Welcome to UNAM Equine Reproduction, Santillan Campus, Queretaro, Mexico. Remember the 2 equine reproduction vets that discovered that my mare Roxy was NOT pregnant, in WEEK 21?


https://5000milesofhope.org/week-21-mexico-a-caballo/
Well, their names are Maricruz Diaz and Hermelinda Ramirez Perez. They are part of the UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) Equine Reproduction Facility, located in Santillan, Queretaro, México.


I visited this campus a week after first meeting these great vets at Rancho Santa Marina.
https://5000milesofhope.org/javier-perez-rocha-profile-and-interview/
I was especially excited to visit their Andaluz Donkey, Vicente.


Andalusian donkeys were used as studs by George Washington, to help create the Mammoth Jack breed.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andalusian_donkey
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Mammoth_Jackstock
http://afs.okstate.edu/breeds/other/donkey/mammoth//#content
I’m interested in a mid size donkey to breed to my purebred Morgan mare Roxy.
Many mules have a decent walk; breeding for a 14 hh mule from Roxy would pretty much guarantee a quick, sure footed mover, well suited for rocks and hills.
Vicente is 14 hh high, and lives at UNAM Santillan as a stud.



Why is he there? Where did he come from?
Vicente is originally from Rancho Santo Gertrudiz, a Mexican Army breeding ranch that focuses primarily on cattle and horses. They also have a small donkey and mule breeding program as well.
https://www.milenio.com/policia/ejercito-cria-chihuahua-ganado-calidad-superior
https://www.brunoticias.com/nuevo-momento-los-burros-en-agro-mexicano/
Somehow Vicente made it to UNAM where he is now being offered for stud, either to other donkeys or mares. They also have an Army horse stallion at stud. The purpose of the breeding service is to provide high quality stock. In the last 18 months he has been bred many times to locals wanting a tough mountain mule. Look forward to seeing them around Queretaro in the next few years.

How the breeding program works is as follows:
The client calls with either a stallion or mare. If it’s a stallion, semen is drawn for freezing, to use st a later date. If it’s a mare, the vets identify the cycle progress and mare vitality. When the timing is perfect, semen is withdrawn fresh or frozen to inseminate. This can be done via their horse stallion or andaluz donkey, or, stallion of choice.
This service I will use probably late next spring with Roxy.


The UNAM students, equine specialists, study on site for 6 months to finish their degree. They learn about everything reproductive.
Here are some more pics about this program, as well as an interview with Director Maricruz Diaz, from October 1, 2019.









I had a great time visiting with the students and learning about the program. I look forward to visiting again soon…


Chris MacLuckies’ professional career began with a decade-long stint as an organic vegetable grower in Ontario Canada. His career is prolific in breadth and scope. He has farmed organics commercially, volunteered in Guatemala, ran a gardening business, raised and raced sled dogs, tended his livestock, and ridden his horse on a multi-country expedition.
Chris is a certified TEFL ESL English Teacher, author of seven books, freelance content creator, and outdoor travel gear designer.