Rheinland Pfalz- Saar International
By Ann Daum Kustar
jumper Apricot D, Margit Otto- Crepin’s Lucky Lord, and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum’s Le Mans may sound familiar. Tese horses are Zweibrückers, the breed sporting the bridge and crown brand from the Rheinland Pfalz-Saar district in Germany and its daughter organization, the Rheinland Pfalz Saar International (RPSI), here in North America. Te RPSI is one of the few registries operating in America
W
as a direct extension of its German counterpart. Tis means that the RPSI follows German rules and regulations. Mares, foals and stallions inspected in North America are entered into the German VIT, or database of sport horses, and foals born here are issued German life numbers and passports, just like their counterparts born in Germany. RPSI stallions licensed Stud Book I here are also fully licensed for breeding in Germany, for example. Ernie and JoAnn Cohn run the North American
headquarters of the RPSI from their office in Alta Loma, California. Teir direct tie with the German PRPS (Pferdezuchtverband Rheinland-Pfalz-Saar) means that breeders here receive input and advice from the same German judges and officials who oversee the direction of sport horse breeding in Germany. Stud Book director Otto Schalter is a familiar face to many
Americans—with his trademark handle-bar mustache and cowboy hat, Otto has been inspecting foals on the annual RPSI inspection tour since 1996. Having evaluated many thousands of mares, foals and stallions both in the U.S. and Germany, Otto brings continuity to RPSI breeders and the opportunity to ask an expert for advice in shaping the future of their breeding program. Te RPSI accepts mares and stallions from all of the
recognized European Warmblood organizations into their mare and stallion books, as well as registered Toroughbreds,
Above: Statue at the Zweibrücken State Stud. Right: An inspection on location at October Hill Farm. L to R: Ernie Cohn, Wendy Davis-Gerrish, Otto Schalter, and JoAnn Cohn. Photos courtesy RPSI
SPECIAL RPSI SECTION Warmbloods Today 43
ho’s ever heard of a Zweibrücker? Hugo Simon’s great show
Arabians and Anglo-Arabians. Tey also have books for sport ponies, and both American and German ponies are branded with a special oak-leaf pony brand.
On the Road Again Te annual RPSI inspection tour is no gentle road trip, or fly-in- fly-out whirlwind tour. JoAnn, Ernie, Otto and the other judges clock 16,000 highway miles in 65 days, visiting 50 different inspection sites and staying in 55 motel rooms in 27 states and three Canadian provinces. Is it any wonder the RPSI tour theme song is On Te Road Again by Willie Nelson? “It’s one thing that really makes us different,” according to
JoAnn Cohn. “We see everyone along the way!” “Early on we made the decision to really go out and meet our
breeders on their own turf,” Ernie Cohn says. “We have a long-term relationship with Mr. Hertz,” Ernie
Rheinland Pfalz-Saar International
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