We selected these mares for a clear reason: they embody exactly why this landrace must be preserved.
Francesca and her 2026 colt.Mares for the 2026 Breeding Season — Updated Roster
Our plan for each mare begins with a thorough evaluation of her overall health and reproductive tract to determine her capacity to produce healthy foals. This is covered by the mare owner and costs approximately $600-800.00, depending on what is needed.
Based on this assessment, we will recommend the approach that best protects the mare’s well-being while maximizing preservation of her genetics—whether that means pursuing live foal breeding, embryo transfer, or gamete/embryo freezing. All decisions will prioritize the mare’s long‑term health and reproductive success.
We are also using reproduction specialists that are some of the best in their field of medicine. This gives us the best chance for success. You can learn more here.
Reproduction Strategies
Projected Expenses
Each insemination and breeding cycle has its own specific criteria, determined by the mares' needs. Prices reflect this for individual mares. All costs are estimates and for one breeding cycle. It generally takes two breeding cycles for success.
Breeding live cover and/or AI: $2000.00
Collecting an embryo for transfer to a recipient mare: $2000.00
Collecting and cryopreserving one mare’s reproductive material: $4,980.00
Recipient mare lease costs for embryo transfer and pregnancy up until weaning: $2000.00
These prices reflect estimated costs for necessary medical care, specialized laboratory procedures, and readiness for any breeding-related complications.
How Sponsorship Works
Your sponsorship of an individual mare ensures we can pursue advanced reproductive work with confidence — covering all standard procedures plus contingency care when unexpected needs arise. By supporting a single collection, you help preserve valuable genetics, advance mare fertility research, and provide immediate, dependable funding so our team can respond to any situation without delay.
Meet Miranda De Dragoon
Miranda’s first embryo collection for the 2026 preservation season has been sponsored!
Miranda exemplifies the ideal Spanish Barb Mission type: calm, cooperative, and exceptionally easy to handle. Most importantly, she reliably transmits this distinctive Mission conformation and temperament to her offspring and subsequent generations, preserving the authentic qualities of the Spanish Mission horse.
This unique type is seen in her only offspring, Julietta and Julietta’s only foal, a two-year-old granddaughter named Bella Rosa (sire: Sundance).
Both mares display outstanding Spanish-type quality. Bella Rosa is gaited and exemplifies the classic conformation, movement, and refinement of the historic Spanish Jennet.
Breeding Strategy
This breeding season we will collect embryos from Miranda using Sundance as the sire. Dr. Lyndholm, an equine reproductive veterinarian with expertise in embryo transfer and cryopreservation, will oversee the procedure to give us the best chance of success.
Cost Per Collection
The cost is $5000 per collection for cryopreservation of embryos. Because Miranda is in her 20s and may not be able to collect embryos in future seasons, we will need at best two collections this season to safeguard her genetics. Your support will directly fund the collection, freezing, and storage of these embryos — helping ensure the survival of this important line.
We are seeking donations to fund embryo collection and freezing for Miranda to preserve the Tobiano line.
Donation Levels for Miranda
$5000 - Covers one full collection and cryopreservation
$10,000 — Covers two collections (recommended)
Any amount — Contributes toward collection, lab fees, or storage
Please consider donating to help preserve the Tobiano lineage through these critical embryo collections. Any contributions bring us closer to ses legacy.
Meet Sofia
Sofia’s first embryo collection has been sponsored! Thank you !!!
In 2026, Samantha Busby of Durango, CO, stepped forward to adopt Sofia and commit to the urgent work of ensuring her next pregnancy. As with all mares in the Mare Initiative, Sophia underwent a thorough reproductive veterinary examination, which showed she is a good candidate for embryo transfer. With the support of experienced genetics specialists and veterinary staff, Sofia’s collaborative team will pursue proven reproductive care: artificial insemination, embryo collection and transfer, and close monitoring through pregnancy and foaling.
Breeding Strategy
Samantha is working with Premier Breeding Services LLC in Ignacio, Colorado, to utilize Embryo Transfer, leasing some of their surrogate mares (recipients).
Their genetics experts and veterinary staff will assist with Artificial Insemination (AI), embryo collection/transfer (ET), pregnancy, and foaling.
Cost Per Collection
Mare care: $600 per cycle.
Embryo transfer (ET) collection attempt: $550 per collection.
Surrogate recipient mare lease and care for embryo transfer: $2,000 per pregnancy.
We are seeking donations to fund two embryo collections to inseminate recipient mares.
Donation Levels for Sofia
$1200 - Covers one full collection and insemination of recipient mare.
$2000 — Covers surrogate mare lease and care.
Any amount — Contributes toward collection, lab fees, or storage
Please consider donating to help preserve the Wilbur Cruce lineage through these critical embryo collections. Any contributions bring us closer to our legacy.
Meet Mirabella
Because Mirabella is an older mare with a history of breeding challenges, we prioritized a comprehensive reproductive evaluation at the start of this year. Mirabella is owned by Melanie Folsom and is currently leased for breeding by Jennifer Douglass. Jennifer assumed responsibility for all pre-breeding evaluations and costs and is coordinating closely with Dr. Alicia Lyndholm, reproductive veterinarian specialist, and Esha Mork, owner of the stallion Sundance, to achieve a successful pregnancy.
The evaluation indicated a strong likelihood of producing a healthy foal. To maximize the chances of success, Sundance is a full Wilbur Cruce stallion with a documented record of successful matings. The expected foal will be 3/4 Wilbur Cruce and 1/4 SBBA (tracing to Rawhide), combining rarity, historical significance, and desirable Spanish-Barb type.
Breeding Strategy
Dr. Lyndholm will direct all timing, breeding methods, and reproductive care to optimize the mare’s chances of conceiving and delivering a healthy foal. Because this mare has an unusually tight cervix that limits normal uterine clearance during estrus, she requires more specialized management. Our team’s intensified monitoring and targeted interventions are designed to overcome this challenge and secure the best possible outcome for both mare and foal.
She has already demonstrated fertility this breeding season. We will collect an embryo for the recipient mare and also allow her to carry a foal to maximize our chances of breeding success.
Cost per Collection and transfer to Recipient Mare.
Estimate for recipient mare management and embryo preparation (2 cycles): $1935.00
We are seeking donations to fund embryo collection, a recipient mare, and live cover for Mirabella to carry a foal.
Donation Levels for Mirabella.
$4000 covers live cover breeding and management
$2000 covers recipient mare management and embryo preparation.
Any Amount will assist with mare costs at the reproduction facility.
Meet Serrita Cruce
Serrita is confirmed in foal for 2026 to Coccocito!
Serrita is a success story for our 2025 SOS Mare Initiative!
Knowing how important Serrita is to the Wilbur-Cruce survival, Jennifer Douglass stepped up and is leasing Serrita from Jennifer Racicot for this breeding season. Jennifer Douglass arranged and paid for all the initial reproductive tests required to determine if Serrita can successfully conceive and carry a foal. The results, including her culture, came back excellent.
As the last living mare directly descended from Cruce Control, Serrita represents a unique and irreplaceable breeding opportunity. Cruce Control was considered the best Spanish Mission Horse type when wild caught off the Wilbur-Cruce ranch.
She was live-covered by Coccocito in April, at the start of the breeding season, when they are most receptive to breeding. It paid off with Serrita recently confirmed in foal. Coccocito, a stallion owned by Doug and Louise Novak, has exemplary Spanish conformation, with four offspring demonstrating athleticism in jumping and dressage. At 26, this is likely Cococito’s final breeding season, so the foal is important for preserving these lines, making any offspring from this pairing highly valuable for preserving and strengthening these rare bloodlines. Having her bred on the first cycle is an exciting revelation considering Coccocito’s age and Serrita’s bloodlines!
Breeding Strategy
Serrita was recently confirmed in foal on her first breeding cycle, which increases her chances of producing viable embryos for 2027. Our goal is to collect several embryos to freeze for the 2026-2027 breeding season, breed her again, and let her carry a foal. This way, we are assured of continuing this very important lineage.
Your support helps ensure Serrita’s legacy—and the future of these critical genetics—endures into the future.
Estimate for recipient mare management and embryo preparation (2 cycles): $1935.00
Cost per Breeding Cycle
Estimate for live cover breeding for Serrita to carry the foal: $1500.
Since she was our first success for the Mare Initiative and first pregnancy for 2026, we will be seeking donations to support embryo collection, a recipient mare, and live cover for Serrita to carry a foal in 2027.
Donation Levels for Serrita Cruce for 2026.
$1500 covers live cover breeding and management
$2000 covers recipient mare management and embryo preparation.
$2000 covers leasing of recipiant mare for breeding cycle.
Any Amount will assist with mare costs at the reproduction facility.
Meet Francesca De Mogollon
Francesca spent her first 11 years at the Dripping Springs Ranch, where she lived with a large herd of mares on the range. Later, she was trained as both a pack and riding horse in the High Sierras of California, demonstrating her sure-footedness and intelligence. Typical of the Wilbur-Cruce horses, after her removal from the ranch, she started riding within a week of training and easily navigated obstacles, demonstrating trainability.
Now living in New Mexico, Francesca is owned by Jennifer Douglass of Rio Milagro Farm. She had her first foal, sired by Rizado, on May 27th. In the summer of 2026, we plan to collect embryos in Tucson and conduct live cover breeding with Sundance, under the supervision of Dr. Lyndholm. Because she just foaled successfully, she is a perfect candidate to collect embryos for freezing and for recipient mares.
Breeding objectives
Once she recovers from foaling, we will collect and freeze embryos, and also breed her via live cover to Sundance, where she will carry the foal.
Preserving embryos and producing offspring with Sundance ensures we can continue these rare, important bloodlines and secure genetically valuable foals for the future. Your support makes this conservation strategy possible—help us protect and perpetuate these irreplaceable lines.
Cost Per Breeding Cycle
This estimate for live cover breeding for Francesca to carry the foal accounts for AI insemination, which helps safeguard her foal on her side.: $2500.
Estimate for recipient mare management and embryo preparation (2 cycles): $1935.00
We are seeking donations to support embryo collection, a recipient mare, and live cover for Francesca to carry a foal.
Donation Levels for Francesca
$2000 covers live cover breeding and management
$2000 covers recipient mare management and embryo preparation.
$2000 covers leasing of recipiant mare for breeding cycle.
Any Amount will assist with mare costs at the reproduction facility.
Meet Luisa
As the last remaining viable offspring of Flying Eagle, Luisa's genetics are crucial for preserving this very important original bloodline. Luisa is also the sole daughter of Flying Eagle, who displays outstanding Spanish-type and quality. Luisa is owned by Jennifer Racicot of La Buena Vida farm in Arizona.
Like Francesca, she has attained the permanent division status in the SBHA Registry, the most prestigious division honoring horses that have most closely adhered to the breed standard for excellent conformation and type.
Being a striking bay overo with blue eyes, Luisa represents a unique and irreplaceable breeding opportunity.
Jennifer will be using Dr. Kevin Dralle D.V.M., Albuquerque Equine Clinic, and Dr. Estrada of Santa Sophia Equine in Albuquerque, NM.
Dr. Estrada is the only board-certified reproductive specialist in New Mexico. He is also a member of the American College of Theriogenology and the European College of Animal Reproduction.
Breeding objectives
We plan to perform AI cover to both collect embryos for subsequent transfer into recipient mares and concurrently allow the mare to carry a foal to term.
Cost Per Breeding Cycle
Estimate for live cover breeding per one cycle for Luisa to carry the foal: $2000.
Estimate for recipient mare management and embryo preparation (2 cycles): $1935.00
We are seeking donations to support embryo collection, a recipient mare, and AI cover for Louisa to carry a foal in 2026.
Donation levels for Luisa
$2000 covers AI breeding per one cycle.
$2000 covers recipient mare management and embryo preparation.
$2000 covers leasing of recipient mare for breeding cycle.
Any Amount will assist with mare costs at the reproduction facility.
Meet La Reina de la Cruce.
La Reina was born at Silke Sneider’s ranch in Catalina, Az in 2002. She is out of the Wilbur Cruce foundation stallion Santiago and Pilar, a first generation Wilbur Cruce mare out of Lida and Myers’ Blue Cruce.
Esha Mork bought La Reina from SIlke in 2014. She is a sweet and friendly mare that is an all aroound trail, endurance, ranch horse.
La Reina was bred to Diamond Stud and produced a colt in 2017 (Registered stallion, Diamond’s Sundance Del La Cruce) and a filly in 2019. Both of her offspring have been exceptional.
Even though La Reina is 24 years old, she is in excellent health and has had two foals with smooth, uncomplicated births. We believe she would be an excellent candidate for embryo transfer and possibly cryopreservation. Plus, her genetics are crucial for preservation.
Breeding objectives
We plan to collaborate with Dr. Lynholm in Tucson, AZ, where La Reina is currently located. Dr. Lynholm will evaluate the best options for La Reina, considering whether we can successfully collect and freeze embryos or transfer them directly to recipient mares. Due to her age, our goal is to collect at least two embryos to ensure the chances of producing another foal.
Cost Per Breeding Cycle
The estimated cost is $ 5,000 per collection for cryopreservation of embryos.
Estimate for recipient mare management and embryo preparation (2 cycles): $1935.00
We are seeking donations to fund embryo collection, transfer to the recipient mare, and cryopreservation.
Donation Levels for La Reina
$5000 covers one full collection and cryopreservation.
$2000 covers recipient mare management and embryo preparation.
$2000 covers leasing of recipient mare for breeding cycle.
Any Amount will assist with mare costs at the reproduction facility.