Understanding Friesians and the accolades associated with them is a complex

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1 The History of the Photos by H2 Photography PART 2 The history of the Friesian is chequered, with the breed narrowly avoiding extinction on a few occasions. It has been a long struggle to save this majestic horse and ensure its rightful place among the equine species. By Kate Baynes Understanding Friesians and the accolades associated with them is a complex task, which this article aims to shed light on. In the last issue we looked at how our stallions are judged and graded and how important it is to keep up with the ever-changing market within the equine industry. While the Friesian stallion plays an important role, it is actually the mare that has the greatest impact on the unborn foal. When buying or breeding with a Friesian, it is therefore essential that you have investigated and understand the entire category s, accolades and registration papers that are awarded to each horse. These give the buyer and breeder a better understanding of the potential of the horse and its abilities in breeding and sport. All Friesians registered with the FPSSA (Friesian Horse Studbook of South Africa) are registered with the mother studbook in Holland KFPS (Koninklijke Vereniging Het Friesch Paarden-Stamboek). All of these registered horses come with an official KFPS paper. This paper is a striped laminated paper embossed with the KFPS logo. Any other paper is not considered to be authentic and in most probability would mean that the relevant horse is not registered with the KFPS. The FPSSA advises to never buy a Friesian without such a paper. Let s start with the categories in which each horse is judged. The judging takes place in February/March each year by international inspectors of the KFPS in Holland. With years of experience and having seen hundreds of Friesians around the world, these select few inspectors can judge a horse or foal to see if it adheres to the strict criteria set out by the KFPS. These criteria include DNA, conformation and movement. Issue 9 SPORTING HORSE 133

2 Basic categories of Friesian horses Hulpboek: This is a closed book that was created in order to collect as many mares with locally confirmed lineage into the KFPS at the time of conception of the FPSSA. In 1988 it was decided to split from the Friesperd Telersgenootskap. The FPSSA was started and formed a direct allegiance with the mother studbook, the KFPS. Many of these mares had lineage from the original stock that had been imported into South Africa over the past 40 years. Bijboek III: This is a closed book that was created for South Africa by the KFPS, to allow non-lineage confirmed mares to be taken into a subsidiary book during the start of the FPSSA. As nothing was known of these lineages, it will take much longer for the offspring of these horses to breed up into the higher books. The colour of this registration paper is blue and purple. Bijboek II: This is an active register for animals with early unknown parentage, or those that have been bred by stallions without a breeding permission. The colour of this paper is blue and pink. Bijboek I: This is an active register for animals produced by stallions that have Foalbook breeding permission, and/or out of mares that are not in the main Studbook. The colour of this paper is orange and pink. Main Studbook: The Studbook is for Friesian horses sired by FPS Studbook Stallions with Approved Breeding Privileges and produced by mares entered in the FPS Studbook. All Friesian horses registered with the FPSSA will fall into one of the above categories. These categories and the information in the table below allow breeders and owners to determine how to breed each mare. It is important that the breed is improved and that all horses should be bred up. In South Africa we have only three Studbook stallions and 11 Foalbook stallions that are approved for breeding. Using these stallions in conjunction with the information in the table below will ensure that owners and breeders continue to improve the breed. Any other stallion will result in the offspring falling into a less desirable category. Understanding a KFPS registration paper The FPS register: This indicates which of the above registers the animal is found in. Vb denotes the Foalbook, ie. that the animal has not been presented for Studbook inspection yet, or was not taken into the particular register for whatever reason. Stamboek under the register means the horse has been accepted into the Studbook after inspection. Ster (star) is awarded if an animal possesses a variety of exceptional traits. This is awarded for both conformation and movement. Sex: Mare (merrie), stallion (hengst), gelding (ruin). Registration number: Every Friesian in the Studbook s various registers has a registration number. The last nine digits are known as the life number. This always starts with the four digits of the birth year, followed by another five digits. This number can be used to look up all that particular horse s information on the official KFPS Studbook s website ( Chip number: The number of the microchip that was implanted as a foal at foot. Date of birth Inteelcoefficient: This is an indication of inbreeding of the particular animal. As the Friesian Studbook is a closed studbook, the risk of inbreeding is a reality. An inbreeding coefficient of more than 5% is frowned upon. Registered name: This is the name of the animal when it was registered after birth. The name can NEVER be changed in the Studbook. The second line of the paper is made up of the following (from left to right): Dates of presentation and outcomes: Vb means taken up as a foal, Ster means awarded Ster at that date. Kleur (colour): Black. If there were any acceptable white markings these will be noted as Aftekening Toegestaan. If there were unacceptable white markings, these will be noted as Aftekening niet Toegestaan. If the horse has unacceptable white it will be registered if it has Studbook parents, ie. Studbook or any of the Bijboeks. However this foal will always remain in the Foalbook. Schofthoogte (height of the withers): This is given in cm. Dates of premies awarded: These are awarded if the foal is judged before the age of one. The last block will be the information about the original breeder, and then all the various owners (with addresses and dates). The last and largest section of the paper is dedicated to the family tree. This will always go back four generations. When a Friesian horse is said to have a full paper, it means that the last three generations of the dam line are all Ster or higher. Understanding designations, premies and predicates Once a foal is born, the Studbook is notified in writing. The foal is then admitted into the Voorlopige Veulen Register (VVR) / Preliminary Foal Register. This judging takes place Registration procedures active since KFPS AGM 2005 FATHER Studbook Foalbook + permit Foalbook + no permit BB1 BBII BB III MOTHER Stb/Hb Stb BBI BBII BBII BBII Not Registered BBI BBI BBI BBII BBII BBII Not Registered BBII BBI BBI BBII BBII BBII Not Registered BBIII* BBII BBII BBIII BBIII BBIII Not Registered *Only horse within the FPSSA *After three generations of a Studbook stallion, the offspring are registered in the main Studbook Note: The registry of a horse can be derived from this scheme. However, the registry status of both parents should be determined first 134 SPORTING HORSE Issue 9

3 An example of an official Bijboek 1 paper for a FPSSA and KFPS registered horse A Foal at the foal judging First premie foal Galileo of Millford Vb (Reinoud fan e Homar Vb Ster X Jildert Vb either with the foal at foot or within the year that the foal turns one. At this stage the foal will then be admitted into the Foalbook, and an official laminated KFPS paper will be issued to the breeder/owner. If for whatever reason the foal is not judged, chipping is also accepted, but the foal must be of KFPS registered Studbook parents, ie. Studbook, Bijboek I, etc. If the foal is judged at this stage (at foot or within its first year), a premie (premium) will be awarded by the judges using a mathematical evaluation scale. There are three premies namely first, second and third. If the foal does not receive enough marks, it will not be awarded a premie (niet gepremeed). With colts it is slightly different. All colts receive a premie as with the fillies, but this premie remains with the colt for life. The colt is re-judged as a three-year-old stallion and, unlike the mare, a stallion will receive a star or no star. There are no premies attached to these stars as with a mare. The premie is a way to evaluate the young foal, and also the breeding ability of the stallion. It should be remembered, however, that this premie is not the defining aspect of a foal. Two great examples are Teade 392 (given a third premie) and Minste 367 (niet gepremeed). Both have become great first premie stallions, approved on offspring. However, the foal premie remains a helpful guide to both breeders and the Studbook as a means to evaluate the stallion. At three years or older, a Friesian horse should be presented for Studbook judging. There is a difference in the way the young mares and stallions are judged at this point. The stallions are shown (at this point in time in Holland and the USA only) at the Eerste Bezigtiging (First Viewing) at the beginning of December. Here the best will be awarded Ster (star) and will be invited into the next round of viewing. The stallions that do not receive a star will not be allowed to be selected as an approved Studbook or Foalbook breeding stallion and will not continue in the stallion selection. Most of South Africa s Foalbook stallions have reached these stages of the stallion evaluation process. There are two more rounds (Second and Third Viewing). This is done during the Stallion Show at Leeuwarden on the first weekend in January. The best stallions are then invited to partake in the final 70-day test after this time; a stallion that has accrued enough marks will become an approved breeding stallion. His name is changed (and his number added) and he is admitted into the Studbook. All other stallions will remain in the Foalbook permanently. All approved stallions will again be evaluated once his first offspring reach the age of three. Depending on whether he has improved the breed, he will either receive permanent breeding approval or be disapproved. Upon disapproval, the stallion will be removed from the main Studbook and placed back into the Foalbook. As the amount and quality of Friesian horses increase in South Africa, the FPSSA will be looking towards having their own Studbook stallions that are bred and judged here in South Africa, much like the US. Understanding the accolades awarded to Friesians Studbook status: From the year that a mare is three years of age she can be entered in the Studbook register. The horse needs to be inspected and meet the minimum requirements for exterior, movement, height at the withers (minimum height 1.54m) and markings (horses with nonallowed markings are not entered in the Studbook, they will remain in the Foalbook). Ster (star) predicate: The Ster predicate is awarded during inspections of horses from the year they turn three. To be considered for the Ster predicate the horse needs to meet minimum requirements for exterior, movement (in hand) and height at the withers (minimum height 1.56m). The Ster predicate can be awarded to mares, geldings and stallions in any of the Studbook registers, including the Bijboeks. Issue 9 SPORTING HORSE 135

4 Kroon (Crown) predicate: In 2007 it was decided to introduce the Kroon accolade for mares. The Kroon predicate is a predicate to which exterior and sport aptitude requirements apply. Selection for the (preliminary) Kroon predicate takes place during the Central Mare Show/ Centrale Keuring in Holland and at our National shows or judging here in SA. Should a mare receive a first premie and preliminary Kroon status, the mare will be asked to return later that day to be re-judged for confirmation of the earlier judging. If the judges are happy with the outcome, the mare will then have the Verloopige Kroon status until she has completed the IBOP. If the correct score is awarded for the IBOP, the mare will become Kroon. There is no time limit in which the mare has to complete the IBOP test The requirements for consideration for the (preliminary) Kroon predicate: Minimum age is three years old First premie star Exceptional conformation and movement For permanent Kroon status the mare must complete an IBOP with a minimum score of 77.0 points and an average of 7 for walk and trot. If the Sport predicate is earned that will also convert the preliminary-kroon status into permanent Kroon status. Minimum height at the withers 1.58m. Esfane Friesian Stud imported Trynke VDW (Bente 412 Stb Sport x Jacob 302 Stb Sport). Trynke VDW is the first mare to get the Kroon predicate in South Africa. IBOP: With the data from IBOP tests, the KFPS has been able to determine the sporting ability of the horse and in return assist breeders and potential owners in selecting a Friesian with a better capacity for sport. In breeding, these tests results play a large role in the selection of stallions. Model predicate: The Model predicate is a predicate to which exterior and sport aptitude requirements apply. The best mares of the population are considered for the awarding of the (preliminary) Model status. This takes place at the respective judgings throughout the country and at the National shows. The requirements for the (preliminary) Model status are: Minimum age is seven years old. The mare must have produced a foal or have a foal on her. For permanent Model status the mare must complete an IBOP with a minimum score of 77.0 points and an average of 7 for walk and trot. If the Sport predicate is earned within that time frame, that will also convert the preliminary Model status into permanent Model status. Minimum height at the withers is 1.60m. Sport predicate: In 2007, the first Sport predicates were awarded to horses that had shown outstanding achievement in competitive sports in dressage, carriage and show trotting. 136 SPORTING HORSE Issue 9 The Sport predicate can be awarded to mares, geldings, and stallions that achieve good results in competitive sport. The Sport predicate can only be obtained based on results achieved at shows registered with the Koninklijke Nederland s Hippische Sportfederatie (Royal Dutch Equestrian Sport Federation) (KNHS), or an affiliated body within South Africa. The scores registered will determine qualification for the Sport predicate. The minimum requirements for awarding of the Sport predicate are: a) Dressage: Z1 +5 (Elementary medium with over 60% in 5 tests) b) Show driving: cat. I & II honor class/ereclass and cat. III open class/open classes in one season six placements as prize winner in the green season c) Driving (dressage): Z +10 d) Driving (combined): class Imported Foalbook stallions Arjen Vb Sport (Jasper 366 Stb Sport x Feitse 293 Preferent), Glenn Vb Sport (Tetse 394 Stb Sport x Tjimme 275 Stb) and Watch Me Vb Sport owned by Adelprag Friesian Stud and Tjalf 433 Stb Sport (Heinse 354 Stb Sport x Leffert 306 Stb Sport Preferent) owned by Doorndraai Friesian Stud hold the Sport accolade. Adelprag s Sport Stallions and Chere Berger have proved their value as a Sport stallions many times in the dressage arena and Tjalf with his show trotting with Jolanda Schreurder locally and in Holland. Many of our approved breeding stallions in SA come from sires in Holland who have Sport. Reinoud fan e Homar Vb Ster (Beart 411 Stb Sport x Nykle 309), Tsjitse 387 (Brandus 345 Stb Sport x Djurre 284 Stb), Marco fan t Fjildhus (Beart 411 Stb Sport x Oepke 266 Stb). This information gives breeders the ability to see the potential of Sport ability in both the mother line and the sire line. Preferent for mares: Preferent status for mares is granted when the mare in question has produced at least four quality horses. Quality horses are considered to be: a) Ster or Model mares b) Ster geldings c) Foalbook Ster stallions d) Studbook stallions e) Stallions that made the second viewing of the stallion inspection. Mares registered in the Foalbook and the Studbook may become Preferent on offspring. The Preferent predicate needs to be requested with KFPS. Preferent status may be requested both by the owner of a mare or by the owner of the offspring. Preferent status may also be requested posthumously. South Africa is very proud to have our first Preferent Mare Loret (Eibert Vb H X NN) owned by Doorndraai Friesian Stud. Loret is a fine example of a locally bred mare who has improved the Friesian breed in South Africa. In looking at the registration paper, the mother line is of great importance for breed purposes.

5 Trynke V/D W Stb Kroon (Bente 412) Preferent for stallions: The Preferent predicate can be awarded to stallions that have a lasting, special influence on the breed. For consideration for Preferent the quality of the offspring will be tested for the breeding goal characteristics. The lasting value of a stallion is evaluated based on the predicates achieved by offspring multiplied with a determined weighing value. Stallions who have achieved a total of points are declared Preferent, without intervention of inspection and/or board. Application for the Preferent predicate can occur when a stallion has achieved a total of 700 points. The application is evaluated by inspection. The inspection sends its advice to the board and the board decides whether the particular stallion becomes Preferent. The weighing values are as follows: Ster 1, Kroon 5, Model 10, Sport 15, Preferent 15, Prestatie 20, Studbook stallion 25, Studbook stallion approved based on progeny test 50, Dam of a Studbook stallion 20. South Africa is many years from breeding its own Preferent stallion, but many of our Approved breed stallions come from Preferent stallions. Ritse 322 Stb (Oege 267 Stb Preferent x Hotse 223 Stb), Erwin van t Reidfjild Vb Ster (Tsjerk 328 Stb Pref x Pike 316 Stb), Eibert Vb Ster (Reitse 272 Stb Pref x Meine Stb). These accolades give the breeder the ability to see the breed potential of this particular line. Performance-dam/Prestatiemoeder predicate: The predicate Performance dam/ Prestatiemoeder is awarded to mares that have produced three direct offspring that were awarded the Sport predicate. In South Africa the Friesian breed continues to grow. We have seen vast improvement in the breed over the past 10 years. It was a natural progression for some of the bigger breeders to import mares and breed stallions to introduce new modern blood, meeting the new standards of the KFPS. These imported horses have played a vital role in the growth of the Friesian horse in this country. Loret van Geyerspan Bbl Stb Pref *5 Due to the difficult history of the Friesian, and its near extinction, it has become quite inbred. With this in mind it is important to remember the old bloodlines that most of our locally bred horses stem from. These horses provide different and interesting bloodlines that are not so common in Holland. So while the modern Dutch Friesian is what we are looking for conformationally and movement wise, the local Friesian is also important for breeding interesting bloodlines. It is very important to breed these horses correctly and ensure they are breed up so we continue to improve these local bloodlines. The FPSSA encourages all Friesian owners to use only approved breeding stallions improving the breed is the ultimate goal of the FPSSA. Each year the various inspectors and judges of the KFPS get together to ensure that the breed criteria are meeting the standards of the equine world. Forums, discussions and meetings of appropriate breeding panels worldwide are conducted annually by the KFPS and affiliated bodies, to ensure that the Friesians remains competitive in the equine industry. We have seen over the past few years how the implementation of the above-mentioned accolades and discussions have helped inform breeders of the breeding abilities of the horses. In turn it has helped to create the modern Friesian horse we are looking for today a functional and harmoniously built, all-round horse with typical Friesian breed characteristics, that is healthy and vital and has the aptitude to perform in sport. Issue 9 SPORTING HORSE 137