Approximately 1.5 mL of 2% lidocaine were used to infiltrate the subcutaneous area directly above a jugular vein. A 14 gauge, 6 inch catheter was inserted and the horse was sedated with detomidine hydrochloride (0.02 mg/kg body weight) and butorphanol tartrate (0.1 mg/kg body weight). The area of the sternum was clipped and prepared aseptically. Approximately 8 mL of 2% lidocaine was infiltrated into the subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and periosteum. A Jor-Vet Bone Marrow biopsy needle (Jorgensen Laboratories, Loveland, CO, USA) was introduced through a stab incision, made in the soft tissue area of the sternum, and advanced through the muscle layers until it made contact with the ventral surface of the sternum [16]. Pressure was applied to advance the needle until it was seated 1 to 2 cm into the bone. A total of 5 to 15 mL of bone marrow were obtained from each horse using a 20 mL syringe containing 5 mL heparin. The incision was closed with one to two surgical staples. Following bone marrow aspiration, horses received flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg body weight) daily intravenously, twice for the first 3 d and then once daily for d 4 through 6. Staples were removed 14 d after procedure and no negative effects of the procedures were observed in donor horses