My client had recently purchased his first thoroughbred mare and was delighted with himself as he listed off her impressive pedigree. His wife was none too happy with his first dabble into the breeding game but this man was going to prove how sound an investment he’d made.

My job that winter’s morning was to carry out the relevant tests before the mare went to stud. That involved a swab for CEM and a blood sample for EVA. The mare was showing signs of coming into season and so the pressure was on to get the samples away and the clear certificates back before the mare could go to the stallion. And that’s when my eyes were opened for me. I’ve rarely thought about the samples once I’ve sent them off to the laboratory.