Nick Skelton’s top showjumper Arko III has been successfully cloned following his death.
The clone (pictured above) was born in August 2021, seven months after the original Arko III died at the age of 27.
Arko III, a stallion, was the number one showjumper in Europe for three years running — in 2004, 2005 and 2006 — and partnered Nick at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
The Oldenburg’s earnings amount to over £1.2 million, and he sired a number of top jumping horses.
“The birth of his clone was very emotional,” said Arko’s breeders and owners Pat, John and Lisa Hales of Shaw Farm stud in a statement.
“It was an extremely sad day for our family when we lost Arko, he was truly a horse of a lifetime.
“We believe [the clone] is not only exciting for our sport worldwide, but especially for the future of British breeding for years to come. We look forward to breeding many more champions from this wonderful bloodline.”
How cloning works
Arko was cloned via a skin sample that was genetically preserved by UK company Gemini Genetics, sister company to world-leading equine semen and distribution centre Stallion AI Services. Gemini Genetics are partnered with US-based cloning company ViaGen Pets & Equine, who also successfully cloned the first Przewalski’s horse.
Animal cloning is currently only legal in the UK for scientific research purposes; Arko III’s clone was created and born to a surrogate mare in America.
“We are thrilled at the successful birth of Arko’s clone,” said Lucy Morgan, manager of Gemini Genetics. “A much-loved stallion in terms of his outstanding performances and his unique and full of life character, it is brilliant to have enabled his cloning so that his outstanding legacy can continue.
“Gemini Genetics are thrilled and highly privileged to have facilitated this amazing revival of Arko III via his genetic twin,” she added.
Main image credit: Terry Stickle
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