Mare Inspections

ENTRY INTO THE AHS STALLION BOOK REMAINS HIGHLY SELECTIVE.

Right: Elite Stallion Don Francisco, owned by Carol DiMaggio of Walnut Creek, CA, presented at the Eurequine inspection.

TAMARA TORTI

RegiSTered hAnoveriAn or rhinelAnd STAllionS approved for breeding by the AHS/ARS or HV may be included in the AHS Stallion Directory upon activation.

Pedigree Specifications One of several requirements for AHS breeding approval is that a stallion’s sire and the sires of the five female ancestors in the direct dam’s line of the stallion must belong to the AHS’s breeding population or to a recognized breeding population approved by the AHS (six generations altogether). The dam must be entered in the AHS or HV Main Studbook or belong to a recognized breeding population. Her dam (the second dam) must also be in the Main Studbook or belong to a recognized breeding population, or if she is a Thoroughbred, Arabian or Anglo-Arabian mare that is not in the Main Studbook, she must have scored an overall seven (7.0) and be in the AHS Studbook.

The third dam (the great-granddam) on the dam’s side must be in the AHS Studbook or belong to a recognized breeding population. Under certain circumstances the rules placed into effect in 2008 will permit an AHSregistered Main Studbook F1 Hanoverian mare (i.e., a mare with a Hanoverian sire and Thoroughbred dam) to be a stallion mother. The conditions are as such: • The F1 mare herself must have scored at least an overall seven (7.0) or better on inspection, • Her Main Studbook or Studbook

Thoroughbred dam must have accomplished the same qualifying overall score in addition to the gaits, presence, and femininity.

Requirements The stallion inspection commission consists of representatives of the Hannoveraner Verband and members of the AHS Mare and Stallion Committee. To pass the inspection, a Hanoverian-registered stallion must receive an overall score of seven (7.0) with no subscore lower than five (5). 3- or 4-year-old stallions that pass inspection are considered “provisionally licensed” and are limited to the

registration of a maximum of 20 AHS foals per year for two years.

It is important to note that nonHanoverian stallions, with the exception of Thoroughbreds must score 7.5 with no subscore lower than five (5) on their stallion licensing to gain Hanoverian approval. For the specific score requirements for Thoroughbred stallions, refer to the AHS Corporate Bylaws and Rules of Registration which are posted online at hanoverian.org.

Fees A stallion owner must activate the stallion by the payment of annual breeding dues. These dues and the owner’s annual membership dues must be paid to retain the stallion’s studbook status, to register his foals, and to ensure mare owners are not subject to an inactive sire fee. Payment of dues also entitles the stallion to be included in the society’s annual Stallion Directory.

Stallion Performance Test In Europe, the standard testing route now consists of a 14-day test at age 3, followed by two consecutive years of three-day sports tests at ages 4 and 5. Due to limited numbers of 3-year-old stallions, costs involved with providing a training director and staff, and the vast geography of our continent, the 14-day test was not seen as a viable option for North America. However, because the stallions are presented here at age 3 or older and shown under saddle at their initial licensing, it was agreed that the U.S. could use the under-saddle licensing as step one of the three-step process.

The American Hanoverian Society, German Oldenburg Verband, and Hannoveraner Verband have worked closely with the German FN to finalize the format for North America. The FN’s approval was essential to ensure reciprocity between registries. The new format, The North American Stallion Sport Test (www.stallionsporttest.com), is offered over a three-day period on both the East and West coasts for 4-, 5-, and 6-year old stallions.

An example of how the licensing and sport testing process would work for a stallion would be as follows: • Age 3: The stallion is presented for licensing. If accepted, he is granted a limited breeding permit to breed mares. • Age 4: The stallion attends a three-day sport test. • Age 5: The stallion attends his second three-day sport test to receive his lifetime approval.

If a stallion misses a year of the sport test, he would not be able to breed the following year but could attend the next offered sport test.

Stallions age 7 or older must achieve their sport performance requirements though the traditional sport model of upper-level competition results.

The emphasis in assessment of young stallions has moved away from a static, single period of time to appraising the stallion’s training progress and development at multiple points in their early career. This fundamental change will still allow stallion owners options for following a testing path or a wholly performance-based approval method.

Test Alternatives In North America, there is also an alternative to the Stallion Performance Test, which is required for stallions 7 years old or older. The stallion must accumulate the following show record:

Dressage:

• Must place in the top three (3), five (5) times by three (3) different judges at

FEI Prix St. Georges, or above, AND • Achieve minimum scores of 63% at USEF, FEI, or Equine Canada recognized shows.

Jumping

• Must place in the top three (3), five (5) times at 1.4 meters, or above, at USEF

“A” rated shows or Equine Canada

Class “1” shows.

Eventing

• Must place in the top three (3), five (5) times at CCI*** Long or Short, or above, at FEI-licensed competitions.

Show Hunters:

• Must place in the top three (3), five (5) times in a USHJA International Hunter

Derby competition offering prize money of $20,000 or more; OR • Must finish as champion three (3) times in a rated hunter division having six (6) or more entries, including at least three over fences classes, and jumping 3’9” or above. • In either case, must be achieved at

USEF “A” rated shows or Equine

Canada class “1” shows.

Racing

• for Thoroughbred stallions only, a race record of the stallion may be accepted if deemed of sufficient quality by the

AHS and HV.

Licensed stallions that achieve these performance results may be fully approved for the AHS or ARS Stallion Book.

Performance in Young Dressage Horse Competitions may also be accepted in conjunction with completing and passing an AHS- and HV-approved stallion performance test. For full details visit hanoverian.org.

ONCE A STALLION IS LICENSED, A STALLION TEST OR PERFORMANCE RECORD IS REQUIRED FOR LIFETIME APPROVAL.

Above: Influencer EDI, owned by Jessica Greenstein and Exclusive Dressage Imports.

BOTH HANOVERIAN AND NON-HANOVERIAN MARES 3 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER MUST BE JUDGED ACCORDING TO AHS INSPECTION CRITERIA AT DESIGNATED INSPECTION SITES BY A TEAM OF JUDGES.

In addition to evaluation in hand on the triangle, handlers are asked to position mares in the open stance position in front of the judges so that conformation can be evaluated thoroughly. Right: HPMC Wild Ivy GOA, owned and bred by Tamara Torti and Denise Cossuto of Cottonwood, CA, was Champion Hanoverian mare and MPT Champion at Eurequine inspection.

To enTer The breeding progrAm, mAreS And eligible STAllionS must be inspected for approval as breeding stock. Registered mares 3 years of age or older must be inspected and entered into a section of the studbook before their foals can be registered. [Exception: Certificate of Pedigree horses are not eligible for inspection.] Eligible Mares Hanoverian or Rhineland mares registered by the AHS or with the German Hannoveraner Verband (HV) or its daughter societies in Australia, Great Britain, or New Zealand are eligible for inspection.

Non-Hanoverian mares eligible for inspection: • Jockey Club-registered Thoroughbreds • Registered Arabians • Registered Anglo-Arabians Non-Hanoverian warmblood mares are eligible for AHS inspection and possible entry into the AHS Main Studbook pending pedigree approval by the AHS office.

Non-Hanoverian F1 warmblood mares (with an acceptable sire and a Thoroughbred dam) and with registration papers issued by a breed society or registry whose breeding program the AHS accepts, are eligible for AHS inspection. Such an F1 mare is scored under the same criteria that would have been required of her Thoroughbred dam: She must achieve an overall seven (7.0) on inspection including a seven (7) for impulsion/elasticity (the trot) for entry into the AHS Studbook.

These mares have the possibility to advance to the Main Studbook upon completing the Mare Performance Test (MPT) with the following result: • she must either score an overall seven (7.0)

OR • achieve a score of eight (8) in one of the three MPT categories (riding, gaits, jumping), AND at least a six (6) in the other two categories. Inspection Criteria The principal criteria for evaluating breeding stock include the following: 1. Masculinity/femininity and typiness 2. Conformation 3. Correctness of gaits 4. Impulsion and elasticity of gaits 5. Walk 6. Overall impression and development as related to age

Masculinity/Femininity and Typiness

Stallions must have a distinctly masculine bearing and mares, a distinctly feminine expression. A horse’s type must correspond to the society’s breeding goal.

Conformation

The main part of the body from the chest to the buttocks should fit into a rectangular (not square) frame with all parts harmoniously integrated. Also desired is a noble head with expressive eyes sitting on a well-proportioned and well put on neck; withers that are pronounced and extending far back; sloping shoulders with the angle between scapula and humerus large and open; a long, broad forearm on a correspondingly short cannon bone; and straight legs. Also preferred is a strong, but not tight back that is well padded in the area of the kidney; a long, well sprung hind rib; and a broad, slightly sloping croup. Careful attention is paid to the hindquarters – their angulation, proportion, and joint formation. The hocks must be broad, clear, and well defined; the pasterns of all four legs must be of proper slope and length; and the hooves should be well-shaped, strong, and sound.

Gaits

Movement as seen from the front and the rear must be straight with no paddling, winging, or crossing over.

Impulsion and Elasticity

Impulsion must clearly emanate from the hindquarters, traveling through a relaxed back swinging in rhythm with the gait. Movements should be big, yet light and springy.

Walk

The walk must be ground covering, relaxed, and regular. Strides must be even, and footfalls must be correct in their sequence – not lateral or pacing. Freedom of shoulders and haunches and a supple back must be evident.

Overall Impression and Development

As to size, sound judgment should prevail. Horses should be neither excessively large nor too small. In all cases, height should be in proportion to the overall build. Harmony is more important than size. A horse’s development must be commensurate with its age. This score is a summary, but not arithmetic sum, of the foregoing elements.

Scoring Only whole numbers are used in scoring – no fractions are allowed. Marks are given on a scale of 1 to 10: 10 Excellent 5 Sufficient 9 Very Good 4 Insufficient 8 Good 3 Fairly Bad 7 Fairly Good 2 Bad 6 Satisfactory 1 Very Bad

Hanoverian Premium Mare Status To be designated as an AHS Hanoverian Premium Mare (HPM), the mare must be a Hanoverian mare in the Main Studbook and be out of a Main Studbook mare. She must score an absolute overall seven (7.0) upon inspection with no rounding up of marks. A scoring modification approved in 2009 allows a mare that meets the other requirements for HPM eligibility but does not score an overall 7.0 on inspection (42 points), to have her free jumping score added to the overall inspection score and the resulting total divided by 7 (instead of 6). (See Reasons for Testing, page 17 for more information). Mares must also pass the Mare Performance Test (MPT) by either scoring an overall seven (7.0) or achieving a score of eight (8) in one of the three MPT categories (riding, gaits, jumping) and score at least a six (6) in the other two categories. She may also bypass the Mare Performance Test via competition scores. In addition, to obtain HPM status, the mare must produce an AHS/ ARS-registered foal.

Main Studbook A Hanoverian mare 3 years old and older will be entered in the Main Studbook if she is a registered daughter of an AHS or HV Main Studbook or Studbook mare and attains an inspection score of an overall six (6.0) or better with no subscore below five (5). If the mare is in the HV Main Studbook she will be entered in the AHS Main Studbook.

A non-Hanoverian warmblood mare that holds registration papers acceptable to the AHS and HV shall be entered into the Main Studbook if she attains an overall inspection score of seven (7.0) with no subscores below five (5). A scoring