Central Mare Inspections in Germany and North America 2008

Introduction

The concept of a centrally organized mare inspection, where the official inspection teams of the Verband or the ATA get to see as many young mares at one location as possible, has a long history and is a very important selection tool in the Trakehner breed. While inspections are based on conformation and movement quality only and hold little to no information about the ability or potential of a mare for a sport horse career, this selection is nevertheless important to ensure that only conformationally correct mares are entered into the breed. The inspections also tell a lot about the improvement of our breed and the usage of bloodlines available today. In Germany, the best Anglo Trakehner mare in the group of 3yr olds gets special recognition - and sometimes, that Anglo mare is half Arabian, and not English TB. Germany's inspection catalogue came out a few weeks ago and lists over 300 mares in two groups: 3yr olds, and 4yr old and older mares. Additionally, Germany offers the possibility to re-inspect more mature mares after their mare performance test - a tool many breeders use in order to ensure premium status for their mares.

The group of the 3yr old mares is also the group that selects the "champion" mare of an inspection site. All champions and highest scoring mares are invited to participate at the year's finale for the title of "German Trakehner Champion mare", held each October during the Neumünster Stallion market.

Premium titles in Germany can only be given to performance tested mares. Inspection sites can leave a mare with "premium candidate" attached to her name, but the final premium title, be it Verband or State, can only be given under the following circumstances: inspection score of at least 54 popints and MPT score of at least 70% or inspection score of at least 53 points and MPT score of at least 75%. Several central inspection sites also now offer free jumping for those mares that are bred as jumpers and naturally cannot compete with their dressage-bred colleagues. While the Trakehner breed should really be a breed for versatile horses that can do anything well, recent developments in the breeding world have let to this distinction.

In North America, a mare that receives 56 or more points, is named "Model" mare and may carry the addition *M* after her name. No performance test is required for that "premium" and the conecpt of mare performance tests has not yet gotten widepsread attention in North America, no matter which breed. Hopefully that will soon change for the betterment of the breed. After all, we should only breed what we can ride well!

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