Breeding a Mare

The AmericAn hAnoveriAn SocieTy, inc. (AhS) was incorporated in 1978 to establish, maintain and operate a non-profit association of breeders, owners, and friends for the promotion and preservation of the warmblooded Hanoverian horse on the North American continent. It was established to maintain a public registry of Hanoverian horses; to brand approved stallions, mares, and foals with the society’s registered brand; to disseminate information to breeders, owners, and friends pertaining to the breeding and raising of Hanoverian horses. The Society works diligently to promote the performance of the Hanoverian horse in dressage, eventing, hunters, jumpers, and driving; and generally to do all things appropriate to encourage a public understanding of the Hanoverian horse, its breeding and performance.

Although it is connected to the German Hannoveraner Verband, the AHS is an American-based, independent, non-profit corporation. Headquartered in Lexington, KY, at the Kentucky Horse Park, the AHS office employs a full-time, experienced staff dedicated to supporting the membership and others with all matters related to Hanoverians. It is governed by its own Board of Directors, elected by its U.S. membership and operating under by-laws voted upon by the membership. This self-governance is unique to European-affiliated registries.

The AHS enjoys a strong bond and a mutually beneficial working relationship with the Hannoveranner Verband (HV), including full studbook reciprocity. The Verband endorses the AHS’ by-laws, breeding rules, and the manner in which the AHS conducts bloodstock inspections. The AHS has representation and a vote on the Verband Board through our membership in Hannoveraner International.

General Breeding Policy The American Hanoverian Society, Inc. is committed to adopting and adhering to the highly selective breeding standards as practiced since 1735 in the Hannover breeding area of Germany. The Society desires to encourage those standards and to develop a horse on the North American continent having the same or better characteristics.

Breeding Goal The aim is a noble, correctly built warmblood horse capable of superior performance, a horse with natural impulsion and space-gaining elastic movements – a horse that because of its temperament, character, and willingness is suited principally as an all-around riding horse.

Rewards of Membership Benefits of membership in the AHS are numerous, a list of which can be found on the AHS website (www.hanoverian.org), but a few of the most notable include: • The AHS annual inspection tour offers sites nationwide that include mare and foal inspection, mare performance tests, stallion licensing, education, futurities, and an opportunity to meet fellow breeders. Both American and

German judges populate the tour, giving perspectives and advice to all in attendance. • The AHS Awards program is one of the

most comprehensive offered to sport horse breeders in America. Whether competing in futurities, in-hand, dressage, jumpers, hunters, or eventing, the AHS has an awards program for you. • The AHS produces an annual print copy of the AHS Breeder’s Guide and Stallion

Directory that is mailed to every Active member or can be purchased for a nominal fee. • AHS members receive monthly registry and industry updates electronically via Hanoverian Happenings from the

AHS office. • The AHS has a very active Young

Breeder’s Program to encourage the next generation. In 2019, the AHS

Young Breeders’ team qualified for and competed in the International championships. • The AHS conducts an annual membership meeting that is held at various locations throughout the US to allow the greatest number of members to participate. The three-day event holds educational seminars on a plethora of topics, outings to local equine attractions, and an awards banquet.

WITH HIGHLY SELECTIVE BREEDING STANDARDS BORNE FROM THE HANNOVER AREA OF GERMANY, THE AMERICAN HANOVERIAN SOCIETY STRIVES TO ADHERE TO THOSE STANDARDS TO PRODUCE SUPERIOR WARMBLOOD HORSES. BOTH THE AHS AND THE GERMAN HANNOVERANER VERBAND ASSURE THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THE BREED THROUGH STALLION APPROVALS, MARE INSPECTIONS, AND MARE PER-

FORMANCE TESTS. Above: New Hanoverian Premium Mare Candidate Delightfully Wicked, owned and bred by Elizabeth Schneider of Maryland,was the Champion Hanoverian Mare of the Fox Lair inspection.

WheTher you’re inTereSTed in regiSTering your foAl hAnoveriAn or rhinelAnd, there are certain requirements for each one. For a Hanoverian foal to be registered, he or she must have been sired by an AHS-, or Hannoveraner Verband (HV)-licensed or approved stallion.

The foal must be out of a dam that has been entered into a section of the AHS studbook. Rhineland foals may be registered if their sire is licensed or approved by the American Rhineland Studbook, the AHS, or the HV. The foal’s dam must be entered into a section of the ARS studbook.

Recording German Horses Horses imported from Germany that are registered with the HV can be recorded with the AHS, which will allow him or her to have foals registered in the U.S. or to compete in the AHS awards program. Owners must be a current AHS member to record a horse. The horse will be recorded with the AHS and ownership and recording stickers will be sent to the owner to be placed on the original German papers/passport. If inspected in Germany, mares do not have to be presented for inspection again to be recorded into the corresponding section of the AHS studbook. However, if a member purchases an HV mare that has not yet been entered into a section of the studbook, the mare must be recorded in the new owner’s name prior to, or at the time of, her inspection.

Imported stallions should be activated with the AHS so future foal owners avoid an inactive sire fee. Owners of AHS/ HV geldings are encouraged to become members and record their horses, which enables participation in the year-end Performance Awards Program.

DNA Typing AHS parent-verifies all registered foals through DNA testing. The DNA types of the dam, sire, and foal must be on file before registration can be completed. Samples of mane or tail hair, which must include roots, can be pulled regardless of the foal’s age. DNA typing kits are sent after initiating the registration for foals out of Hanoverian, Rhineland, and approved mares. Certificate of Pedigree Certain crossbred horses are eligible for a Certificate of Pedigree (CP), which enables participation in the performance divisions of the AHS Performance Awards Program. To obtain a Certificate of Pedigree, the horse must either be sired by an AHS approved stallion or be out of an AHS main studbook mare. These horses are not eligible to participate in the breeding program and are ineligible to participate in AHS-sponsored breed show High Placing Awards, AHS- sponsored Hanoverian Individual Breed Classes (IBCs) and AHSsponsored year-end awards in Sport Horse breed show divisions.

Transfer of Ownership To record a transfer of ownership, proof of new ownership must be provided along with a copy of the registration papers. A completed AHS transfer form, a copy of the bill of sale, or a letter from the former owner stating the facts of the transfer are each sufficient as proof of ownership. The new owner should be a current member of the AHS, otherwise the transfer of recorded ownership fee is doubled. When you purchase a Hanoverian or Rhineland horse, it’s important to complete the transfer of ownership to maintain the chain of ownership. Failure to do so could become a burden to future owners who will be required to fill in any gaps in recorded ownership.

Duplicate Papers The AHS owner of record of a horse may request duplicate papers or authorize another party to do so. If someone other than the AHS owner of record requests duplicate papers, they are required to have written authorization from the owner and must transfer the horse into their ownership. The duplicate paper form must be completed and notarized, stating the circumstances of how the papers have been lost or destroyed, along with a set of color photos and the appropriate fees. An active membership is required to request duplicate papers.

HANOVERIAN HORSES EXCEL IN A VARIETY OF DISCIPLINES. Above: New JBP mare HPMC Shanty 37, owned by Thierry Sporthorses LLC of Goodrich, Michigan.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO CAREFULLY FOLLOW THE SOCIETY’S ESTABLISHED GUIDELINES BEFORE AND AFTER THE BREEDING AND THE BIRTH TO ENSURE THE RESULTING FOAL IS ELIGIBLE FOR REGISTRATION WITH THE AHS.

Right: Gold Medal Foal Solace FTF, owned by Cory O’Connor of Laurelville, OH and bred by Finer Things Farm, shown at the Mill Creek Equestrian inspection.

Right: At the Starr Vaughn inspection in 2020, Shade earned top futurity yearling filly. She is owned and bred by Starr Vaughn Equestrian, Inc. of Elk Grove, CA.

FJORD PHOTOGRAPHY

The deciSion To breed your mAre And rAiSe A foAl is one of the most exciting and challenging choices an owner will make. It is important to carefully follow the society’s established guidelines to ensure the resulting foal is eligible for registry with the AHS. Stallion Status Verification It is the mare owner’s responsibility to verify the stallion’s status. A stallion must be AHS- or HV-approved and all stallion dues paid for the year in which the foal is conceived for the foal to be registered. AHS-approved stallions that have been activated can be found in the annual Stallion Directory and Breeders’ Guide or, once the printed version has been published, on the AHS website. HV-approved stallions can be found in the annual German Jarbuch Hengst or on the HV website. 1B Stallions Stallions deemed to have world-class performance careers or deemed to have sired offspring with world-class performance careers

TAMARA TORTI