http://www.viagen.com/wordpress/news/top-barrel-racing-...orse-scamper-cloned/
Has anyone else read the story about Charmayne cloning Scamper? She had him cloned and will be using the clone for a breeding stallion. I have mixed feelings about this.
Yes Scamper was probably "the" barrel horse, BUT whose to say that he (if he were not a gelding or now his clone) would a great sire?
What if the clone isn't the barrel horse Scamper himself was?

I find it kinda creepy in a way too. Too much playing God. Kind of reminds me of Stephen King movie "Pet Semetary".

Exactly. I find it creepy and "Pet Semetary-ish". Hopefully without the ill "needing to kill" after affects.
Sorry a little humor there. I also want to see how this will play out with the AQHA registry. I mean, if they let her register Clayton, how many other will do this (like the METs). If they are smart they won't give in.
And how many HYPP breeders will clone since alot of HYPP horses die young (even though they claim its not HYPP related). Also if they do clone will the try to isolate the HYPP gene out of the clone, is it even possible?

What I wonder is, wouldn't a lot of the barrel racing be more in the training of the horse, and less in the breeding? Sure, they would have to be put together correctly, but still, a well bred barrel racer with limited training wouldn't do as well as a lesser quality bred barrel racer with extensive training.

Thats true PVF, it does have alot to do with training. But at the same time, it takes a certain build to do what they do. You want powerful hindquarters for one, and as you can see on alot of horses, they don't all have that.
You want one built to turn sharp, You can't have one too tall or too long.BTW, I think cloning is a BIG mistake!!!!!
I've always liked Charmayne,she is down to earth and extremely nice!
I have met her a few times at different Equine events and she has always been "approachable".
She said that before though, a few years ago, that if she could ever clon Scamper she would in a heartbeat. I didn't take her seriously, but I guess she really did mean it.
I think its a bad idea, but I wish her luck with it!

Would definately be interesting to learn more about the personalities on the two 'different' horses... That's so... I don't even know how to describe it, but kind of creepy. It would be the ultimate test of nurture vs. nature.