Dr. Thomas Nissen
Managing Director and Breeding Manager
Tel: +49 431 305996 0
Fax: +49 431 336 142
Association Kiel
Steenbeker Weg 151
24106 Kiel
Mare performance test
Information about the mare performance test
Mares may undergo performance testing on station or in the field.
The basic gaits, rideability and free jumping are judged. When undergoing on-station testing, the mares’ willingness to perform will be judged, as well. Successful mare performance testing is one of the requirement to be eligible for the State Premium designation.
Station Test
The station test involves 14-day training and a final test. In addition to evaluating basic gaits, rideability and free jumping, it also encompasses interior traits, subsumed under the mark for “willingness to perform and handling”.
The station test’s advantage is that the mares are trained and tested under standardized conditions over a two week period.
Field Test
The one-day field tests are held at various locations across Schleswig-Holstein and (from 2018) the extended breeding area.
They are carried out on instruction of the Holsteiner Verband by the Landeskommission für Pferdeleistungsprüfungen Schleswig-Holstein (State Horse Performance Test Committee S-H).
The field test starts with the free jumping in a jump chute (indoor arena), followed by a presentation under the own rider in groups up to four mares to evaluate basic gaits and rideability. Finally, the mare’s rideability is judged yet again by a test rider.
Holsteiner mares performance tested in Schleswig-Holstein (station or field test) sired by a young stallion (1st or 2nd covering season in 2016) or a Thoroughbred stallion will receive about 500 euros in financial support. Mare owners with a Holsteiner Verband membership will be contacted by the breeding department after the last field test.
Mare performance test
Registration and dates
The registration for the station test is done at the Holsteiner Verband in Kiel. The Landeskommission für Pferdeleistungsprüfungen in Bad Segeberg (state commission for horse performance tests) accepts the registrations for the field test.
Station Test
On the following days the final exam (freejumping and performance under the rider) for 3-year-old mares will take place at 9.00 am in Elmshorn (Holsteiner Verbandes, Westerstr. 95, D-25336 Elmshorn):
Tuesday, 25.02.2020
Wednesday, 29.04.2020
Field Test
The entry form and the preparation guidelines for the field test in Schleswig-Holstein can be found in the March issue of the association magazine PFERD+SPORT or on the website Landeskommission für Pferdeleistungsprüfungen Schleswig-Holstein.
22.04.2020 Elmshorn
06.05.2020 Groß Wittensee
17.06.2020 Elmshorn (only 3-year-old fillies born on 1 June 2017 or later)
Only at the Elmshorn field test on 22 April, the performance tested mares can also be registered into the Holsteiner studbook on the same day. Please state your intention to have your mare studbook-registered when entering your mare for performance testing.
The conformation evaluation required for studbook registration takes place at the outside arena (Horstmanns Garten) prior to the free jumping. The height at the withers is measured prior to the in-hand presentation. The mare’s equine passport is also required at this stage.
Submitting the Holsteiner Verband studbook registration entry form is mandatory also for mares intended for studbook registration during the Elmshorn field test on 22 April 2020.
Mare performance test
Adjustments in weighting the mare performance test criteria
To promote the breeding of Holsteiner dressage horses, and for a more performance-related assessment of dressage oriented mares, the dressage committee suggested adjusting the way the evaluated mare performance test criteria are weighted.
These suggestions have been implemented, so that the final test score is now calculated by weighting the criteria differently for jumping and dressage oriented mares.
The weighting of the field test criteria has been adjusted for field test as follows:
|
Criterion |
until 2015 |
jumping oriented |
dressage oriented |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Junping |
30% |
30% |
20% |
|
Trot |
13% |
13% |
15% |
|
Canter |
13% |
13% |
15% |
|
Walk |
13% |
13% |
15% |
|
Rideability |
10% |
10% |
10% |
|
Rideability- test rider |
21% |
21% |
25% |
The final field test score is calculated from the weighted sub scores.
Please state the mare’s orientation (jumping or dressage) on the field test entry form. The final test score will be calculated accordingly.
In case no information is provided, the mare will be considered as jumping oriented.