German Studbooks Divided on 2022 Stallion Suitability Test Format, United Against Doping

Breeding

Hanoverian

Following the surge of positive doping cases at the 2021 German stallion licensing and growing demand for less pressure on young colts, the German breed societies have splintered and are each setting different standards for the suitability test.

The breeding department of the German Equestrian Federation (FN) announced on 4 February that "some breed societies will be testing a 2- and 3-day shortened suitability test for 3 and 4-year old stallions, sometimes as part of a saddle licensing."

Breed Societies Divided about Suitability Test

At the beginning of February, the South German breed societies (DSP) separately announced with a bang that their 3-year old licensed colts no longer have to do any suitability test and can start breeding straight away. They will need to do their first test in the autumn/winter of 2022-2023. DSP considers it a "pilot project" and will re-assess the format in 2023.

The Trakehner society, whose young colts often score significantly lower than the warmblood peers from other studbooks, followed suit and scratched the suitability test of their programme for this spring, allowing newly licensed colts to breed and their foals to be registered in book I.

The Oldenburg, Hanoverian, Westfalian and Holsteiner society have agreed upon a shortened suitability test. Instead of 14 days, the colts only have to show their rideability and gaits in a saddle test over 2/3 days.

The German Equestrian Federation spoke out in regret of the decision DSP and Trakehner have taken. "For years the breed societies have jointly committed themselves that no stallion can breed untested. This is primarily in the interests of breeders, who should receive information on a stallion's suitability for riding before it is used for breeding," the FN communicated.

The FN added, "postponing the assessment test alone (by one year) will not have the desired effect. It is much more important to us at the FN that any kind of presentation of young horses is age-appropriate and in accordance with the guidelines for riding and driving. The "Guidelines for animal welfare in equestrian sport" and the "Guidelines for the assessment test for stallions in German riding horse breeders", which were drawn up together with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture (BMEL) and the breeding associations, form the framework and basis for the current test system."

Breed Societies Unite Against Doping

On 4 February, the German breed societies did speak out in unison against the rise of medication and doping used at stallion licensings.

"The violations of medication and doping rules that have occurred frequently in the course of licensing events in recent weeks and months are causing us great concern," their press release stated. "Especially nowadays, when animal welfare is playing an increasingly important role in public perception, but at the same time knowledge about our sport and breeding is decreasing more and more, such incidents cast a negative image on German horse breeding in general. Irrespective of how the individual cases came about, we have an obligation to take even more decisive action against possible deliberate manipulations or deliberate doping for the benefit of the horses."

The breed societies want more strict sanctions to doping offenders.

"We need a cross-association, uniform catalog of sanctions," they stated. "These sanctions must be significant enough to act as a real deterrent. In addition to fines for owners/presenters, the temporary, possibly even longer-term exclusion of handlers and stallions that tested positive, from all German licensing sites. These sanctions are up for discussion. Owners, rearers and handlers must always accept the actions of authorized persons (staff, veterinarians, etc.) against them."

The societies will discuss the matter jointly at the next board meeting. The open letter was signed by the chairs of DSP, Hanover, Oldenburg, Trakehner, Holsteiner and Westfalen.