02|2013 THE HANOVERIAN No. 2 | February 2013 Annual Report Moving Moments Sport Burlington won Burgpokal Breeding Young stallions Jahresbericht Moving Moments The passed year 2012 reflects the dynamic changes that are taking place in the breeding of horses and in equestrian competitions. The fundamental attitude of the Hanoverian Association is to lay down the principles of this breed organization as broad as possible to be able to meet the changes and the imponderable of the market or better the economic conditions with the greatest possible flexibility. By Dr. Werner Schade he new facilities of the Niedersachsenhalle in captures the breeding of horses as well as the TVerden have proven themselves after the com- sport. The breeding of sport horses is consistently pletion of the building project and are much ap- shrinking all over Europe. This shrinking process preciated by all visitors. Now we must focus our creates risks and problems but it also presents op- energy and concentration on the challenge that portunities for the future. The decline in numbers 2 The Hanoverian 02|2013 Jahresbericht that has taken place during the past years is conti- the number of young horses available for the mar- nuing within the Hanoverian Association. The total ket will decline more and more in the coming ye- number of registered mares shows a decline of ars. Even though the present market is still sup- eight percent for the first time. The number of new- pressed the probability of a horse shortage for the ly registered mares is seven percent below last future is high. We cannot make product adjust- year’s. The decrease in respect to the number of ments quickly when breeding of horses like other breedings was actually not as high as anticipated. business branches can. Breeding horses takes time. In the end minus eight percent was determined. We must therefore put a stop to the declining Nonetheless we must take a critical view at this number of breedings. In other words every brood- figure as it indicates how many horses the Hano- mare of good quality needs to be bred. verian Association will be able to offer for sale in the future. The decline in breedings adds up to a Stable show system total of 37,5 percent over the past four years. The The mare shows clearly demonstrated that our fu- national decline is comparable. Now we are expec- ture-oriented breeders made their breeding decisi- ting the offspring from these breedings. We alrea- ons with quality in mind. In addition to the presen- dy noticed a decline in the number of young horses tation of outstanding mares at a high overall level in 2012. This will decrease considerably in the co- of quality it was very encouraging to witness the ming years. As the sport horse breeds overall – stability of Hanover’s show program. 1,539 mares also with other breed associations nationally and were presented. This is almost exactly the same internationally – is experiencimg a similar decline number of mares as last year (1,541). 846 mares The Hanoverian 02|2013 3 Annual Report Hanoverian Mare Performance Tests broodmares. The quality of movement and the jumping ability greatly impressed both guest jud- 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2011 2012 ges Scott Hassler from the United States and Elmar Field Tests Pollmann-Schweckhorst. It became very apparent Number of tests 19 36 38 36 30 34 34 Tested mares 509 1.351 1.267 992 886 943 836 that performance was a vital part of the mares’ pedigrees. The champion mares received standing Station Tests Number of tests 7 10 9 8 6 7 10 ovations. The large-framed Diarada KJ by Diarado/ Tested mares 151 205 201 161 86 120 111 Contendro (breeder: Klaus Jürgens, Sehnde) with Total her powerful jumping ability became the champion Number of tests 26 46 47 44 36 43 44 jumper mare. The champion dressage mare Lillyfee Tested mares 660 1.556 1.468 1.153 982 1.063 947 by Londontime/Falkland (breeder: Frido Dodenhoff, %-share of tested/ Horstedt) was heading on a dense field of high- 27,7 58,2 57,5 46,25 40,08 42,88 41,10 newly registered mares quality dressage mares. The champion in the divisi- on for Halfbreds called Luciana by Lauries Crusa- received a Ia-award and 583 mares were awarded dor xx/Hohenstein (breeder: Uwe Heinrichs, Balje; the State’s Premium Aspirant-status. I would like to exhibitor: Hermann Jarck, Himmelpforten) was mention the mare performance test. The number of equal in quality to the dressage mares. participants decreased to below 1,000 mares. The cost of training must unfortunately be viewed as a The guidelines for breeding take hold limiting factor. Investing in the mare performance The vintage of young stallions at the licensing test is advantageous for many reasons though. 2012 rounded off the positive impression regar- ding the quality in 2012. We obtained an absolute- The breeding club Lüneburg organized the Fried- ly satisfying licensing result in spite of the fact that rich Jahncke-Show in 2012. The breeders of the we evaluated 150 colts less during the pre-selec- area demonstrated and confirmed that the bree- tions. The licensing committee was very pleased ding in the area is on the right track. There is an with the quality of this year’s stallions and the vi- excellent proven mare base in place in the older sibly good development over the past years that classes. Successful breeding club and regional has led to this vintage. The buyers confirmed this mare shows allowed for high expectations for the impression. The brisk and moneyed demand in res- Herwart von der Decken-Show in Verden where pect to the dressage sires sets a positive signal for only the best three-year old Hanoverian mares are those who raise colts. The jumper stallions were exhibited. also convincing in their performances. The mare as One of this year’s highlights: the Ro- well as the stallion vintage in 2012 clearly reflec- yal Canadian Mounted Police visited This culmination of the breed was a demonstration ted that the goals of the breeding guidelines are Verden. Photo: Schwöbel of the athleticism of the future generation of taking hold more and more. The goal to reach a transfer of power out of a rhythmically working hind leg over a well-constructed back in combina- tion with an uphill and balanced self-carriage is more visible again. At its highest level of quality this goal is required to be internationally competi- tive. The top of the jumper stallions was exceptio- nal. Overall the frame of the horses could be im- proved as well as the canter stride and its effectiveness and ability. I can only hope that the majority of these exceptional talents of the 2012 licensing will be allowed enough time for develop- ment and will receive the best training manage- ment. A new foal selection concept The auction year started with a powerful winter auction. At the same time auction manager Jörg- Wilhelm Wegener introduced a new selection sys- tem for the elite foal auction. The idea was to com- bine the selection process. Instead of evaluating foals at foal shows and foal selection sites he sug- gested to present foals for auction selection at all foal shows of the Hanoverian Association that 4 The Hanoverian 02|2013 Annual Report would then strengthen the foal shows of breeding clubs. A photo and video service should then be available at these sites. The photos and the video footage should be made available for the auction catalog and for the internet. The goal was to com- bine as many steps as possible to ease the load of the breeders. The organizers of the horse breeding clubs as well as the selectors gladly accepted this idea. The new concept was successfully implemen- ted in summer. This selection system then with a few improvements will also be used in 2013. The auction activities in 2012 must be viewed with the current market development in mind. Even though all individual auction types delivered good results and healthy price structures the return ove- rall was less than in the previous year. How can this be explained? There are several reasons. 961 horses were offered for sale; 100 horses less. As always foreign countries were important sale areas but not as strong as in previous years. The share of We obtained good results and exports was only 41,8 percent. The economic situ- from the tunnel gaining trust and acceptance from healthy price structures at the ation is tense in many European countries. This exhibitors and buyers. auctions. Dornvelder was the top applies especially to southern Europe but also to horse at the 127th Elite Auction. Eastern European countries. The US-market has Historical event Photo: Ernst not been able to link up with the results of the past A historical event took place in the Niedersachsen- years. The activities in China are become successful halle the night before the May auction. It was the but this market is not developed enough to balan- Musical Ride of the Royal Canadian Mounted Poli- ce out the entire situation. Furthermore resellers ce. These policemen who ride black Hanoverians and dealers also hold off because of the market combined their visit to celebrate the anniversary of situation. We offered horses for recreational use the throne of the Queen of England with a short on every riding horse auction as an innovation. trip to Verden. They made something happen that This measure has been accepted well and has int- will not be repeated for a long time at the Nieder- roduced new customers to the auction program.