AHS: Top-Notch Support for Breeders and Owners
By Laurie Weiser, DVM
directed its efforts to maintaining and building upon the high German standards for which the breed had become famous: rideability, soundness and athleticism. Te AHS, in conjunc- tion with its parent organization the Hannoveraner Verband, (HV), has strictly maintained these standards through in- specting breeding stock, conducting mare per- formance tests, licensing and performance testing of stallions, registering foals and maintaining the studbook. Due to the breed’s long history and strict breeding standards, Hanoverian horses are popular worldwide and excel in many disciplines. Twenty-two years
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ago, in January 1995, the HV transferred full responsibility for all Hanoverian breeding in the U.S. to the AHS. Since that time, the AHS has operated as an independent studbook overseen by an elected board. Te AHS is the only independent, non- profit “daughter” society in the United States whose rules have full reciprocity with a parent organization. In 2014 the HV merged with the Rhineland Verband (RV) and the HV took on the responsibility of managing the Rhineland studbook. Te HV recognizes the AHS as its sole successor organiza- tion to keep the Hanoverian and Rhineland studbooks in the United States. Te American Hanoverian Society is run by a full-time
staff at their central office in Lexington, Kentucky, based at the National Horse Center at the Kentucky Horse Park. Te AHS offers many membership services: a comprehensive awards program, educational opportunities, jumper breeding
76 March/April 2017 SPECIAL HANOVERIAN SECTION
n the 1970s riders and breeders began importing Hanove- rian horses to the United States and in 1978 the American Hanoverian Society (AHS) was established. Te AHS
program, young breeders club, mentoring program and stallion testing, to name a few. Te AHS proudly offers its members the lowest registration fees of any major registry.
Inspection Tours Each year the AHS organizes a nationwide inspection tour dur-
Left, top to bottom: A winter shot of the AHS office in Lexington, Kentucky. AHS president, Edgar Schutte of Rainbow Equus Meadows, at right, visits the office staff: (L to R) executive director Hugh-Bellis Jones, Hugh's wife Cindy and registrar Sandy Lee. Right, top and bottom: The AHS office, located inside the Kentucky Horse Park (site of Rolex Kentucky, top), boasts beautiful views around the park.
ing which teams of judges inspect breeding stock, both mares and stallions, for entry in the studbooks. Foals are also evaluated and branded at these sites. Te annual inspections usually begin in July and conclude mid-October, with rotating teams of inspectors visiting various sites. Judges from both Germany and the United States participate in the inspections; all American inspectors go through a rigorous training program before they are certified. Each inspection site is carefully chosen to offer attendees adequate park- ing, stabling and arena space with good footing. Te AHS tour offers mare inspections and foal evaluations, but also Mare Performance Testing and futurity classes for year- lings and two-year-olds.
Inspections are enjoyable for participants and spectators alike
as the judges discuss their assessment of conformation, move- ment and bloodlines—and the resulting scores—with the audi- ence. Tey are very educational and offer a great opportunity to train your eye to evaluate sport horses as the judges’ comments are announced. Te inspection starts with the free jumping portion of the
Mare Performance Test (MPT). Each mare has multiple at- tempts through the jump chute and two individual scores are given, one for technique and another for scope and ability. Te jump chute is tailored to the ability of each mare, with no prede- termined height or width of each jump.
American Hanoverian Society
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