $250.00
(Breakfasts and Lunches included)

Contact Karen by Email or Call 352.465.8881

Clinics, seminars, forums and intensives, are the fodder for a growing hunger for knowledge,

in the Equine industry. Clinicians gain more popularity, and notoriety then famous trainers, breeders and owners. The fact that knowledge is being shared, and well received, says a lot for both sides of our community. Chat lines, books, videos, demonstrations, etc, strengthen our equestrian industry, at our base, when owners become better and more rounded horseman.

Until recently however, the expertise available has been geared toward the riding, care, and psychological aspects of the horse and rider. A subject rarely touched on has been reproduction. Interestingly enough, a large portion of the research funds at Universities, have gone to bring about the advanced technologies available today to owners and breeders. Yet due to a lack of educational material, and reproductively specialized veterinarians available to horse owners, this is one area of communication that is sorely lacking.

The public's desire to have this made available is evident from the attendance at University reproduction short courses. Colorado State University, Ohio State, Texas A&M, University of Florida at Gainesville, and others, have encountered such popularity, that these courses are filled long in advance of cut off dates, with even longer waiting lists. Still, many would be participants are limited in their ability to attend 2 to 6 day short courses, often hundreds of miles away.

Equine Reproduction Services identified this educational gap. Along with National sponsors; Purina, Exodus Breeder Supply, IMV International, Harvet, Horse Professional Magazine, and EquiMount Phantoms, ERS has organized a national tour of Equine Reproduction Clinics, focusing on advanced technologies and their application to breeding operations, from backyard to international. Most importantly, the clinics are brought on farm, large or small.

ERS president, and chief clinician, Karen Berk, has been writing and speaking on the subject for many years. Identifying this need for educational information, a cross country communication network began. From Equitana USA to South America, Karen has brought enlightenment to mare and stallion owners worldwide.

ERS clinics run 2 days, and are held on weekends. Host farms and students are indicative of every breed and level of experience and age group.

Of particular interest to novices is shipped semen programs, and scariest of all, frozen semen. But before one can explain their nuances, Karen does a 4 to 6 hour classroom. Included are reproductive anatomy, endocrinology, pharmacy and lab equipment and procedures. Hands on include, stallion collection, semen evaluation, phantom training, mare and stallion cleansing, AI, freezing, thaw evaluation, lab equipment use, mare vulvar conformation and stallion testes evaluations. and the favorite, examination and dissection of uterine tracts and follicles.

An interesting observation is that not all clinic attendees are focused on the same track. Valerie Fox's beautiful El Escondite Farm in Waxhaw, North Carolina, was attended primarily by mare owners and amateur breeders, whose focus was on shipped semen, receiving and inseminating. Concerns were for proper preparation of their mares, and knowing what were the best procedures for insuring a positive exchange between mare owner and stallion management. Legal issues were also brought up. Many had misconceptions regarding medication protocol for short cycling, and maintaining pregnancies. Attendee Debby Pound was so amazed while watching the Paso Fino Stallion, Romancero, owned by Kathy and Mario Corea, collected, frozen and subsequently thawed, she spontaneously purchased the remaining straws for herself. " I wasn't planning to breed quite yet, but I can put these away till the time is right." The group actually cheered, as they watched the cells come to life from their liquid nitrogen, frozen state of suspension.

Two thousand miles north west, and 50 miles from the Canadian and Montana borders, Debra Quarne of Mesa Farms and Jacque Skarsgard of Skarsgard Quarter Horses, joined forces to host the Stanley, North Dakota clinic. Our group here consisted of long time professionals, stallion owners, High School FFA students, and Veterinarians representing two clinics from neighboring towns. Not to mention a diversity of breeds ranging from Quarter Horses to Spotted Drafts and Pintabians Doug Vesty generously provided mares in heat and an accommodating stallion. In all, three stallions, including Skarsgard Quarter Horses's own "Big Time Review", and "Highschool Prizipal" were washed, collected and evaluated in numerous extenders. Attendees participated in all aspects of the procedures, with Dr. Ceylon Feiring of the Stanley Veterinary Hospital looking on. Rectal palpations are not taught or demonstrated, as they are governed as a veterinary only procedure. Mare inseminations were demonstrated, and practiced under the auspices of Dr. Feiring.

DeGraff Stables, home of AQHA Hunter Under Saddle, World Champion "Indian Artifacts," in Ohio, had their second annual clinic in January and Robin DeGraff is already planning on the next this fall. Large participation and attendees from 7 states, as far away as Texas and Missouri, have helped to make this an event to remember. DVMs Ryan Zimmerman and Mike Stone added their own expertise, demonstrating ultrasound and rectal palpation.

And as for featured speakers, who better then one of the pioneers in embryo transfer, Dr. Scott Bennett, to host and guest speak this March at his beautiful Alliance Farm in Simpsonville Kentucky. Dr. Bennett presented his paper on ovarian and oviduct disease, plus letting us observe a successful flush and embryo transfer. Presented by Purina, many thanks to Nikki Wahl and Jim Murray for their hard work and great nutritional lectures and giveaways.

Future clinics planned are located in Ohio, Kentucky, South Dakota, North Dakota, Florida, and a return to North Carolina, with more being scheduled. ERS has received requests for future clinics from nearly every state. In the mean time, Karen continues to share her knowledge and experience through her presence on www.frozen-semen.com, articles, and Email hot line, feature articles in magazines, and speaking engagements. Karen can always be reached for free E-consultations and to set up your ERS clinic, at ERSmobileAiLab@aol.com. Stop by and say hello.