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Breeding
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Can I breed my horse mare to HBD or Casino?
Yes you can, but bear in mind that you
will produce a “sports pony” or small horse, and not a GRP (German Riding Pony) and
if you then breed from the progeny there will be a chance that they will throw big
offspring as they will carry the horse-sized genes.
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Do you restrict access to the stallions' semen to approved mares?
Not at present,
but we may do so in the future to ensure that he is only bred to quality mares. On
the whole we find that only those who are knowledgeable about sport ponies, with
well-bred mares, are approaching us, so there is no need to be restrictive. We will
always ask you about your mare’s pedigree out of our own interest in breeding, and
we do require copies of this for our records when you go ahead with your purchase.
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Is my maiden mare suitable?
Provided that she has not been in recent hard training,
is not too old and has been examined by your vet for reproductive soundness, she
should be a good candidate. Do be aware that there is no conception history so you
may not want to try frozen semen unless you already have had experience of this and
have a good vet/technician available that you trust.
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Should I breed on the foal heat?
Many clinics advise you not to breed on the foal
heat because the rate of conception is already lessened, although there are clinics
who have reported success using a different covering protocol. << Back to Questions
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How important is the quality of the mare?
The mare is just as important as the stallion
and should be chosen for her competition record, her temperament, her conformation
and her bloodlines. You should never breed from a mare that has broken down through
poor conformation or health, or a mare that has a poor temperament for riding or
handling. << Back to Questions
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When I've decided on the stallion I like, what do I do?
Please go to the page Ordering Procedure, from which order forms for the stallions
can be downloaded. If you have difficulty downloading it, please e-mail or call us
and we will send you the form(s) by post or fax. You must ensure you have read and
accept our terms and conditions before you order. Please also ensure you send us
a copy of your mare's registration details (preferably life number) and pedigree.
Otherwise, we're unable to provide you with a covering certificate once your mare
is pregnant. << Back to Questions
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What do I need to do once my mare is pregnant?
Please let us know, and preferably get your vet to e-mail or write to us, confirming
covering dates and pregnancy diagnosis. The vet will normally examine the mare at
14 days post insemination and then again at 28/30 days. It's fairly common for mares
to lose a pregnancy, as the embryo is floating around for a while before it implants.
We would also advise you to have the mare checked again if there is any doubt (she
comes back into season) at any time, and also before the end of September (when the
certificates have to be provided to the registries). << Back to Questions
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What do I need to do paperwork-wise once my mare foals?
Please let us know when your mare foals. We like to hear the outcome and to see photos
of your new arrival. We also want to hear from you if you have unfortunately lost
the pregnancy at any time. << Back to Questions
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Registration/Inspection
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Whose responsibility is it to provide a covering certificate to the registry?
We will provide a copy of the covering certificate to the registry of your choice,
but we can only do this if you have given us your mare's details and also the confirmation
from your vet of the insemination and the pregnancy. It is ultimately your responsibility
to provide this information and, although we will remind you of this, if we do not
receive the information we will assume your mare is not pregnant and will not contact
you again. << Back to Questions
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What paperwork should I get back from the registry?
If you are not a member of your chosen registry, you will need to become a member.
You will also need to inform them of the arrival of your foal. They will normally
send you the paperwork to become a member and also the paperwork to register your
foal. If you receive no paperwork from them (and you have received a covering certificate
from us) please let us know (April time) and we will contact them on your behalf.
If you are registering with Weser-Ems or Westfalia, please download the English translation
of the German paperwork, which should enable you to complete the forms without any
problems. Please also note that German Verbands have staff who speak excellent English
and they will normally reply to e-mails, given time. << Back to Questions
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Can I get my foal inspected in the UK?
Both Weser-Ems and Westfalia come over to the UK each year to inspect and brand foals
to be registered in their Verbands, and they will also need to inspect your mare
and enter her into one of their studbooks if she is not already registered with a
studbook in Germany. They have different levels of studbook for the different qualities
of mare, but, if you are registering a German mare with a different Verband, they
will normally accept the original Verband's assessment of the mare. You will need
to pay fees for the assessment and registration of both the mare and the foal. They
will generally give you good advice on the suitability of the stallion for your mare,
based on the foal! << Back to Questions
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How do I pay for my registrations/inspections if I use one of the German Verbands?
Unless you have an account which allows you to write Euro cheques, you will have
to pay by bank transfer, international money order or cash. The German Verbands don't
accept credit cards. Some British banks will be allowing more facilities for dealing
in the Euro zone this winter (we believe). If sending Euros in cash, please ensure
that you send a covering letter stating that you are sending cash and also make sure
you send your letter by registered post or recorded delivery so that it can be well
insured! << Back to Questions
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How do I get into one of the UK tours by the German Verbands?
Weser-Ems and Westfalia do this differently and it can't be guaranteed that they
will come every year. You need to notify them that you want to be included and you
will need to make sure they confirm this. Westfalia generally come to The College
in Bedford (August/September) and this is the only location they come to. Oldenburg
do the inspections on behalf of Weser-Ems and you will need to make sure that Oldenburg
know about you and include you, as the two organisations don't always seem to communicate
100%. Generally, unless you have a number of foals, they will slot you in with a
few other people and you will need to travel, but not too far! They do two tours
taking in different parts of the country, usually around August/September and October/November.
Make it clear that this is a pony rather than a horse, as they will need to bring
a different branding iron. They are very helpful and easy to deal with, but sometimes
things get lost in translation. If you have a HBD or Casino foal and have any problems,
feel free to ask us for help! << Back to Questions
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I want to register with the SPSS - is this possible?
Yes, and if you are keen to show your mare and foal in the UK it is probably a better
route. The SPSS have an inspection and show in October each year and this is a great
way of meeting other keen breeders and showing off your successful progeny. << Back
to Questions
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Should I do the BEF Futurity?
Yes, this is a great way to get feedback on your breeding programme - even if you
don't expect to breed another foal from your mare. It is also a good way to help
market your foal if you decide to sell the foal. It will also help the stallions
to achieve recognition in the UK.
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Live Foals
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Do you offer a live-foal guarantee?
Not at present, with the exception of mares in
foal to Hilken's Black Delight using chilled semen (see Terms and Conditions). A
live-foal guarantee cannot guarantee that you will ever achieve this, as some mares
will never become pregnant. It purely allows you to keep trying. It is perfectly
possible that you will achieve a pregnancy with one dose (as we have with our own
mare) and this is far cheaper than paying for a live foal guarantee which generally
means you are allocated three doses and pay for all of them even if you achieve a
pregnancy with one. Frozen semen, given the right conditions - a fertile mare, a
proficient vet/technician, good mare management - can achieve results comparable
with live covering. Excellent advice on mare management is given on the SBS website.
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Can I get my money back if my mare does not conceive?
No, as the cost of producing
the frozen semen, shipping it to the UK and supplying it to you is expensive. You
should never be prepared to risk more than you are able to lose. The possibility
of getting a live foal from such an exciting stallion as HBD should outweigh the
risk in your mind. << Back to Questions
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If I buy two doses and my mare is in foal after one dose, can I use the other dose
on another mare?
Yes, or you can store your dose for next year, or return it for a
refund. << Back to Questions
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Using Frozen Semen
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I am thinking of putting my mare to HBD or Casino using frozen semen - which vet/clinic
should I use?
There are lists of BEVA approved vets on the BEVA website and the BEF
has a list of studs which are inspected and approved to high quality standards. It
is important to be confident that whoever you use has the necessary experience and
equipment to ensure your money is well spent. Ask them for their statistical success
rates and their length of experience/professional qualifications.
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How should I decide whether to breed my mare by frozen semen?
Make your decision based
on your risk tolerance and have your mare examined by a good stud vet. << Back
to Questions
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What is an " insemination dose" ?
An “insemination dose” varies from stallion to stallion,
but is often 8 straws. The aim is to provide 300 million motile post-thaw sperm.
Some vets and technicians use half a dose before ovulation and half after. You
will receive one covering certificate per dose purchased. << Back to Questions
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How many doses do I need?
We suggest at least two doses per mare, using one dose per
cycle. Bear in mind the number of live-cover cycles you would try for.
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A dose from some stallions contains 4 straws, whereas you supply 8 - can I split
the dose?
Some vets routinely split doses and inseminate once before ovulation and
once after. You are sold 8 straws per dose, which is normal practice for the industry.
If you split a dose and achieve a pregnancy on one mare with the half dose, and
then keep the remaining half dose for use on the same mare the following season or
another mare this season, you will have to pay a full dosage price, otherwise you
will be deemed to be in breach of contract and no covering certificate will be provided.
This is to protect the interests of the owner of the stallion against unscrupulous
and potentially fraudulent activity on the part of breeders. << Back to Questions
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What is the thawing protocol for the semen?
It is extremely important that this is
followed, otherwise your money and the semen may be wasted. The recipient vet/clinic
must ensure they handle the straws properly and not inadvertently start the thawing
process in transferring the semen from the transit container to their own container.
Please follow the link to the SBS website where there are very clear instructions.
These are industry standard.
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Can you guarantee the quality of the semen?
The semen has been frozen by expert professionals
inGermany at a state-of-the-art clinic. It is subject to the appropriate health
and screening tests. In order to be imported into theUK,it has to satisfy DEFRA
health requirements and be accompanied by the correct paperwork. The post-thaw motility
of the semen must be at least 35% (this is the industry minimum). However, many
stallions with lower post-thaw motility percentages have achieved good conception
rates. Each batch of semen will vary according to local conditions at the time that
it was collected and frozen. << Back to Questions
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What factors can affect post-thaw motility?
Improper handling or thawing can drastically
affect the semen. This is why it is imperative to follow the instructions provided
by SBS. Once the semen leaves Stallion AI Services, it becomes your responsibility.
<< Back to Questions
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German Riding Ponies and Sports Ponies
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How did the German Riding Pony (GRP) evolve?
In 1965 German pony breeding associations
saw the need to develop a breed of large pony that would be suitable for national
and international competition for children. The goal was to maintain the pony character,
type and willingness to perform along with the competitive athleticism of a riding
horse. Breeders' first attempts were what they thought would be the easy solution:
to cross thoroughbred and Arabian stallions with Fjord and Haflinger ponies. These
cross-breeding attempts to produce a sportpony in one generation did not lead to
success. Some German breeders began to import British pony breeds, primarily Welsh,
which were bred to one another and also selectively crossed with local horses, infusing
Arabian, Anglo-Arabian, thoroughbred and some warmblood blood, and by 1975 a German
riding pony type developed. These first ponies of the riding pony type showed their
superb abilities at local, national and international competitions. Several important
and prepotent stallions emerged that were used to further develop the breed goal.
Soon these stallions, and later the high quality mares, began to be tested and approved
for breeding to further control and improve the type. In the 1990's attempts were
made to further improve the breed through the infusion of Trakehner, Hanoverian andHolsteiner
stallion blood and again this infusion of horse blood was unsuccessful: the pony
type and qualities were often lost. Today's German Riding Pony breeders use specific
bloodlines to reliably create German Riding Ponies that fulfill the goal of a pony
type who competes with the athleticism of a small warmblood. << Back to Questions
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What is the difference between a German Riding Pony and a British Riding Pony (BRP)?
This
is a rather academic debate, but our understanding is that the GRP is bred for sport
and it has taken the best elements from many breeds to produce the current model,
which has become a recognised breed in its own right. A GRP combines the gaits and
jumping abilities of a Warmblood with the heart and mind of a Thoroughbred, the pretty
heads of the Arabian with the friendly character of the Mountain and Moorland. It
is bred to be an all-rounder, and is expected to have ability in jumping and dressage.
Its temperament as a mount suitable for a child is of paramount importance. The
BRP (which started life in the early years of the20th century) was originally bred
to be a miniature version of the thoroughbred show hack, bred for its looks and movement
and manners. As such, its use for sport is limited by the vision of its original
purpose, which, in mimicking the thoroughbred hack, does not allow it to compete
with the warmblood-type movement bred for in the GRP. << Back to Questions
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What is the difference between a Sports Pony and a Riding Pony?
Again this is a matter
of present debate, but I understand that a Sports Pony is one step removed from the
Riding Pony and often includes the Welsh Section B in its close parentage. It may
be produced by a combination of horse genes and pony genes in its parentage, and
therefore not truly be a pony. However, inBritain, we would probably consider the
GRP to be the ultimate Sports Pony, as its success in FEI level dressage is second
to none and its rise in FEI eventing continues as the Germans turn their attentions
to this discipline. << Back to Questions
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Why breed GRPs in Britain when we have all the original breeds available here?
Why
re-invent the wheel? The GRP has evolved over 40 years into the pony it is today,
a breed in its own right with controlled standards of excellence and competitive
proofing. The Germans complimented British breeding by taking the best of the
Welsh, theDartmoorand other native breeds and combining them with Arabs and Warmbloods
to create this wonderful animal. We can now benefit from that painstaking work and
expertise and breed our own, hopefully without re-visiting the mistakes that were
made in the interim.
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What is the breed standard for a German Riding Pony?
The breed standard for the German
Riding Pony is for a pony preferably between 138 cm and 148 cm or approximately 13.2
hands to 14.2 hands. The athletic and refined qualities of a riding horse which exhibits
the pony type is essential. The type includes a small head, large and lively eyes
with little ears, a clean throatlatch, a long, well-set neck, pronounced withers
and long croup. Movement should be correct, rhythmic, spacious and elastic with distinct
impulsion from the hindquarters. The pony's disposition should be unpretentious and
benign, with a willingness to perform, showing courage and evenness of temperament.
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What is the Bundeschampionat?
The Bundeschampionat is the annual German national championships
for youngstock from 3 - 6 years old. For breeders it is the equivalent of the Olympic
Games. The main registries have between 250 and 450 registered broodmares (just GRP),
so between 200 and 400 foals are born in each registry per year. There are 14 registries
that traditionally have ponies. Potentially, therefore, there are a few thousand
ponies vying for top honours! The 3 and 4-year-olds must qualify at the relevant
state championships and are selected by their registries based on those show results.
Each registry has a limited amount of ponies they can send, based pro rata to the
number of registered broodmares, i.e. small registry = few ponies to the Bundeschampionat,
large registry = many ponies to the Bundeschampionat. The 5 and 6-year-olds have
more chances to qualify. There is a number of shows where they can compete and they
need a score of 7.0 and more to qualify, whereas the 3 and 4-year-olds have only
one chance. Stallions, mares and geldings at each age from 3 to 6 years old compete
under saddle in show jumping, dressage, eventing and driving. This is a proven method
of producing top sporting animals, as the success of Bundeschampionat competitors
in FEI competitions in later life bears witness.
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What approvals do the top breeding ponies in Germany go through?
Approvals take place
for both stallions and mares. Stallions may be presented for licensing for breeding
in the autumn of their 3rd year and then must attend a 30-day performance test when
they are 4 for final approval and acceptance into a studbook. Mares may be entered
into a studbook or main studbook and mares of exceptional quality may attend a performance
test where they can achieve the State Premium Mare designation. State Premium status
is highly prized by breeders and is more difficult to earn than a breeding licence
for a stallion. Each year, records show the approved German Riding Pony stallions,
their 30-day performance test score, their licensed progeny and their own and their
progeny's earnings. << Back to Questions
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