Mark Watring’s Sapphire is Cloned

by Erin Gilmore | California Riding Magazine, June 2009

Six years ago, when Mark Watring and his dapple-grey Holsteiner Sapphire were racking up international Grand Prix wins, breeding inquiries flooded in. Sapphire was a typey, well-built warmblood with lots of muscle, and jumped with an uncanny desire to leave rails up.  People assumed that he was a stallion, and potential breeders were roundly disappointed when they learned otherwise. And six short years ago, that’s where the conversation ended; a gelding simply can’t breed. But that was then, and this is now. 

The concept of cloning still resonates with sci-fi undertones, but despite the far out notion, cloning technology is becoming more available by the year. In 2003 the first cloned horse was born in Italy, and in 2005 the University of Texas successfully cloned the first horse in the United States. Researchers theorized early on that cloned offspring of successful geldings would be highly valued, and could vastly impact the performance horse industry.

Skip to 2008, and Mark partnered with Kathleen McNulty of Replica Farms, which represents Austin, TX based ViaGen, the company that was responsible for the first U.S. cloned performance horses (clones of cutting horse Royal Blue Boon) in 2005.  If their venture to clone Sapphire is successful, it will be the first cloned show jumper born in the United States. (A clone of legendary U.S. show jumper Gem Twist was born in France late last year.)

“When I was a biology major in college, this stuff wasn’t even in the textbooks,” says Mark, who co-owns Sapphire with Dr. and Mrs. John Bohannan. “When this came up I thought if I could clone Sapphire I would get a stallion and be able to have the breeding program that I never thought was possible.”

Several biopsy-type plugs of tissue were taken from Sapphire’s neck, from which cells were extracted and harvested for their genetic material. The DNA-bearing nucleus of each extracted cell was then placed into unfertilized eggs that had had their nuclei removed. The newly fertilized eggs containing Sapphire’s DNA were then stimulated to develop into embryos and placed into surrogate mares. More than one egg was developed and each egg was placed into a different surrogate to increase chances of a successful clone carried to term. As of press time, two surrogate mares had successfully carried Sapphire’s clones past the first 90 days of pregnancy. If all goes well, Mark will be faced with the mind-boggling fact of having not one but two Sapphire clones when the mares come to term this fall.

Fast-forward six to eight more years, and Mark could quite possibly be the first person to ride a cloned show jumper into the ring. Most breed associations are on the fence about whether to accept clones into their registries, and the Jockey Club has prohibited clones entirely. Thus, cloned racehorses are –for now- blocked from registration and racing, but in show jumping the rules are different. All horses are allowed to compete, which opens the doors for clones.

Cloned show jumpers of competition age are truly uncharted territory as of now; the science is just that new. The idea excites Mark, “I find it fascinating, intriguing and interesting,” he says. “It will be interesting to see the different personalities of the colts, the impact that their mothers have on them while they are foals. Will they be the same size, or have the same markings as Sapphire? I can’t wait to find out.” 

It will also be interesting to see how cloned horses stand up against their “traditionally” bred counterparts, and how well their famous DNA translates to ability. Great talent usually comes from a combination of superior genetics and environment, and the nature vs. nurture debate will inevitably follow these offspring throughout their lives.

Should both clones be successfully delivered to term, Mark tentatively plans to save one colt for breeding, and train one for competition. No one will know until that stallion steps into the ring, just how much of Sapphire’s talent will have been replicated with his genetics. Mark got the ride on his now 17-year-old star when Sapphire was just six, and has trained him throughout his Grand Prix career.  Sapphire’s clone will need the same world-class training program that Sapphire benefited from to be successful. By all intents and purposes, Mark knows what to do, and “nurturing” the clone to similar Grand Prix success will be in his hands.

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