Licensing and Performance Testing

The first step of the breeding selection in Germany begins at the foal shows.  In the summertime, when most foals are born, nearly every German riding horse, pony and heavy horse foal participates in a foal show.  At these shows, experienced judges from various breeding associations evaluate the foals’ exterior and their paces.  The best foals are awarded.  This preliminary selection allows the breeding associations to gain a good overview of the quality of the foals born that year.  Furthermore, the breeder gains an objective assessment of the quality of the foals. 

 

The FN member breed associations have jointly prepared a performance test system under the umbrella of the FN.  The breeding associations are responsible for the organisation of the uniform implementation of performance tests for stallions, mares and geldings.  The various forms of examination (station, short or field tests) and the recognition of the competition results ensure a standardised test range for each breed.  Significant focus is placed on gaits and the test rider scores.

 

Körung for Stallions - Approvals to be licensed

 

Licensing is a selection decision for the entry of breeding stallions into a section of the stud book of a breed association.  In some breed associations, a stallion may have to attend a pre-selection and be accepted by the judges to attend the licensing. Registries such as Westphalia and Pony Hannover require pony stallions to be presented on hard ground, free running and also in hand.

 

Stallions generally attend the licensing between the ages of 2 ½ - 3 years old. Normally there is a panel of 5 judges who score the stallions.  The stallions are veterinary checked, assessed on hard ground, in hand, free running and also free jumping.  Some associations (Westphalia and Ponyforum) require stallions to have radiographs taken to ensure that they are OCD free in order to be accepted for licensing. 

 

On average, only 60% of stallions become licensed at this stage.

 

At a Körung a stallion may be granted a Premium Title by the board of Judges.  These are stallions that are considered to be of high quality and have potential to be excellent breeding stallions for the future.  A stallion must complete his licensing via further testing by the appropriate age as outlined by their breed association in order to retain their Premium status.  

 

Most breeding associations also award a Champion and Reserve Champion Title for the Körung as well as an award for the Jumping Champion.  These stallions have gained the highest scores for that licensing round. 

 

Hengstleistungsprüfung (HLP) - 30 Day Stallion Performance Test

 

Stallion performance tests can only be held at testing stations approved by the FN thus ensuring standardised environmental conditions.  No stallion is allowed to leave the testing facility during the testing period.  

 

The FN is the general contractor and is responsible for the execution of the stallion performance test.  The FN Commissioner is the legal representative of the FN and is present at the testing station for the time of the testing.  Also involved are the head trainer, training judge, test judge, test riders and the station veterinarian.  A minimum of 25 stallions must be at the station during any one testing round to provide sound and comparable results.

 

All stallions must meet certain veterinary standards and veterinary tests according to the rules provided by the FN for the performance testing of stallions. 

 

The performance test for pony stallions consists of a 30 day training period with a final performance test.  The pony stallion test focuses largely on evaluating the interior qualities of a stallion candidate under these standardised conditions.  In addition to rideability, qualities such as character, temperament, soundness and willingness to work are evaluated and scored by the training director and test riders. 

 

Participation is open to 3 year olds and upward with the target group 4 year olds.

 

In the preliminary/training phase, characteristics scored are sociability and behaviour, learning and motivation, ability to work, walk, trot, canter, rideability, free jumping, jumping a showjump course and a cross country test.

 

The final test over two day includes evaluations for walk, trot, canter, rideability, free jumping and a show jump course (minimum 80 cms, maximum 110 cms with 2 of the obstacles raised higher at the discretion of the judge) and a cross country test (1500 metres with 6 obstacles.  Height up to 90 cm with no water jump).  Each stallion is tested by the two test riders on separate days.

 

There are a number of weighting factors applied for each of the test items. A score of 5.0 or less in any part of the performance test is instant failure and the stallion is eliminated.

 

The 2 Day Short Test for Stallions (plus Bundeschampionate qualification)

 

Only eligible stallions can complete their licensing and become fully approved as licensed stallions via the short test.  If a stallion achieves a qualification for the Bundeschampionate, he may be eligible for the short test.  Each breeding association varies slightly in its rules.

 

If eligible for the short test, stallions are evaluated on walk, trot, canter, rideability, free jumping, a show jump course (as per the 30 day test) and rideability with at least two test judges and at least two test riders.

 

Participation is open to 3 yo's with 4 yo stallions the target group.

 

Completing Licensing via Performance Results

 

Pony stallions registered with Westphalia can complete their licensing via performance in competitions.  If they achieve 5 placings up to third place in L level (Elementary) at competitions of a suitable standard.  This must be achieved by the end of the year that they turn 5 years old.  

 

Ponies that completed their initial licensing through Hannover or Weser Ems for example are not eligible to complete their licensing via competition/sport. 

 

Licensed Stallion Titles - Awards

 

Premium stallion titles are granted to stallions that are considered to be of high quality and have the potential to be excellent breeding stallions for the future.  A stallion must complete his licensing via further testing by the appropriate age as outlined by their breed association in order to retain the Premium Status.

 

The Elite stallion awards is a national award granted to stallions by the FN who have progeny that have had success in international pony competitions.

 

Stutbuchaufnahme - Mare Registration

 

Mares are registered from the age of 3 years but no later than the birth of the first foal.  The breed association assesses the mare on the basis of their type, body, correctness of the limbs, gaits and overall impression.  The main sections of the mare stud book are Sections I, II and the Annex stud book, in which mares depending on their origin and the registration can be entered.  Depending on the method of breeding, the breed can also be divided into different departments (Department and Special Division) of the studbook.

 

Leistungsstutbuch FN - Performance Mare Book

 

In the German Equestrian Association (FN) breeding system, a Mare Performance Book is a place where mares can be entered and registered as broodmares approved by the FN breeding association.  The mares that are registered have been evaluated and their final grading is above average for the breeding association.

 

Stutenleistungsprufung (ZSP) - Mare Performance Test (ZSP)

 

The special value of the mare performance test allows all annually registered mares to participate.  Many breed associations broodmare tests will only be used as phenotypic evaluation of mares.  Some breed organisations use them for breeding value estimation.

 

Usually there are two ways of attending a performance test for mares; field tests and testing stations.  In the field test a mare is assessed over one day and the testing is designed for mares aged 3 to 4 years old.  Field tests are performed at a local mare show and involve scoring the mares for the 3 basic gaits under saddle, conformatin (body and correctness of the limbs), free jumping ability, in hand on a triangle and rideability with a test rider.

 

A station test is set up in a training environment and is usually held at one of the State owned stud farms.  This ensures that the test is standardised and that all the mares are tested under the same conditions and in the same training environment. This type of testing lasts for 14 days and the mares are assessed by the training director who gives scores to the mares throughout the testing period.  There is a final testing stage in which a group of visiting experts and the test riders evaluate the mare for temperament, character, willingness to perform and handling.  The mare is also tested for conformation, the 3 basic gaits under saddle, free jumping ability with rideability scores given by the test riders.

 

Mare Titles/Awards

 

The award Verb. Premium can be awarded to mares who have met the above average score requirements from their stud book inspections.  Some breed associations only offer the Verb. Premium Award.

 

In certain breed associations a mare may also be eligible to upgrade her title to the State Premium Award if she meets the appropriate requirements and performances outlined by that association.

 

Mares can also earn the title of State Premium which is recognised with the prefix St.Pr.St or SPS before her name.  These are mares that have received above average scores on their stud book inspection and have also completing the performance requirements of the relevant breeding association.  There are certain shows that a mare may have to qualify for and attend in order to gain this title.  These mares must also produce a foal before the age of 7 years old that is to be assessed to be of suitable quality to totally fulfil the requirements.

 

To gain the Elite mare title, a State Premium mare must produce 5 foals in 7 years (that are inspected) or have 3 offspring that compete at FEI Pony level.