Lgd
9th May 2008, 06:32 PM
This was held in Huddersfield a couple of weeks ago. Very interesting day overall and far too much to get down in one post.
What I have done is try and give brief notes on the actual type and assessment of dressage horses (they did the jumpers as well).
KWPN Breeding Goal
The general KWPN breeding goal is to produce a performance horse that:
Can perform at Grand Prix level
Has a constitution that enables long usefulness
Has a character that supports the will to perform as well as being agreeable and good natured towards people
Has functional conformation and a correct movement mechanism that will enable good performance.
Has an attractive exterior that is related to refinement, nobility and quality.
Extended breeding goal - dressage type:
The breeding goal is to produce a dressage horse that can perform at GP level and also possesses a healthy constitution, functional conformation, correct movement mechanism, a correct base and preferably an attractive appearance.
To reach this goal the dressage horse should be long-lined and have a correct model with balanced proportions.
The horse should move correctly, be light footed, be balanced and supple with carrying power, impulsion and good self-carriage.
The dressage horse should be easy to handle, easy to ride and intelligent with a willing and hard-working character.
Conformation of the dressage horse:
Stands in a rectangular model (length of the horse from point of shoulder to point of buttock should be greater then the height)
Is long-lined with a proportional build
Has an uphill build
Has long legs
Has a light head/neck connection (long poll, light throatlatch and small distance between the topand the bottom of the neck)
Has a long neck that is raised and arched with muscling in the top line
Has a strongly built and muscled back/loin formation
Has a correct and hard foundation
Is attractive
Movement of the dressage horse:
The walk is a pure four time gait that is active and has suppleness and impulsion
The trot is a pure two time gait that is active and has suppleness, impulsion, balance and self-carriage.
The canter is a pure three time gait that is active, light with suppleness, impulsion, balance and self-carriage.
Can lengthen and shorten easily in movement without losing rhythm, connection, balance or self carriage.
Rises in the front
Has good posture
Is light footed
Shows flexion in the joints, engagement of the hindquarters, freedom from the shoulder with a slight lift of the knee.
Character of the dressage horse
Has a willing, hardworking and honest character
I intelligent
Has the will to perform
Is easy to handle
Reacts quickly to the aids
Stallion selection:
Three inspection rounds (with stallions elminated at each stage) Those reaching the final round are also required to undergo:
Vet examination (x-ray, roaring, clinical, semen)
Performance test
There is then subsequent monitoring of the offspring at set intervals (foals, 3yo, 7yo, 11yo)before lifetime approval is granted
Mare gradings:
At least 3yo for studbook entry.
Either in the foal book, register A or a KWPN acknowledged studbook.
For studbook entry must be a minimum of 1.58m (15.2hh) for Ster predicate must be a minimum of 1.60m (15.3hh)
Must be free of genetic defects such as eye defects; over or under bite; deviations in knee, deviations in hock in combination with deviating build/stance of the hindleg; deviations in hoof shape (uneven feet); deviation in manner of moving.
Score 50 points minimum each for movement and conformation.
Mare is shown in-hand stood up, in walk and trot. Dressage horses are then shown free in trot and canter. Only the jumper type horses are required to loose jump.
Points that are marked (mares and stallions) are listed below. Each point has a range of 9 possible descriptors with mid point being the average: Marks are allocated between 40 and 100 ( in steps of 5) for exterior and movement. The marks for each pace and posture being given separately and then averaged for the overall score.
1. Body shape (rectangular - square)
2. Body direction (uphill - downhill)
3. Head-neck connectin (light - heavy)
4. Length of neck (long - short)
5. Position of neck (vertical - horizontal)
6. Muscling of neck (heavy - poor)
7. Height of wither (high - flat)
8. Position of the shoulder (sloping - straight)
9. Line of the back (roached - weak)
10. Line of loins (roached - weak)
11. Shape of croup (sloping - flat)
12. Length of croup (long - short)
13. Stance of forelegs (over at knee - back at knee)
14. Stance of hind legs (sickle hocked - straight)
15. Stance of pasterns (weak - upright)
16. Shape of feet (wide - narrow)
17. Heels (high - low)
18. Quality of legs (lean - filled)
19. Substance of legs (heavy - fine)
20. Walk: length of stride (long - short)
21. Walk: Correctness (toed in - toed out)
22. Trot: length of stride (long - short)
23. Trot: elasticity (elastic - stiff)
24. Trot: Impulsion (powerful - weak)
25. Trot: balance (carrying - pushing)
26. Canter: length of stride (long - short)
27. Canter: Impulsion (powerful - weak)
28. Canter: Balance (carrying - pushing)
Mare inspection:
Mares require minimum of 50/100 for studbook entry
Mare predicates may be awarded:
Ster = 70 or more for conformation, 75 or more for movement, also preliminary keur
Keur = preliminary keur + IBOP (1 day ridden test) or sports results (1 point or more at medium level)
Sport/Prok predicate is awarded for those with a higher level competition record/clean x-rays
Additional predicates based on performance of offspring are preferent and prestatie.
IBOP test - walk, trot, canter, suppleness, self carriage and balance, rideability/workability, talent for dressage are assessed. Horse does an individual test (around prelim level plus some medium trot and canter)
Then comes in with a group of up to three others. 3yo mares may be asked to show changes in tempo, 4yo leg yield, 5yo shoulder-in. Jury may ask for more/less depending on the training level of the horse.
Passing score is 75 points.
What I have done is try and give brief notes on the actual type and assessment of dressage horses (they did the jumpers as well).
KWPN Breeding Goal
The general KWPN breeding goal is to produce a performance horse that:
Can perform at Grand Prix level
Has a constitution that enables long usefulness
Has a character that supports the will to perform as well as being agreeable and good natured towards people
Has functional conformation and a correct movement mechanism that will enable good performance.
Has an attractive exterior that is related to refinement, nobility and quality.
Extended breeding goal - dressage type:
The breeding goal is to produce a dressage horse that can perform at GP level and also possesses a healthy constitution, functional conformation, correct movement mechanism, a correct base and preferably an attractive appearance.
To reach this goal the dressage horse should be long-lined and have a correct model with balanced proportions.
The horse should move correctly, be light footed, be balanced and supple with carrying power, impulsion and good self-carriage.
The dressage horse should be easy to handle, easy to ride and intelligent with a willing and hard-working character.
Conformation of the dressage horse:
Stands in a rectangular model (length of the horse from point of shoulder to point of buttock should be greater then the height)
Is long-lined with a proportional build
Has an uphill build
Has long legs
Has a light head/neck connection (long poll, light throatlatch and small distance between the topand the bottom of the neck)
Has a long neck that is raised and arched with muscling in the top line
Has a strongly built and muscled back/loin formation
Has a correct and hard foundation
Is attractive
Movement of the dressage horse:
The walk is a pure four time gait that is active and has suppleness and impulsion
The trot is a pure two time gait that is active and has suppleness, impulsion, balance and self-carriage.
The canter is a pure three time gait that is active, light with suppleness, impulsion, balance and self-carriage.
Can lengthen and shorten easily in movement without losing rhythm, connection, balance or self carriage.
Rises in the front
Has good posture
Is light footed
Shows flexion in the joints, engagement of the hindquarters, freedom from the shoulder with a slight lift of the knee.
Character of the dressage horse
Has a willing, hardworking and honest character
I intelligent
Has the will to perform
Is easy to handle
Reacts quickly to the aids
Stallion selection:
Three inspection rounds (with stallions elminated at each stage) Those reaching the final round are also required to undergo:
Vet examination (x-ray, roaring, clinical, semen)
Performance test
There is then subsequent monitoring of the offspring at set intervals (foals, 3yo, 7yo, 11yo)before lifetime approval is granted
Mare gradings:
At least 3yo for studbook entry.
Either in the foal book, register A or a KWPN acknowledged studbook.
For studbook entry must be a minimum of 1.58m (15.2hh) for Ster predicate must be a minimum of 1.60m (15.3hh)
Must be free of genetic defects such as eye defects; over or under bite; deviations in knee, deviations in hock in combination with deviating build/stance of the hindleg; deviations in hoof shape (uneven feet); deviation in manner of moving.
Score 50 points minimum each for movement and conformation.
Mare is shown in-hand stood up, in walk and trot. Dressage horses are then shown free in trot and canter. Only the jumper type horses are required to loose jump.
Points that are marked (mares and stallions) are listed below. Each point has a range of 9 possible descriptors with mid point being the average: Marks are allocated between 40 and 100 ( in steps of 5) for exterior and movement. The marks for each pace and posture being given separately and then averaged for the overall score.
1. Body shape (rectangular - square)
2. Body direction (uphill - downhill)
3. Head-neck connectin (light - heavy)
4. Length of neck (long - short)
5. Position of neck (vertical - horizontal)
6. Muscling of neck (heavy - poor)
7. Height of wither (high - flat)
8. Position of the shoulder (sloping - straight)
9. Line of the back (roached - weak)
10. Line of loins (roached - weak)
11. Shape of croup (sloping - flat)
12. Length of croup (long - short)
13. Stance of forelegs (over at knee - back at knee)
14. Stance of hind legs (sickle hocked - straight)
15. Stance of pasterns (weak - upright)
16. Shape of feet (wide - narrow)
17. Heels (high - low)
18. Quality of legs (lean - filled)
19. Substance of legs (heavy - fine)
20. Walk: length of stride (long - short)
21. Walk: Correctness (toed in - toed out)
22. Trot: length of stride (long - short)
23. Trot: elasticity (elastic - stiff)
24. Trot: Impulsion (powerful - weak)
25. Trot: balance (carrying - pushing)
26. Canter: length of stride (long - short)
27. Canter: Impulsion (powerful - weak)
28. Canter: Balance (carrying - pushing)
Mare inspection:
Mares require minimum of 50/100 for studbook entry
Mare predicates may be awarded:
Ster = 70 or more for conformation, 75 or more for movement, also preliminary keur
Keur = preliminary keur + IBOP (1 day ridden test) or sports results (1 point or more at medium level)
Sport/Prok predicate is awarded for those with a higher level competition record/clean x-rays
Additional predicates based on performance of offspring are preferent and prestatie.
IBOP test - walk, trot, canter, suppleness, self carriage and balance, rideability/workability, talent for dressage are assessed. Horse does an individual test (around prelim level plus some medium trot and canter)
Then comes in with a group of up to three others. 3yo mares may be asked to show changes in tempo, 4yo leg yield, 5yo shoulder-in. Jury may ask for more/less depending on the training level of the horse.
Passing score is 75 points.