Taylor Made Stallions has launched a “State-Bred Initiative Program” aimed at supporting state-breeding programs outside Kentucky by offering approved mares the chance to breed with one of four stallions—Angel of Empire, Dr. Schivel, Idol, and Tacitus—at a 2026 stud fee of $5,000, which is waived if the resulting foal is born and registered outside Kentucky. This initiative seeks to counteract the ongoing decline in the North American foal crop by making breeding more accessible and affordable for regional breeders, especially during the challenging early years of a stallion’s career when demand often wanes.

Industry leaders have welcomed the program as a positive step toward revitalizing regional breeding markets, though some breeders express concerns about additional costs like mare shipping and care. Despite these challenges, the program is seen as a valuable opportunity to increase foal numbers and provide better access to promising stallions, with hopes that other farms will adopt similar initiatives to strengthen state-bred programs and the broader Thoroughbred industry.