Traditionally, stallion performance tests commence as early as February with the sport tests for four- and five-year-old stallions. Exactly how the path for the young sires will be structured from 2023 onwards in order to be entered into stallion book I of a breeding association affiliated with the FN has been agreed upon by the breeding associations representing riding horses during their meeting at the end of November and subsequent written ballots.
Based on the experiences from the pilot year 2022, it was decided by a majority that the aptitude test will in future only be offered for three-year-old stallions and in the shortened form as a three-day test starting from April.
Regarding the implementing regulations for the newly introduced "short aptitude test" (Kurz-VA), it was decided by a majority to conduct the test over three days – based on the sport tests for stallions – so that the young stallions have time to acclimatise on the day of delivery. In addition, the breeding associations resolved by a majority that the short aptitude test may in future be organised and carried out by both the FN and the breeding associations – either solely or in mutual coordination and cooperation.
As before, licensed and unlicensed stallions are eligible for a short aptitude test, whereas for a saddle licensing with an integrated short aptitude test, breeding associations may in future also admit stallions that have already been licensed. The minimum registration number of ten stallions per test also remains unchanged.
According to the majority decision, breeding directors and executive board members of breeding associations may also act at saddle licensings with an integrated short aptitude test. Furthermore, the breeding associations voted in favour of allowing experts at all stallion performance tests in future only if they are not currently active, nor have been active in the past 100 days, as a trainer for any of the exhibitors, riders and/or participating stallions.
Pathways to provisional and definitive entry in stallion book I
It was newly resolved that four-year-old stallions that have not provided proof of performance as three-year-olds will in future only have to complete sport test part I for stallions in order to be provisionally entered into stallion book I of a German breeding association. Three-year-old stallions can continue to be provisionally entered into stallion book I only after completing a short aptitude test. Due to the shortening of the aptitude test, the breeding associations have agreed by a majority on the following combination options for definitive entry into stallion book I:
Short aptitude test + Sport test part II
or
Short aptitude test + Qualification for the Bundeschampionat (five- or six-year-old)
or
Sport test part I + Sport test part II
or
Sport test part I + Qualification for the Bundeschampionat (five- or six-year-old)
or
Sport test part II + Qualification for the Bundeschampionat (five- or six-year-old)
For continuous entry into stallion book I (three to five years of age), the following pathway is still recommended: short aptitude test + sport test part I + sport test part II.
Furthermore, completing a 50-day stallion performance test at a station or providing proof of the prescribed competition sport achievements will also lead to definitive entry into stallion book I.
The FN has incorporated all the new regulations decided by a majority of the FN breeding advisory board for riding horse breeding associations into the stallion performance test guidelines; these are published at www.hengstleistungspruefung.de.
Press release by the German Equestrian Federation (FN)
The Association of Breeders of the Holsteiner Horse will host a short aptitude test and saddle licensing in autumn 2023. Further information on this will follow.
Photo: Janne Bugtrup
