AHHA Judges Pleased with North America’s Breeding
T
he area of northern Germany known as Schleswig-Holstein is home to the Holstein- er Verband, the central authority on Hol-
steiner breeding. Tis organization governs all aspects of breeding, registering and the grading of foals, mares and stallions. Te verband maintains two offices in Holstein: a breeding office in the northern city of Kiel and a marketing center in the city of Elmshorn near Hamburg. Elmshorn's facility also houses many of the stallions owned by the verband. In the United States, as a separate organization the
American Holsteiner Horse Association (AHHA) maintains breed records, registers foals and organizes and conducts annual inspection tours. Tese tours offer breeders and stallion owners the opportunity to receive important feedback as to whether or not their foals, mares and stallion candidates are meeting and perhaps even exceeding today’s standards of Hol- steiner breeding. Currently the AHHA utilizes two out of their
three judges to officiate at each of the inspections which are held around the country in the fall of each year. We tracked down all three judges and asked them to help us understand the history, trends, goals and future of the breeding of Holsteiner horses.
When did you first become involved with Holsteiner
horses? AR: In 1978, as a dressage judge I was expected to judge
breeding stock as well since there just weren’t that many judges in general. But I had a mare I wanted to breed at the time and so I went to Virginia to see two Holsteiner stallions. After selecting one I bred my first Holsteiner, which turned out to be a mare. Although she was small, she was very easy to train and advanced nicely and quickly. She was going Inter- mediare II when she unfortunately died at age nine. I started a breeding operation, breeding three to four foals a year. I love the Holsteiner temperament and build.
36 July/August 2015 SPECIAL HOLSTEINER SECTION Meet the judges:
Arlene Rigdon is a dressage “S” judge (international) and “R” level sport horse breeding judge who has been judging for over thirty years. She
earned her USDF bronze, silver and gold medals, was longlisted for seven years on the USET team and was an avid breeder of Holsteiner horses for decades. One notable horse she bred was Con Brio (Calmé x Fasolt x Moontrip), the first American- born Holsteiner stallion to be approved in the U.S.
Matt Davis is a sport horse breeding specialist, judge, handler and young horse trainer based near Denver, Colo- rado. He also buys, develops and sells
top young hunters and jumpers, both for himself and for many of the country’s leading trainers.
Germany’s Michael Gonell has been a licensed judge for the Holsteiner Verband for 16 years. He has been judging at American inspections for the
last eight. He competed in the jumpers when young and has been an avid Holsteiner breeder who brings excellent experience and advice to North American breeders from the European perspective.
MD: I first became involved with Holsteiner horses 15
years ago when I was the manager of a large breeding farm that specialized in Holsteiners. MG: In 1974, at the age of 15, I rode a jumping horse, a Holsteiner gelding by Adlon, in classes up to 1.30 meters.
How did you become a judge for the Holsteiner inspections? AR: Years ago the AHHA board of directors “elected” judg-
es. I was asked in 1986 to be a judge. It will be almost 30 years that I have judged for the AHHA. MD: I attended AHHA annual meetings and expressed interest in judging to members of the breeding committee. For
TOP (with title): Volturna, bred by Cheryl Kellerman.
By Liz Cornell & Adrianna van Tilburg
American Holsteiner Horse Association
Cheryl Kellerman
Courtesy Matt Davis
Cheryl Kellerman
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