On May 28, 2003, the world’s first cloned horse named Prometea was born at the Laboratory of Reproductive Technology in Cremona, Italy. Prometea was the successful outcome of 328 attempts to construct and implant a viable embryo.

To create Prometea, scientists took a skin cell from an adult mare which was fused with an empty equine egg. The mare then acted as a surrogate mother for Prometea – so giving birth to a carbon copy of herself.

Thoroughbred horse racing is strictly controlled and the regulatory associations do not permit artificial insemination or any kind of fertility treatment. The cloning technique could have a particular role in perpetuating the sporting success of male show and jump horses that have been castrated. Geldings, which have their testicles removed at an early age, have no ability to reproduce normally.