
Avantea – OPU-ICSI: the biotechnology revolutionizing sport horse breeding

A new generation of sport horses is emerging—and they all have something in common: they were born using the OPU-ICSI technique. No longer just a scientific curiosity or a last-resort solution, OPU-ICSI is now a concrete reality in the show ring, in auction catalogs, and in the strategic decisions of top breeders. Behind this evolution stands a name that has played a decisive role in making it possible: Avantea. Based in Cremona, Italy, Avantea is a research center and assisted reproduction lab that has pioneered the development and application of OPU-ICSI in horses, becoming the leading European reference point for advanced equine reproduction for over 20 years.
What is OPU-ICSI and Why Is It Changing Breeding?

OPU-ICSI (Ovum Pick-Up – Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) is an assisted reproduction technique that allows embryos to be created by retrieving oocytes from mares and fertilizing them in vitro using very small amounts of semen—either fresh or frozen.
Initially developed to address complex reproductive situations—such as active sport mares, fertility issues, or the use of rare semen—OPU-ICSI is now widely adopted even in routine contexts, as a way to maximize both the output and the genetic value of foals.
Thanks to this technology, breeders can plan highly targeted matings between elite mares and top stallions—including long-deceased sires such as Chacco-Blue, Cumano, Heartbreaker, and Carthago Z, whose offspring are still successfully competing on the international stage. The sporting results prove that OPU-ICSI is not just a technical solution, but a powerful tool for advanced genetic selection.
The Numbers Are Clear: More ICSI Horses in Competition—and They’re Performing
An analysis conducted by Hippomundo has highlighted a true boom in foals born through ICSI, particularly from stallions no longer available. For example, in 2024 alone, the following were registered:
- 303 new foals by Chacco-Blue
- 82 by Heartbreaker
- 32 by Cumano
Beyond the quantity, the sporting quality of these horses is even more striking: a remarkable 66.8% of Chacco-Blue’s ICSI offspring from recent years are actively competing at international level, with a “Black Type” rate (i.e., significant sporting achievements) exceeding 68% in horses aged eight and older. Rising stars such as Celeana Des Joanins Z, Champione Blue Z, and Rotterdam De Muze are living proof that ICSI not only preserves top genetics—it turns them into results.

The Italian Case: OPU-ICSI in the 2025 FISE Young Horse Circuit Sponsored by Avantea
The trend is growing rapidly in Italy as well. Data from the first two stages of the 2025 FISE Young Horse Circuit sponsored by Avantea clearly confirm this.
The young horse categories saw a significant number of participants born through this innovative technique. Specifically, OPU-ICSI horses represented:
- 19% of participants in the 4-year-old category
- 16% in the 5-year-old category
- 5% in the 6-year-old category
These figures demonstrate the rising use of ICSI among the new generations of sport horses—a choice that ensures high genetic quality and strong competition potential.

The effectiveness of ICSI was further confirmed by recent show results: Vincenzo Chimirri claimed second place in the 5-year-old FISE precision class (1.20 m) in Bedizzole, while Lorenzo Correddu took first place in the same category in Cattolica. Also in Cattolica, Alessandro Colombo won the 4-year-old FISE precision class (1.05 m), underlining the competitive level of ICSI-born horses.
These achievements confirm that horses produced with this technique are fully capable of competing at top levels, on par with those born through traditional reproduction methods.
Not Just Offspring—Champion Mares Are Turning to ICSI Too
Even if many of today’s top competition horses weren’t born via OPU-ICSI, their dams are now enrolled in oocyte collection programs using this very technique at Avantea. This trend reflects how top breeders are increasingly turning to advanced reproductive biotechnologies to pass on elite bloodlines to future generations.
Not Just Sport—ICSI Foals Are Auction Leaders Too
The commercial value of horses born through OPU-ICSI continues to rise, proving growing market interest in the technique. A telling figure comes from the prestigious Zangersheide Quality Auction—one of Europe’s top foal sales: in 2024, foals conceived via OPU-ICSI had an average sale price over €50,000, exceeding those born via traditional methods (such as artificial insemination or embryo flushing) by more than 20%.
This price gap is no coincidence. It clearly reflects the market’s recognition of the genetic value, targeted selection, and sporting potential of in vitro-produced horses.
A Technique of the Future—Already a Reality
OPU-ICSI is proving to be one of the most strategic and transformative innovations in modern sport horse breeding. The numbers, results, and breeding choices of top professionals confirm that this is no longer just cutting-edge technology—it’s a concrete tool to produce higher-performing, more valuable, and genetically superior horses.
Whether in the show ring, at auction, or in the breeding shed, ICSI has already changed how sport horse breeding is conceived and practiced. The future of equine genetics has already begun—and it’s in vitro.

Avantea: Where Innovation Meets Performance
As the leading European center for ICSI research and application, Avantea has played a pivotal role in turning this technique into a solid, reliable tool for breeders, clinics, and professionals in equestrian sport. With over 20 years of experience, a top-tier scientific team, and a European network of partner clinics, Avantea represents the present—and future—of advanced equine reproduction.
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