OPU–ICSI: When Avantea’s Technology Becomes a Concrete Strategy for Sport Horse Breeding

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13/01/2026

Why OPU–ICSI Is No Longer an Exception Today – Sébastien Neyrat of Béligneux Le Haras Speaks

Over the past few years, sport horse breeding has undergone a profound and structural transformation: the profile of mares entering reproduction has changed radically. Increasingly, these are mares with genuine competitive careers behind them—mares that only enter breeding at an advanced age, after prioritising sport. This evolution has inevitably placed significant pressure on traditional reproductive models.

As Sébastien Neyrat of Béligneux Le Haras explains, breeders today are increasingly confronted with biological and organisational constraints: advanced age of broodmares, gynaecological issues typical of “late breeders,” reduced available time windows, and often a lower tolerance for invasive protocols. In such a context, conventional reproductive approaches may reach their limits, sometimes forcing breeders to revise or compromise their original genetic plans.

It is precisely in response to these very concrete constraints that OPU–ICSI has ceased to be an elite or experimental technique and has instead become a strategic tool—one capable of offering flexibility, control, and new perspectives to modern, structured breeding programmes.

The Role of Avantea in the Success of the Technique

The effectiveness of OPU–ICSI does not rely solely on the technique itself, but on the organisational model that supports it. In this respect, the system developed by Béligneux Le Haras in collaboration with Avantea represents a virtuous integration of clinical expertise and scientific excellence.

The principle is straightforward: each stakeholder focuses on their own field of excellence. The partner centre manages the entire clinical and operational component—from the selection of mares and stallions to cycle management, oocyte pick-up, and oocyte logistics—while Avantea constitutes the scientific core of the process, handling ICSI, embryo culture, quality control, and traceability.

This constant dialogue between field and laboratory is one of the key drivers of success. Protocols are not static but are continuously refined through the exchange of data, results, and individual case analyses. Avantea is therefore not merely a laboratory service provider, but a true scientific partner, capable of guaranteeing extremely high standards and a reproducibility of results that is essential for breeders and investors alike.

Sport Mares, Young Mares, and “Late Breeders”: What Really Changes

One of the areas in which OPU–ICSI has had the most significant impact concerns sport mares at the end of their competitive careers. These mares often possess exceptional genetic value but, under conventional reproduction, frequently arrive “too late” relative to initial expectations, forcing breeders to adjust their objectives and stallion choices.

ICSI, by contrast, makes it possible to “recover time,” enabling these mares to produce a higher number of embryos within a shorter time frame and, above all, to be bred to stallions whose semen would be extremely difficult to use with conventional insemination.

“It has enabled these mares, which arrive late in the breeding shed, to make up part of their ‘delay’ in terms of number of foals, but above all to be bred to stallions that would be unimaginable to use via conventional insemination in such a context (rare semen, very expensive, of average or poor quality, unpredictable fertility, etc.).”

— Sébastien Neyrat

At the same time, the technique is being used increasingly strategically on young mares, before their sporting value has been fully established. In this case, OPU–ICSI allows breeders to create a genuine form of “genetic insurance”: frozen embryos that preserve the mare’s potential without interfering with her sporting career. If the mare subsequently confirms her value in competition, the embryos can be transferred later, maximising both sporting performance and genetic capital.

Stallions, Rare Semen, and Resource Optimisation

Another central aspect of OPU–ICSI concerns semen management. The traditional model of semen collection is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain in the context of modern high-level sport: stallions actively competing, limited collection windows, stress, and inconsistent semen quality.

In this scenario, ICSI acts as a true genetic multiplier. The ability to work with minimal semen quantities allows precious—and often extremely costly—resources to be optimised. From both a biological and economic standpoint, the investment-to-result ratio becomes markedly more favourable.

“ICSI, however, allows us to work with a significant number of mares using fractions of a straw – even of very poor quality – with results that are often two to three times better than those obtained with fresh semen from the most fertile stallions, if we reason in terms of pregnancy rate per embryo obtained and cost per viable embryo.”

— Sébastien Neyrat

It is precisely at this stage that Avantea’s know-how makes a decisive difference, ensuring laboratory standards capable of extracting maximum value from every single oocyte and every fraction of available semen.

Animal Welfare and Work Organisation

Contrary to common assumptions, OPU–ICSI does not necessarily imply increased stress for the mare. When integrated into a rigorous organisational framework with appropriate protocols, it can be managed in an extremely controlled manner that fully respects animal welfare.

No hormonal treatments, very short stays at the reproduction centre, meticulously planned procedures, and dedicated teams: the entire process is designed to minimise stress, unpredictability, and risk. Each mare is managed by experienced personnel in a controlled environment, following strict protocols that are shared with Avantea at both scientific and procedural levels.

“Animal welfare is, for me, absolutely inseparable from our work. So when we develop a new technique or adjust our protocols, the notions of comfort and safety for the mare are always present from the very beginning.”

— Sébastien Neyrat

The result is a virtuous balance between reproductive performance, safety, and respect for the mare as both athlete and future broodmare.

Future Vision: Technology, Sustainability, and Responsibility

Looking ahead, OPU–ICSI is destined to play an increasingly central role in advanced breeding programmes. The true challenge will not lie in further technological development—already extremely advanced—but rather in the ability to disseminate these competencies without compromising quality or scientific rigour.

In this context, Avantea continues to represent an irreplaceable European benchmark, not only because of its technological level, but also due to its scientific culture, traceability, and responsible approach.

“Their level of excellence, scientific rigour and technological lead are tremendous assets for the entire industry.”

— Sébastien Neyrat

From Technique to Strategy

OPU–ICSI is neither a luxury nor a shortcut. It is a strategic breeding tool that allows risk reduction, improved outcomes, and respect for the horse within an increasingly complex sporting and breeding environment.

“OPU-ICSI is not, for us, a technological gadget: it is a genuine breeding strategy tool, helping us to reconcile three often conflicting requirements – top-level sport, genetic excellence and economic reality – while giving breeders greater control over the quality and future of their programmes.”

— Sébastien Neyrat

If the first article described the emergence of a vision and an organisational model, this second in-depth analysis demonstrates how that vision translates into everyday practice. In both cases, Avantea plays a complementary role: initially as the enabler of a qualitative leap forward, and today as a scientific and strategic partner for modern, sustainable, future-oriented sport horse breeding.

by Horseshowjumping.tv | Alessandra Ceserani