It’s the comment, which states “many try but few are chosen!”

It applies quite significantly to the country’s stud farms for many have fallen by the wayside in the last 13 years.

What brought on this observation? During the past week I was doing some research allied with the year 1990. It didn’t take long to realize that many studs, large and small, were no longer operating.

The 1990 New Zealand Stallion Register listed the properties with sires at stud. Among these 23 had survived to 2003 but 62 had lapsed.

Basically one third remained operational (sometimes in changed circumstances) but the other two thirds had simply disappeared.

It’s a little difficult to compare 1990 and the current 2003 scenario as the terms of reference itemising stud farms have changed considerably in the Stallion Register.

It appears that 29 studs with a relatively high profile are available to breeders these days along with another 47 farms with a lower profile.

There were 95 properties listed in 1990 and about 76 in 2003 in this unofficial count.

Many units dispersed after 1990 were rather small farms with a single low profile stallion. Support from outside breeders was modest and so the operations were discontinued.

The Grim Reaper played his part with some owners passing on and the properties reverting to general farming activities. There’s not always an heir apparent for a stud farm operation.

Some stud owners didn’t keep abreast with the new technology. I speak with personal experience here.

I had joined the linebreeding fraternity and with my talented technological colleague Simon Morris developed the bloodline computer program TesioPower in the late 1980’s.

This provided an opportunity to upgrade thoroughbred profiles, according to the Federico Tesio principles.

It was not an easy task to gain support from the old established breeders but acceptance gradually improved when younger family members took control. They were prone to change.

We soon developed a solid support base in New Zealand and then developed an international focus.

Apart from two instances, the stud farms that ignored the program’s potential as a marketing tool fell by the wayside.

Working as a retailer in the breeding business I could see those farms not keeping up with the new technology looking vulnerable. They would eventually close down.

The 2003 stud farm set include many new operations with many smaller ones likely to become vulnerable with limited economic backgrounds and management skills.

Massive capital must be required to get new units off the ground and sustain the older ones.

Acquiring a new stallion can be a major test, making the sure the pedigree is correct and then ensuring that females with compatible bloodlines enter his court.

Several 2003 survivors have restructured in the intervening period from 1990.

Right on the our Wanganui doorstep the Chitticks transferred from Longburn, Palmerston North, to take over the Waikato Stud, Peter McKenzie restructured at Ohau and the Corcorans at Wanganui.