What are some things that breeders and handlers can do to improve their scores at
inspections? AR: Practice and train
“Good mares pass on their frame, structure and innate jumping talent. They also have the most
ahead of time. First impres- sions are important, so the foal should be braided and have a good handler who can run. We also watch the mares and foals at liberty and often we have to wait to see how well they can move until that por- tion of the presentation. MD: Relax. Inspections are not horse shows. Tey are
for the benefit of the owner/breeder. Ultimately the value of a horse as breeding stock is not solely determined by how they score at an inspection. It is but one piece in a much larger puzzle. It is also important to note that the job/role of a handler
at a horse show is different from one at an inspection. At a horse show, a handler is trying to minimize or hide weak- nesses/faults from a judge. To try to do so at an inspection defeats the purpose. Te area I see that could be improved the most through
better handling is the walk. Many inexperienced handlers walk horses in hand with very short reins, sometimes almost to the bit—this with horses who may not be used to wearing a bridle and bit. Te result is that they are constantly fighting and never find a good rhythm in the walk. If you want to practice some- thing at home, practice finding the best walk in the horse. Give the horse enough rein that the neck can have complete freedom with no contact. Practice taking bigger steps without breaking up the rhythm of the horse. Some horses show better with an assistant handler and some get quick and tense. Know how your horses will show themselves best ahead of time. MG: For judging a horse positively, it’s important that all
talents of that animal are shown at the moment the judges look at it. We can only judge what we see. Te better the horse is in shape and well trained, the more likely it is to give correct [accurate] scores and feedback.
Why do we find so many Holsteiner bloodlines in other European breeds? Is it the Holsteiners’ willingness and trainability, or their great hind end action when jump- ing? Or is it the breed’s overall success in producing the
top show jumping horses for decades? AR: Te Holsteiner has always been considered a smaller,
more selective breed, which is what the association’s members like since it allows them to produce a very consistent type of horse. Te horses are built to jump—their anatomy and con- formation demonstrate a strong powerful loin, with hind legs that are neither too angled nor straight. Dressage horses are really powerfully built jumpers with a good walk. Te way the horse uses his back to bascule over the fence is the same
38 July/August 2015 SPECIAL HOLSTEINER SECTION
influence over internal characteris- tics that are hard to measure,
like personality, heart, boldness and work ethic.” –Matt Davis
bascule needed for the dressage horse in the collected work. Teir confor- mation quality makes them very good for either job. MD: By in large Holsteiners have the best jumping genet-
ics in the world. It only makes sense that other registries would want to utilize these genetics also. Te best Hol- steiners represent a balance between power, agility and ride- ability. Holsteiners are very well known for their incredible jumping power, scope and high degree of rideability. Tis is the foundation for any successful jumper, and many other sport-based registries have used Holsteiners to form their vision of the ideal sport horse. MG: In the bloodlines of jumping horses worldwide, we
find very often the Holsteiner influence. From the begin- ning of Holsteiner horse breeding, a lot of stallions had very good attitudes, scope, willingness to perform and technique. Te other studbooks were open to work with these charac- teristics in a positive way. Tese other breeding associations (Hanoverian, Westphalian, KWPN, BWP/Z, Oldenburg and so on) could infiltrate their motherlines with our horses without risking inbreeding.
In Germany the Holsteiner breeders treasure and re- vere their mare lines. What is your opinion as a judge about the American Holsteiner breed and the value of
the mares? AR: We’re getting a lot smarter about the mares we
choose to breed. Having the inspections helps breeders weed out the mares whose foals score poorly. MD: Good mares from proven mare lines are the key to
successful breeding. Every mare has a mare line/stamm. Cer- tain stamms have proven to produce more successful sport horses than others. Over time, breeders have been drawn to breed with mares from these stamms and, as they have grown, there are certain branches within these stamms that are better than others. Good mares pass on their frame, structure and innate jumping talent. Tey also have the most influence over internal characteristics that are hard to measure, like person- ality, heart, boldness and work ethic. MG: Te advantage from the Holsteiner in Germany is the history. Our old stamms became controlled a long time
Tis Dutch Warmblood mare came to the AHHA as a foundation mare. She is owned by South Shore Farm in Quebec. She is by Ramon out of Onette (Jasper). She was Re- serve Champion with 47 points.
Cheryl Kellerman
American Holsteiner Horse Association
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