Shipping an Equine Embryo to a Recipient Facility
A coordination guide for owners sending a fresh, frozen, or ICSI-produced embryo from a veterinarian or laboratory to a recipient program.
Written by Melanie Smith Reviewed July 15, 2026 by Hannah Carter, DVM
The short answer
Solo Select receives equine embryos from across the nation every day throughout breeding season. For a coordinated shipment, the sending veterinarian or laboratory and the Recip Farm must align on reproductive timing, identification, transportation, arrival instructions, and recipient availability before the embryo is collected, warmed, or dispatched.
01
Book as early as possible
Most breeders complete recipient mare contracts in November or December before the breeding season. For example, a breeder planning for the 2027 season would ideally contract in November or December 2026.
Solo Select may be able to accept a last-minute embryo when an extra suitable mare is available, but the program does not recommend relying on that possibility. Recipient preparation depends on advance notice and accurate reproductive timing.
02
Tell us when the reproductive clock starts
Communication is critical because the recipient team needs to know when the donor mare ovulates or when oocytes are injected. That information allows the team and attending veterinarian to prepare and evaluate potential recipient mares for the expected embryo timing.
Text every cross and its timing information to the Recip Farm number as soon as the relevant date is known. Solo Select will confirm receipt. If you do not receive that confirmation, do not assume the cross has been received or entered. Follow up directly with the Recip Farm.
Continue sending updates when laboratory results, embryo counts, or transportation plans change. Each material update should be acknowledged before the sender treats it as confirmed.
03
Information needed by embryo type
The required handoff differs for a fresh flush embryo, an ICSI-produced embryo, and a thawed embryo. The sending veterinarian or ICSI laboratory should communicate directly with Solo Select, while the owner confirms the contract and transportation plan.
- Fresh flush embryo: sire, dam, donor mare ovulation date, expected flush date, and whether the embryo will arrive by flight or courier.
- ICSI embryo: sire, dam, ICSI date, number of embryos the owner wants to implant, and planned flight or courier logistics. The ICSI laboratory should continue updating Solo Select as results develop.
- Thawed embryo: approximate time of year requested for implantation, current storage location, storage or laboratory contact, and shipping arrangements to Solo Select.
- Every shipment: owner contact, sending professional contact, current transportation status, and a reliable way to communicate schedule changes.
04
Plan flight or courier logistics
Embryos arrive at Solo Select from across the nation every day throughout breeding season. That volume is supported by continuous communication among mare owners, veterinarians, ICSI laboratories, couriers, airlines, and the Recip Farm team.
Solo Select needs to know how the embryo is getting to the ranch and when it is expected to arrive. Flight and courier information should be shared as soon as it is booked, then updated when a delay or routing change occurs.
Solo Select receives embryos 24 hours a day because travel delays happen and the team wants embryos placed into mares as soon as the attending veterinarian determines it is appropriate. The preferred arrival is by 1:00 p.m. on the planned transfer day.
05
The attending veterinarian packages the embryo
The veterinarian or qualified laboratory responsible for the embryo packages it for transportation using the protocol appropriate to that embryo. Owners do not need to devise their own clinical packaging method.
The owner's job is to make sure the sending professional and Solo Select are connected, the recipient plan is active, the identification is complete, and the transportation details are confirmed.
Printable Planning Form
Embryo Shipment Coordination Checklist
Use only the section that matches your embryo type. This checklist organizes communication and logistics; it does not replace veterinary instructions, the lease contract, or the sending professional's packaging protocol.
Common Questions
Direct answers
- Can Solo Select receive embryos from another clinic or ICSI laboratory?
- Yes. Solo Select accepts coordinated fresh flush embryos, fresh ICSI embryos, and frozen embryos from outside veterinarians and laboratories. Contact the Recip Farm before shipment.
- Can I send an embryo without reserving a recipient mare first?
- Recipient availability and contractual requirements should be confirmed before shipment. Contact the receiving program before the breeding or transfer cycle begins.
- How do I confirm that Solo Select received my cross information?
- Text the cross to the Recip Farm number and wait for an explicit confirmation from Solo Select. If you do not receive confirmation, do not assume the information was received or entered. Follow up with the Recip Farm.