Mare Approvals
If you want to breed a Holsteiner foal and receive full papers for it, both sire and dam have to be approved for breeding with the Holsteiner Verband.
When presented for approval, mares must be three years or older. They can either be presented at an in-person inspection during our annual Inspection Tour through Canada and the United States OR they can be presented via video.
At the inspection, mares are presented in hand and at liberty and receive scores for type, topline, front legs, hind legs, walk, trot, and canter. Depending on the scores and certain pedigree requirements, mares may be awarded Mare Premiums.
Apart from our own Holsteiner and AHHA mares, the Holsteiner Verband welcomes thoroughbred mares, anglo arabian mares and mares that are registered with warmblood breeding associations recognized by the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH). Which marebook they are eligible to enter is determined by their pedigree.
Mares may enter one of four books: Marebook I, Marebook II, Holstein Global, or Pre-Marebook.
For more information on the Holstein Global studbook, please visit the page "Holstein Global".
Champion Show Jumping Mare of the Elite Mare Show 2024: Operetta by Crack-Casall-Coriano, Stamm 474A. She was bred by North American breeder Wendy Davis Gerrish (Photo credit: Janne Bugtrup)
Mares can be presented for approval at our annual Inspection Tour through Canada and the United States or via video.
Mare Approval via Video
If you are unable to attend an in-person inspection, approval via video is always an option.
Please record the following video sequences of the mare:
-
standing (in hand; all four sides)
-
walk (in hand; preferably on hard level ground) straight away from you and back towards you
-
walk (in hand; side view both directions)
-
trot (free movement; both directions)
-
canter (free movement; both directions)
Please provide us with the following information about the mare
-
name
-
height at withers standing on hard level ground
Send the videos and information to solterbeck@holsteiner-verband.de or to bergmann@holsteiner-verband.de.
If the file is larger than 50 MB, please send the videos via WeTransfer (https://wetransfer.com/)
Our breeding director Stephan Haarhoff will approve the mare on the basis of the videos you send us.
When your mare has been approved, you will receive a sticker with her marks in the mail. Instructions on how to stick it in her passport are included.
Mare Premiums
According to the Statutes of the Holsteiner Verband, mares can be awarded the following Premiums:
District premium (BP)
This designation is given to mares which embody good quality at breeding district mare inspections by fulfilling the following requirements:
- Both parents are registered in the Verband studbooks (sire: HB I, Holstein Global, dam: SB I (H, S), Holstein Global.
- The overall marks must total 47 points, with the mark for type at least 7 according to the scale of grades (B6.2) and none of the sub-criteria graded 3 or less according to the scale of grades (B6.2). The height at withers must be 160 cm at least.
- The premium designation is recorded on the mare’s zootechnical certificate (pedigree certificate I or II) and the abbreviation (BP) is carried after the mare’s name.
Verband premium (VP)
This designation is given to 3- and 4-year-old mares which embody outstanding quality at breeding district mare inspections by fulfilling the following requirements:
- the pedigree requirements for a dam to a stallion (B6.1b)
- the overall marks must total 52 points, with the mark for type at least 8 according to the scale of grades (B6.2).
or
- have successfully completed mare performance testing with an average score of at least 8.5 while the overall marks upon mare inspection must total 50 or 51 points, with the mare’s mark for type graded at least 7 according to the scale of grades (B6.2).
- none of the sub-criteria must have been graded 4 or less according to the scale of grades (B6.2). Height at withers must be 160 cm at least.
- participate on principal in the annual Verband mare show.
- District premium status mares registered at 3- or 4-year-old with a total score of 50 or 51 points can later receive the “Verband premium” designation upon written application if the following requirement are met:
- passed mare performance testing with an average score of at least 8.5
or
- 4-yr-old: placed in young horse jumping class at A, ridden class, young dressage horse class at A, cross country class at A (minimum score 8.5)
or
- 5-yr-old: placed in young horse jumping class at L, young dressage horse class at L, or cross country class at L (minimum score 8.5),
or
- 6-yr-old: placed in young horse jumping class at M, young dressage horse class at M, or cross country class at M (minimum score 8.5).
- The premium designation is recorded on the mare’s pedigree certificate and the abbreviation (VP) is carried after the mare’s name.
State premium (SP)
Verband premium mares which have successfully undergone mare performance testing (average grade 7.0 or better), with inspection marks totalling 52
points at least and type graded 8 according to the scale of grades (B6.2), are eligible to carry the title “state premium mare” according to the provisions of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Areas, European Affairs and Consumer Protection of Schleswig-Holstein.
Verband premium mares which have not undergone mare performance testing may be subsequently awarded the title state premium mare upon the owners written application, if the following conditions are met:
- 4-year-old: placed in young horse jumping class at A, ridden class, young horse dressage class at A or young horse cross country class at A,
or
- 5-year-old: placed in young horse jumping class at L, young horse dressage class at L or young horse cross country class at L
or
- 6-year-old: placed in young horse jumping class at M, young horse dressage class at M or young horse cross country class at M
The premium designation is recorded on the mare’s zootechnical certificate (pedigree certificate I and II) and the abbreviation (SP) is carried after the mare’s name.
Mare Performance Test
Mare performance testing is currently only available in Germany. Mare performance tests completed in other countries with other studbooks can be recognized if they meet our standards. Please reach out to solterbeck@holsteiner-verband.de if you would like to find out whether the test results of your mare can be recognized.