News

Amendments since 2012

Breeding associations discuss proposed changes in the HLP in 2012

Warendorf (fn-press). The „First year“ of the redesigned stallion performance test is done. Although the new system generally passed its practical test, however some small weak points were detected. These shortcomings will be remedied in 2012.

For one year the new system of the stallion performance test was tested with 529 registered and 413 tested stallions. After the exchange of experiences within the working group stallion performance test with representatives of the judges, test rider, testing stations and stallion owners, the member associations of the German Equestrian Federation (FN) analyzed the innovations as well. Dr. Klaus Miesner, director of the breeding department of the FN, explains: “We are generally very satisfied, the registration system has operated free of trouble, the testing were properly carried out. The grading scale was distributed to an acceptable level regarding the evaluation of the tested traits and the stallions are selected according their corresponding performance. But if a new system is established it is not surprising that one or the other item have to be discussed and need to improve.”

The breeding associations had set in motion several innovations and amendments, which have to be decided by the advisory board breeding, the uppermost breeding authority of the FN, in the end of the year. The details of the amendments are the following:

• Since 2012 there will be individual fixed deadlines for registration (4 weeks before the beginning of each test) instead of the present three central deadlines (1. February, 15. June and 1. September). Just as before, late entries will be possible until two weeks before the beginning of the test. Through this modification of registering the stallion owners will get more flexibility for better scheduling and short-term decisions.
• As before all registered stallions should be presented in the catalogue, however all stallions, that are not participating in the test, will be listed at the end of the catalogue, which can be downloaded at the website http://www.hengstleistungspruefung.de/en/.
• Upon the delivery of the stallions at the testing station a certificate of health, stating that the stallion and his home stock are free from any signs of contagious, infectious diseases should be further required. However since 2012 this have to be confirmed by the official veterinarian. Furthermore a certificate is still needed, stating that the stallion is no carrier of equine viral arteritis (EVA). However since 2012 this certificate has to be issued by an accredited laboratory that is qualified and certified to conduct the examination according to the recommendations of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) (the current edition of the “Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals”). This means that the certificate of every german laboratory will be accepted, as they fulfil appropriate conditionality.
• The exhibitor shall settle the registration fee (administration and test fees) with the Breeding Department of the FN upon registration. In any event, the administration fee remains with the FN. However since 2012 the test fee shall be refunded if the stallion will not be delivered to the testing station.
• Since 2012 the testing stations are entitled to fix in their contractual provisions that the applicant shall be charged for incurred expenses and loss of use in case the stallion will not be delivered to the testing station.
• Additionally to the check of the basic gaits and the rideability, the free jumping is inspected during des first training visit. This will be performed for the 30-day performance test as well as for the 70-day performance test to get more information about the jumping ability of the stallions and not only to check the basic gaits at every training visit. Therefore the first training visit will be extended by half a day. Moreover the second training visit of the 70-day performance test will be postponed of the fifth week to the sixth week. No changes will be done to the tested traits to be verified.
• Since 2012 only three-year old up to seven-year old stallions are eligible to participate in the 70-day stallion performance test, therewith in future three-year old stallions will be no longer tested together with stallions 10 years and older. For eight-years and older stallions the only way to pass the stallion performance test will be the success in competition.
• Furthermore the prescribed standard course for the 70-day stallion performance test is revised and simplified since 2012 for a more easier coping especially for the 3-year old stallions.

The conditions for the cross country test of the 70-day stallions performance test shall be further standardized.
(FN aktuell, December 2011)

Redesign in 2011

The time has come: Following intensive preparation works, the new HLP-Rules are effective as of January 2011. A new concept had become necessary due to some changes in the Animal Protection Act from 2006. The government has been gradually withdrawn its responsibility to conduct the test so that the stallion performance tests will be privatized in the sense of the animal protection act. The breed societies will now be in charge and they convey – as long as the respective federal authorities agree – the German Equestrian National Federation (FN) with the realization. The new concept will first be valid for the tests of stallions of the German riding horse breeds. However, a new concept will be established for the testing of pony stallions latest until the end of 2013.

The central co-ordination under the roof of the German FN is meant to continue the standardization with the aim to achieve objective, informative and comparable results.

The existing system of a 70-day lasting stationary test and the alternative, a 30-day suitability test (VA) in combination with show placements will still be valid. Many tested and approved elements have been taken over. All possibilities for the performance test for stallions of the German riding horse breeds can be taken from the same-named enclosure below. In a practical sense, there will be some improvements for stallion raisers and breeders when it comes to the registration and the determination of results.

The most significant changes

• registration with free selection of testing station, but with fixed deadlines for registration (4 weeks befor each test);
• fixed group size: min. 25 and max. 40 registered stallions per testing round;
• central allocation of experts by the German FN from a pool of experts, nominated by the advisory board breeding;
• training assessment by two judges, together with the head trainer;
• informative presentation of results with single scores, weighted scores and breed values

Registration

The new registration system is one of the most important changes, especially for the stallion raisers. The category “Tests” on this website features all future testing dates. To enter a stallion for the test, the exhibitor has to register free of charge first. Please note that this unique registration procedure may take a few days. Therefore, an early registration is recommended.

Size of groups

To optimize the comparison within the different groups, the breeding societies agreed on a minimum number of 25 stallions per testing round, based on a scientific analysis. The summary of all tests features how many entries have already been made for the particular testing rounds.

After the deadline has been reached, it will be clear which testing rounds have achieved the minimum number of registered stallions; all other testing rounds will be cancelled. The exhibitors whose selected testing round was cancelled will have the opportunity to enter their stallion for the other approved tests.

To ensure the same standard procedure for all testing stations, the maximum number of participating stallions was limited to 40.

Experts

All experts appointed to the testing stations will be nominated from a central pool of experts of the German FN. Besides two judges and the test riders in the final tests and based on the new concept, two training judges will regularly inspect the training sessions at the stations, and together with the head trainer, they will award training scores.

Results

The results of the stallions will no longer be shown as one overall index score. The individual scores from the training and the final test and the equivalent weighted final scores (weighted final score, final dressage and show jumping score) will in future be published for both testing forms.

Besides, a VA resp. HLP breed value dressage and a VA resp. HLP breed value show jumping will be assessed and published, too.

Derivations of the breed value from the corresponding pedigree breed value will be shown in addition with the aim to better assess the stallion’s own accomplishments.

The breed values optimize the comparison between all testing stations, testing rounds and age-groups.