KFPS/ FHANA Approved Stallion Process

The Selection Criteria:

Pedigree, degree of relationship with the population, conformation (breed type, conformation, legs), movement, final assessments Central Examination or Shortened Examination (sports aptitude), quality of legs based on radiological assessment, semen quality, veterinary clinical assessment, health, character and stable behavior:

Step 1. Inspection

The North American Stallion Selection procedures are part of the KFPS breeding program and are administered by the KFPS and facilitated by FHANA. The first step is presenting a young stallion (2- to 5-year-olds) to an inspection by registering your stallion with FHANA in Category 16 or Category 17.

Step 2. KFPS Stallion Jury Endorsement

The next step in the process offers two tracks, A or B tracks. FHANA highly recommends track A and is by far the most desirable and practical. Track B is offered for those members where circumstances make it very difficult to participate in track A.

A. Once your stallion attends an inspection, he is invited to the Official Stallion Judging that will take place at FHANA FALL FRIESIAN FESTIVITIES in November. All stallions are invited to participate in the official stallion judging after attending an inspection regardless of the inspection result.

At the Official Stallion Judging, members of the official KFPS Stallion Jury will first evaluate your stallion for conformation and movement on a hard surface (a linear score will also be produced at this time if the stallion has not had a prior one done). Next, the Jury will judge each stallion for movement at liberty (these back-to-back evaluations by the Jury are described in the Netherlands as the “1 st Viewing”). At this point the Stallion Jury will announce their decision with respect to each stallion.

Possible outcomes:

1.    The stallion receives the Star predicate and is referred to the 2nd Viewing.

2.   The stallion receives the Star predicate and is not referred to the 2nd Viewing.

3.    The stallion does not receive the Star predicate and is referred to the 2nd Viewing.

4.   The stallion does not receive the Star predicate and is not referred to the 2nd Viewing.

Note that it is not required for a stallion to receive the Star predicate to advance to the second viewing.

The stallion(s) which are referred to the 2nd Viewing by the Jury will then be judged agam.

The 2nd Viewing consists of an in-hand presentation (in a triangular ring) and a preliminary veterinary clinical examination. After completion of the 2nd Viewing the Stallion Jury decides whether or not a stallion is referred to the Presentation Days on the basis of the assessments and criteria as stated in the KFPS Stallion Selection Regulations. For participation in the Presentation Days the stallion(s) will also have to meet the standards of the radiological examination and semen evaluation. It is the responsibility of the owner(s) to have these examinations done in a timely manner after being referred to the Presentation Days. The results of these examinations need to be forwarded to the FHANA office who will in tum forward them to the KFPS for their official review. The KFPS will then inform FHANA whether the stallion has met the standards of these examinations. FHANA will in tum inform the owner of the stallion the results of the review. Those stallions who are given a “pass” are then official participants of the Presentation Days.

B.  If the Inspection Judges at your Inspection suggest to you that this stallion is in fact of interest to the Studbook, you need to make it known to the Inspection Jury that you are not planning to attend either of the Official Stallion Judging locations in November due to your unique circumstances.

Your stallion, as a potential candidate to participate in the selection process to become a licensed KFPS breeding stallion, will then be asked by the Inspection Jury to be seen again a second time, this time in hand on a hard surface and at liberty. This usually takes place after all the other Inspection categories have finished. If the Inspection Jury decides after the second look that the Stallion is in fact superior based on its own particular merit, they will then recommend him to the Stallion Inspection Jury in the Netherlands. In order to facilitate the Inspection Jury’s recommendation, you will need to produce a quality video of the stallion in hand showing all sides of the horse in walk, trot and standing. This video will be sent to the KFPS Stallion Inspection Jury by FHANA in order for the Stallion Jury to evaluate the stallion. If the KFPS Stallion Inspection Jury is in agreement with the Inspection Jury’s original recommendation, the stallion is officially invited to attend the Presentation Days assuming it subsequently passes the radiological examination and the semen evaluation (explained above in A.)

At this point the two tracks A and B merge into one again.

Step 3. Presentation Days

At this time the owner of the selected stallion needs to place the stallion in training under saddle, similar to training associated with an IBOP test. The owner is responsible for finding a competent trainer for this purpose. Furthermore, the owner must be aware that the 3rd examination takes place “in person” at the FHANA selected venue for the 70 Day Test if the stallion is promoted beyond the first two videos. This will likely mean

the stallion and trainer need to be prepared to do the 3rd examination at a different geographical address than where they have been training.

The first two Presentation Days consists of two videos recorded approximately 6 weeks apart. The first video will probably be required in late May, depending on scheduling. This video is to show the horse under saddle in walk, trot and standing still, viewed from all sides. The video should be focused on the horse’s natural movement and should not include elements such as slow-motion video or items such as music.

Upon evaluation of the first video the KFPS Stallion Inspection Jury will offer feedback within approximately two weeks of receiving the information.

The Stallion Inspection Jury will inform FHANA one of the following three possibilities:

1.   Offer training advice and/or video taking improvements and ask for the next video in mid-July.

2.   Ask to bring the stallion back next year to allow the stallion to mature.

3.   Inform that the stallion is being eliminated from the process.

Assuming the answer was 1, the training continues, and the second video is sent in mid­ July. Again, the Stallion Inspection Jury will have two weeks to evaluate if the stallion has the potential to be good enough. The same 1, 2, and 3 possibilities are followed as above, except that if 1. is chosen again, the next evaluation will take place “in person” and not by video, on the first day of the 70 Day Test.

Once the “in person” evaluation (replaces the former third video evaluation) has been completed of your stallion under saddle at the first day of the 70 Day Test by the Stallion Jury, you will be informed by the Stallion Jury if your stallion is invited or is not invited to participate in the 70 Day Test.

Step 4. 70 Day Test

At this point the “invited” stallion(s) are placed into the 70-day test. The venue for the 70-day test as well as the trainers managing the 70-day test are selected by FHANA

with the approval of the KFPS. The owner(s) of the stallion(s) are required not to communicate with the trainers during the test, and may visit the venue to observe their stallion(s) only when the Stallion Jury is present on Day 1, Day 35, and Day 70 of the Test.

The 70-day test will be scheduled to follow the Presentation Days. Once the 70 Day Test has officially begun the judges will have contact only with the trainer(s) and will continue to evaluate the stallion’s overall development.

At the beginning, 35th day, and end of the 70 Day Test, the stallion(s) are judged by the official KFPS Stallion Jury on each occasion. If a stallion passes this final Test, he will be awarded a provisional breeding license by the KFPS. The provisional breeding license is good for five breeding seasons with a limit of 180 breedings per year (not including frozen semen breedings). In order to receive a permanent breeding license, 40 of the stallion’s eventual offspring must be viewed at official inspections and 20 of his offspring are to participate in the ABFP Test and the results will determine if the stallion will receive a permanent breeding license without any breeding quantity restrictions.

70 Day Test Costs

The FHANA policy states that all costs incurred by FHANA to facilitate the complete 70 Day Test are borne completely by the participating stallion(s) owner(s). These costs include training and board of the stallion(s), Judges’ required travel and accommodation, and miscellaneous costs such as farrier and vet.

Stallion Testing Checklist

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RADIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION
OF THE KFPS STALLIONS FOR THE CLASSIFICATION IN THE BREEDING PROGRAM (2009-2010).

X-Ray Requirements

  1. A complete set of radiographs for the review of the veterinary classification committee comprises 22 radiographs of excellent radio-technical quality according to projection and exposure.
    (Projections according: A standardized nomenclature for radiographic projections used in veterinary medicine. James E. Smallwood et al. Veterinary Radiology, Vol.26, No. 1, 1985; pp 2-9)
  2. Name of the horse, registration number, chip number, date of X-ray examination and the indication of the legs have to be printed on the radio­graphs.
  3. Prints of the X-rays are required. Maximal size of the prints 25 x 30 cm
    (9.8 – 11.8 inches).

(Complete information on the x-rays requirements can be obtained through the FHANA office by request.)

Stallions foaled before January 1, 2007

Navicular Disease Class 0-1-2 (acceptable)
Sesamoiditis No Selection
Arthritis, pastern/fetlock Class 0-1-2-3 (acceptable)
Spavin Class 0-1-2 (acceptable)
Osteochondrosis, hock Negative
Osteochondrosis, knee Negative

Stallions foaled on January 1, 2007 or thereafter

Navicular disease Class 0-1-2 (acceptable)
Sesamoiditis No Selection
Arthritis, pastern/fetlock Class 0-1-2-3 (acceptable)
Spavin Class 0-1-2 (acceptable)
Osteochondrosis, hock Class A-B-C
Osteochondrosis, knee Class A-B-c

The secondary findings revealed during X-ray testing such as ringbones, sidebones and calcification of the processus extensorius, etc. will be considered in the Stallion Inspection Jury’s decision-making process but will not essentially impede participation in the judging.

Findings from the semen analysis will be assessed only if this testing was conducted at an agency selected for this purpose by the KFPS.

Stallions being tested must be unshod. The owner is responsible for any risks during stabling, semen collection and transport. The owner must present the stallion’s registration certificate. The findings of the semen testing will be determined on the basis of two collections taken about one hour apart.

The finding of semen testing are valid only if the testing was conducted within 12 months previous to the second round of judging. Stallions that participated previously in a second round of judging will thus have to undergo semen testing again.

(Any stallions that underwent semen testing in a foreign country and have been referred to the Central Examination will have to undergo another testing in the Netherlands before participating in the Central Examination).

The findings of the semen testing will be assessed by a committee assigned by the KFPS for this purpose. This committee can recommend that the testing be repeated.

The findings of the semen testing have to be made available to the KFPS by a date established by the KFPS. If the findings do not reach the KFPS by this date, the stallion will be excluded from participation in the second round of judging.

Semen Analysis:

To continue participation the stallions will have to satisfy the following norms.

Stallions that are 3 years of age during the calendar year in which the second round of judging is held

  • 600 x 106 TNB, Morphology: at least 50.0%, motility: at least 50%
  • 800 x 106 TNB, Morphology: at least 45.0%, motility: at least 50%

Stallions that are 4 years of age or older during the calendar year in which the second round of judging is held:

  • 1000 x 106 TNB, morphology: at least 50.0%, motility: at least 50%
  • 1200 x 106 TNB, Morphology: at least 45.0%, motility: at least 50%

Stallions with incorrect genitals are barred from continuing on with the judging.
FHANA has learned in the selection of previous approved stallions in North America that the demands made on North American stallions are very different than those of The Netherlands. Specifically the ability of the semen to maintain substantial progressive motility for extended periods of time, 24 to 48 hours. We therefore strongly encourage Prospective Stallion Candidates to, after selection for testing but prior to arrival at the 70 day testing facility, perform a series of collections on the candidate and attempt to develop a protocal that best suits your horse’s semen. This protocol will create an environment in which the semen will remain viable under the typical shipping conditions experienced in North America. In doing this you will insure that your horse, if selected, will be capable of servicing the North American market. This testing and information will remain confidential and is not a requirement either by FHANA or the KFPS, only a suggestion to insure that your stallion, if selected, will be capable of servicing this specific market.

DNA Testing

For participation in the Central Examination stallions must have been tested for the single recessive characteristics chestnut color, dwarfism and hydrocephaly. Carrier status does not rule out participation in the Central Examination or acceptance for Studbook registration. Publishing of test results only applies to stallions that are registered in the Studbook. Publishing of test results is also included in the registration report. Taking samples is carried out during the veterinary inspection as part of the Second Viewing or after inspection.

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KFPS/FHANA requires an experienced Veterinary hospital that is familiar with the stallion approval process conducts this testing. You will need to get approval for X-Ray clinicians from the KFPS.

  • The cost for this portion of the testing can reach as high as $5,000.00
  • All X-Rays and Semen testing needs to be complete and sent directly to the FHANA (address below.)
  • Please check and double check all of your information again to make sure it is complete so as to not incur any additional costs.

X-ray films can be assessed only if they were made by one of the clinics approved by the KFPS. For the Netherlands, these are the “inspection veterinarians”. For other countries, the choice of such a veterinarian must be made in consultation with the KFPS. The films must be made according to the protocol for this procedure.

When tested, the stallions must be at least 26 months old.

The X-ray films are assessed by a committee appointed by the KFPS.

The original X-ray films will remain the property of the KFPS for further research.

Unless the criteria will be changed by the KFPS, the findings of the X-ray testing will apply within the framework of stallion selection throughout the life of the stallion.

An appeal against the findings of the X-ray testing can be submitted to the KFPS no later than two weeks after the assessment date. The reassessment will be conducted by a reassessment committee, the owner being responsible for the costs involved. The appeal procedure involves two elements:

  1. A reassessment of the existing films.
  2. A first assessment of the new films. The first set of films is also included in this assessment.

The findings of the X-ray testing have to be made available to the FHANA by no later than October 31, in the year the stallion is referred to the jury.. Where they will then be sent to KFPS (Utrecht) for review. If the X-Rays and semen results are not available by this date, the stallion will be excluded from participation in the second round of judging. The University of Utrecht makes all final decisions from X-rays & Semen testing. No other veterinarian hospital recommendation will be considered. The cost to have your X-Rays viewed is $125.00.

Friesian Horse Association of North America
4037 Iron Works Parkway, Suite 160
Lexington, KY 40511
Attention to: Jason Tice

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