DNA and Stallion Licencing

Since 2016, if the foal is the first Pure Bred registered offspring from a mare, then the Welsh Pony and Cob Society require a DNA profile for the dam to be held on file. Without this, the application for the foal will not be completed.

 

The Society advises that breeders apply for DNA for the mare as soon as the mare is known to be in foal. In the event that the mare dies during foaling, or after, and there is no DNA profile lodged with the Society where it is needed, then the Society will not be able to register the foal.

The laboratory advises a time of between 6 and 12 weeks to complete DNA profiling/parentage verification and to return the result to the Society. 

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To verify that the Stud Book is as correct as possible, the Welsh Pony and Cob Society will perform random DNA parentage tests. One colt and one filly foal from the Pure Bred sections are randomly selected annually for parentage testing. DNA profiling kits are provided free of charge to those breeders whose animals are selected, and the processing and veterinary costs are paid by the Society upon receipt of a valid Veterinary practice invoice for the service covering the sampling of that individual animal only. The costs of harvesting the hair, form filling, and callout fee for this service ONLY will be paid.

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The Welsh Pony and Cob Society requires late applications for Pure Bred colts and fillies received after 1st of January in their yearling year to have a full DNA parentage report, confirming that both the sire and dam are correct, before registering the animal. This will also incur a late entry fee. DNA testing kits can be obtained from the Welsh Pony and Cob Society office.

Foals conceived through the use of Frozen Semen require a full parentage test to be effected to the sire and dam, unless the foal is gelded at the point of registration. This includes Pure and Welsh Part-Bred foals. 

Animals that are being upgraded from ID-Only Passports to pedigree Welsh Passports (subject to their eligibility) will also require parentage testing to verify their registered Welsh parentage before they can be entered into the Welsh Stud Book. This includes geldings and Part-Breds.

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Mares and stallions to be used in Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer MUST be DNA profiled before undertaking the collection, insemination, or transfer process. In the case of stallions, they must be DNA profiled and licenced in accordance with the Society rules, and in the case of mares they must be DNA profiled in order that parentage testing of their foals can be effected, if required.

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Before the registration of a foal conceived via A.I. frozen semen, the Society will require a full parentage test to be completed for pure and Part-Bred foals, unless the foal is gelded. The mare (if not already DNA typed) and foal must be DNA typed for this. The registration will only be accepted if no exclusion occurs when parentage comparison is effected with the sire and dam.

Additionally, a foal conceived by Embryo Transfer must be fully parentage tested. The foal must be DNA typed for this. The genetic sire and dam must also be DNA typed for this, in advance. The registration will only be accepted if no exclusion occurs when parentage comparison is effected with the sire and dam.

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DNA testing is not required for Welsh Part-Bred animals unless they are a foal being registered which was conceived by Artificial Insemination (A.I.) frozen semen (unless the foal is being registered as a gelding), or if the foal was bred by Embryo Transfer (all), in which case they will require a full parentage test to match the foal to the parent(s) which are registered or overstamped with the Society. Welsh Part-Bred stallions that are being licenced with the Society will also require DNA profiling and, if the sire is registered or overstamped with the Society, then a sire-only DNA parentage test is also required.

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Currently, Genetic Cloning is not allowed or authorised by the Society. Under no circumstances will the Society allow registration or recognition of an animal produced by genetic cloning.

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DNA kits and Stallion Licence packs can be purchased on the Passport Services section of our 'Shop'. Please give the details of the animal(s) the kits are intended for when paying using the notes box available, along with details of the veterinary practice that the kits should be posted to. ​
Colts born after the 1st January 2025 will require a full parentage test prior to being accepted as a stallion (alongside the licensing paperwork from a vet) when they are eligible for licencing. There will be no exceptions made for colts born after this date. When purchasing a colt foal; should you wish to license him in the future, it is your responsibility to make sure both the Dam and Sire’s DNA are in place.

Colts presented for licensing that are born prior to 1st January 2025 will be recommended to also obtain a hair sample for the Dam if the Society does not hold a profile for her to allow for a full parentage test to be completed.

Alternatively, if the Society holds DNA for both parents, a full test will automatically be completed. If you are unable to obtain a hair sample for the Dam, of a colt born prior to 1st January 2025 the colt will be licensed under the old licensing process.