Storm Cat, a leading sire who was pensioned last year after experiencing fertility problems at the Young family’s Overbrook Farm near Lexington, Ky., might return to the sire ranks as a Quarter Horse stallion. The Quarter Horse breeding industry permits artificial insemination and allows for a Thoroughbred/Quarter Horse mix.

The idea was ignited last year when Storm Cat was examined by Dickson Varner,DVM, MS, Dipl. ACT, from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. Varner is professor of Theriogenology and Pin Oak Stud Chair of Stallion Reproduction.

“We had enlisted the help of Dr. Varner when Storm Cat was experiencing fertility problems, and he came up with the idea to store some of the semen from his dismounts,” said Ric Waldman, who managed Storm Cat’s stallion career. “And then it grew into the prospect of using that semen to impregnate Quarter Horse mares.

“Dr. Varner is helping us connect to the Quarter Horse community. There is stored semen at A&M. The semen will have to be treated, and they have the science to do it