Owners of cloned horses win access to American Quarter Horse Association's prestigious registry

A Texas jury ruled that the American Quarter Horse Association is violating state and federal antitrust laws by banning cloned horses from its prestigious registry, Betsy Blaney reports for The Associated Press. "Jurors didn't award any of the $6 million in damages being sought by the breeders, but (attorney Nancy) Stone said her clients' primary interest was 'to get these horses registered.'" No American breeding groups allow cloned horses to be registered. (Turner Strategies photo by Sally Harrison: Champion horse Royal Blue Boon, right, meets her clone, Royal Blue Boon Too)

The lawsuit was filed by a rancher and veterinarian, who "argued that the association was operating a monopoly by excluding clones. The lawsuit notes that the group already allowed other non-natural breeding technologies such as artificial insemination," Blaney reports. "The 280,000-member association argued that its rules were fair in requiring that all horses in its registry have a registered mother and a registered father, which is impossible with clones. The group also said it had the right to set its own rules as long as they were reasonable and lawful."

American Paint Horse Association spokesman Billy Smith told Blaney breeders worldwide could be affected because semen could be transported to other countries, though some international laws might not allow the use of clones. Smith said Tuesday that a fundamental element to any breed registry is the rules that dictate the qualifications for animals to get listed. (Read more)