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in person,” she explains. “The live streaming video was a good idea in of itself, but fails to show the full picture. The live video gives viewers a ‘snapshot’ of the test. People watching assumed they could judge the stallions themselves from this ‘snapshot’ and were quite vocal about their opinions on public forums. In the end, this was destructive rather than constructive.”


MORE REACTIONS In fact, the majority of stallion owners agreed that the 70- day test is critically important to the future of sport horse breeding in North America, and down the road many plan to send another stallion. “If you’re going to have a German-approved breeding


stallion, you’re going to have to follow the German System,” says Jennifer Arnoldt, owner of Dreamscape Farm, of Langley, British Columbia. Dreamscape Farm stands 15 stallions—four of those stallions completed the 2010 70-day test—Farscape DSF and Banderas, owned by Dreamscape Farm, and Diamond Stud and Sutherland Song HLF, owned by Highlife Farms.


“I’m a big believer


in the European system. After all, we breed horses within their studbooks in North America,” Jennifer says. “Do I support the testing process, and format? Absolutely. North America would be much worse off if we lose the 70-day test, and Silver Creek Farm does a very good


job running it. There is simply no other practical way at the moment to get our stallions permanently approved. The hunters and jumpers, especially, have no other avenue here.” Ronda Stavisky of Rising Star Farm in Georgetown,


Texas says she cried for about two minutes when she got her stallion Figaro B’s scores. “There I was in the barn aisle with Harald sort of awkwardly patting me on the back. But then I got over it, and realized it was fine. We passed! That’s what is important.” “Let me tell you,” Ronda continues, “it wasn’t pretty in


that barn alleyway for a little while. Everyone believes that their stallion is wonderful, as well they should. But not everyone can end up on top.” Ronda has been down the testing path before. Her


Belgian Warmblood stallion Cielo B was jumping champion of the 2009 70-day test. Stavisky’s stallion Figaro B, who passed the 2010 test, is co-owned by Bobburk Farm. “I think it’s wonderful we have this tool, and I applaud


the registries that truly support the testing, because it is critical that we have this test here in America,” Ronda continues. “Without it we’ll all end up standing teenage stallions. We can’t keep up with the rest of the world if we have to wait until our stallions reach Grand Prix for their permanent licensing. We’ll have 19-year-old stallions finally with full books of mares, and we’ll be hoping to God they don’t drop over dead before we find out how they produce.” This question of timing is exactly what makes


performance testing valuable to breeders, according to Otto Schalter, stud book director of the RPSI (Rheinland Pfalz-Saar International), and its parent organization, the PRPS verband in Germany. “With every other livestock, as compared to horses, the results come way faster,” Otto explains. “The stallion test is simply something a stallion must pass – he doesn’t have to win. He then has his breeding license, and a lifetime to prove himself.” “If you wait for breeding licensing to come by way of


show-ring success, you would see stallions entering the breeding shed for the first time at ten years old,” Otto adds. “Then, you finally know something about that horse as a sire when the first offspring is six years old. This is too long. The stallion testing helps breeders move ahead with their stallions’ breeding careers.”


From top: Rising Star Farm's Figaro B (scored 87.92) and Cielo B, jumping champion from the 2009 70-Day Test. Cielo B photo by Reg Corkum and Figaro B photo by Angela Pritchard


BREED ASSOCIATIONS AND THE 70-DAY The German Oldenburg Verband’s director Holly Simensen has a no-nonsense approach to stallion testing, and she’s not shy about laying down the law to stallion owners. “People need to know that this is a required test by all the German breeding associations,” Holly says. “This testing is highly regulated, and as operated here at Silver Creek Farms, the stallions are given absolutely exemplary care.”


Warmbloods Today 69


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