[Fact Box] Mare Classification

 

• The mares should be turned out in good condition and with manes plaited
• Handlers should be fit enough to enable the mare to trot to her optimum to ensure the best scores
• Standing up the mare is also a very important aspect of the presentation. These both need to be practiced at home.

The main studbook

• For a mare to be entered into the Main-Stud-Book the requirements are:
  Four generations of recognized ancestry must be proved. That means the sire, the sire of the dam, the sire of the dam’s sire, as well as the sire of the granddame’s dam had either to be entered into the Stallion-Book of the Society or Verband or the NZ Racing Studbook or to belong to a breed which is recognized by the Verband. The dam of the mare must be entered in either the Main-Studbook or in the Pre  Studbook.
• In its final judgment of conformation and movement the mare must at least reach a total score of 6.0 points, and in each of the six main criteria it must come up to a minimum of 5.0 points at least. Thoroughbred mares and Pre Studbook mares must attain a total score of 7.0 points and no less than 6.0 in any of the six main criteria.
• Minimum height is 160cm without shoes

Preparation of the mare

Before the Classification the mares should be trained in presentation and in handling in walk and trot. It is advantageous to lunge the mare regularly before the  Classification in order to have the mare fit and well muscled. You should ensure that the mare is in good condition (not too fat, not too skinny), has a shiny coat which indicates a good general condition, and also well groomed hooves.

Presentation of the mare

Classification always takes place on a triangular course.

The first step is the individual inspection. You place the mare at a distance of about 4 to 5 meters in front of the classifiers with near side facing the classifiers,  The handler is to stand in front of the mare facing her – with a mare’s head lifted high  to enable the classifiers to see the expression on the face and a clear view of the connection between the head and neck. This is among the many things that you can practice at home .Here the so-called open position is obligatory. Now the classifiers  give the individual marks for conformation.

Afterwards you are asked to walk away through the centre of the triangle and back again directly towards the classifiers. This is for judging the correctness of the gaits.

Then you are asked trot one lap with the mare. The judges stay at the same place, and due to the triangular form of the course they are able first to inspect the mare from behind, then its action from the side, and finally its correctness from the front. For that reason it is, necessary to follow exactly the triangular course.
At the trot the mares should be given the chance to move as freely as possible.

When a number of mares have been judged at a trot they are assembled in a large circle and judged at a walk. The walk should also be shown as freely as possible. Afterwards the judge will announce the result of the inspection.

Which marks are given?

The scores cover the marks from 1 (the worst) to 10 (the best). The marks in the left column are the main scores and decisive for the studbook-entry. The total score approximately represents the arithmetical mean of the six criteria above. Only full numbers are given. The score sheet contains the following:-

A right column which contains the conformation scores out of ten for:

Head Neck Saddle Position Frame Forelegs Hindlegs

These scores average out to one mark out of ten and this mark is carried over to the left column which has the remaining characteristics:

Breed type and sex type Conformation Correctness of gaits Swing and elasticity of gaits Walk General impression and development – each score – out of 10