New Colt Arrives, The Result Of A Unique Gift To UNH

Contact: Sharon Keeler
603-862-1566
UNH Media Relations

September 21, 2004



DURHAM, N.H. -- While it’s not the largest gift in the history of the University of New Hampshire, it may certainly be the most unique.

A foal was recently born on the Durham campus – the offspring of two parents with golden pedigrees. The colt will be sold to benefit the university’s equestrian program, and is expected to command a price of between $8,000 and $10,000.

States Premium Mara with her new foal at UNH. Photo Credit: Tim Delgado Movie of the new foal. (3.96MB)

“It’s a story that demonstrates how special the relationship is between our equine program and the horse community,” says Sue Bruns, manager of the UNH horse barns. “It’s how two industry people felt they could help.”

Those people are Anne Whitten, owner of Horses Unlimited in Albuquerque, N.M., and Verne Batchelder, owner of River House Hanoverian in Piermont, N.H. Both farms train and breed hunter/jumper and dressage champions.

Whitten developed a relationship with UNH when she brought her dressage champion Pik L to the university to have his semen frozen for artificial insemination. An 11-year-old Hanoverian, Pik L is one of the top U.S- owned dressage horses and last year was named the American Hanoverian Society FEI and PSG Horse of the Year.

At that time, Pik L was living in Gloucester, Mass. There are very few semen freezing facilities offering such services to stallion owners in the United States and Whitten says it is Invaluable to the horse community. As a way of saying “thanks,” she donated a sample of Pik L’s frozen semen to the university so that a mare could bear his foal.

The search began for a mare. Enter Batchelder.

“We’ve had a relationship with UNH for a long time,” Batchelder says. “My wife’s parents and my wife are grads. We’re familiar with the riding program, do some teaching, and have competed at many shows. We were aware that UNH had Pik L’s frozen semen and that they were limited in quality mares.”

Batchelder says he had a mare, States Premium Mara that matched well with Pik L, and has proven offspring of her own. Mara is a 13-year-old German Hanoverian who descends from the legendary Matcho X. She has been on loan to UNH since she conceived last September.

“Matcho X mares are the jewels of the best breed bands in the world and especially
States Premium ones,” Batchelder says. “Mara earned 8’s on all three gaits under saddle, and she represents the best of the bloodline.”

According to Bruns, Mara’s newest son is a “beautiful colt” and a “bit of a fireball. Both mom and baby will remain “guests” of UNH until the foal is weaned.

Note: Interested buyers should contact Bruns at 603-862-0027.