The Friesian Horse Society

Arabo-Friesian Stallion Selection

Breeding Technical Regulations European Arabo-Friesians Studbook (EAFS) STALLION-SELECTION / BREEDING LIMITS

Translations below provided from EAFS website

Beforehand we define what the different appellations mean:

Categories

  1. Approved and EAFS-recognized stallions have followed the standard path of selection as described below. Their foals are registered in the Head Section Stud book(Hoofdsectie Stamboek). (Appointed by AES as “Licensed” and after that “Approved”)
  2. Stallions that are approved but are not recognized by EAFS, that we find insufficient grade, but that are perhaps supposedly approved by a not-European-recognized Studbook. Their products are registered in the Supplementary section B-book II. (Appointed by NRPS or AES as “foal book”, FPS “veulenboek”.)
  3. “Foal book” stallions, that are recognized by the EAFS follow a shortened selection procedure and may be used for breeding abroad with narrow breeding limits (mostly max. 10). Their products are registered in the Supplementary section B-book I.* (appointed by AES as “Registered”)
  4. “Foal book” Stallions, that are NOT recognized by the EAFS can be used for breeding by private breeders for their (often own use) breeding. Their products are registered in the Supplementary section B-book II. Their offspring are registered yet 2 generations further in the B-book II, even if further breeding is done with approved Studbook Stallions. Only than offspring can flow through B-book I to the Head Section. On 3 years and older age these products remain in the foal book B-book II

* Provided that their mothers are registered in the Head Section or B-book I.

Requirements approval Category A Stallions

Approval of an Arabo-Friesian stallion can only be considered if:

  1. The blood % is within the blood limitation of 6.25 – 40% Arabic blood and as much pure Friesian blood as possible, but at least 55%.
  2. It has a minimum height of 1.58 meter on age 3 or 1.60 meter on older age.
  3. The young stallion scored high enough point on the score form (keuring).

    The point systems is composed as follows:

    • 40% of the Breeding Technical committee points is taken into account
    • 60% of the Stallion Jury committee points is taken into account

    The EAFS Breeding Technical Committee will give a judgement of 1 -10 consisting of the next elements:

    • 50% Direct sport performances of the parents and next of kin of the stallion.
    • 30% Assessment genetic value of bloodline for sport performance.
    • 10% Assessment breeding power as to performance.
    • 10% Assessment breeding power as to quality

    The EAFS Stallion Jury Committee will give a judgement 1 – 10 consisting of the next elements:

    • 40% exterior, in which are taken in equal count
      • Type
      • Build
      • Development, height
      • Quality of legs and joints
    • 60% pace, in which are taken into count
      • 1,2x for walk
      • 1,0x for trot
      • 0,8x for canter

    To get approved, a stallion should not score a heavy insufficient at any of the elements (as well of the Breeding Technical committee as the Stallion Jury Committee). Also the final outcome should be high enough (not just above 6).

    The final decision of approval however lies with the EAFS Board, who determines how many stallions are permitted to breed of every breeding year. The EAFS Board is also authorized in case of serious consideration (e.g. inbreed) to choose a stallion with a slightly lower Total Result over higher judged stallion(s). The Board also determines the breeding limit.

  4. The stallion preferably receives a temporary “Sport certificate” as a foal or its father and/or mother have proven performance capacity for top sport, of which international combined driving (class A or S) is the most important, as for stamina it has the best selection criterion.
    At C. “Breeding limits” other sports performances of the parents are mentioned that the
    EAFS Board handles as criteria.
  5. The stallion completely meets the veterinarian demands, fertility, OCD/X-ray, etc. made by the EAFS as all other conditions. (See regulations participation stallion judgement (keuring)).
    • The X-ray examination must be performed at one of the recognized veterinarian clinics and must meet the following requirements:
      1. Navicular bone: Class 0-1-2
      2. Sesamoid bones: no selection
      3. Arthritis , ball : Class 0-1-2-3
      4. Spat: Class 0-1-2
      5. Osteochondrose leapt and knee: both negative.
      6. Osteochondrose leapt and knee: both negative.
      7. The sperm report must be drawn up by a recognized clinic.

      • The next minimum value is required:

    • The average of two leaps within 1 hour must have a TNB value of:
      1. Minimum of 1000 for a 2 ½ years old stallion
      2. Minimum of 2500 for a 3 ½ years old stallion
  6. The stallion has a sufficiently good mother bloodline with qualities, as following:

    Criteria at the mare line of stallions mother:

    1. Sport. The SPORTS-performances of the mother as well of the next of kin in the mother bloodline are taken into account in the judgement. Comparable performances abroad likewise. I.B.O.P. and ABFP and other results are also part of the judgement, but to a smaller extent.
    2. Paper On the Foal Book Certificate of the to be judged stallion no mares in 4 generations of the father- and mother bloodline may be registered in any “Hulp Boek” or Bijboek II.
      • The mother bloodline of the to be judged stallions must have breeding stability and be fertile as possible and on top of it have a very good sportive background. This is the most important. If close relatives or her foals climbed up in competition sport, than she is better qualified as stallion mothe
    3. In pysical criteria we can mention:
      • Exterior and pace; as much as possible the mother bloodline must have:
        • Produced horses, that scored highly in any form of top sport.
        • An exterior better than sufficient;
        • Movements more than sufficient;
        • The walk must be straight, powerful and flexible with sufficient space, coming from the shoulder. The hindquarter must swing forward with power;
        • the trot must be elevated with roomy forward action, with good power from the hindquarters, light footed with a floating movement and enough flexion in the hock. Trot may show no winging or paddling movements.
        • “White at the legs” may scarcely appear but preferably not at all. Also a white hoof and white at the hoof sole are not preferred. On the Stallion Judgement (keuring) the stallions will be checked for white hoof sole during the veterinarian examination.
        • With the stallions mothers no bone flaws may occur. In case of doubt, the mother will also have to be X-ray examined.
    4. Character The mother’s character will be of large influence on the judgement. A trustworthy and calm character with a low “timidity” and perseverance is preferred. Sufficient respect and eagerness to work for his boss needs to be a characteristic of the mother, the young stallion and its descendants.
    5. Miscellaneous Mares with navel hernia and stable vices are undesirable as stallions mothers. Also under or over bites may not appear. Also an unstable upper neck muscle (resulting in hanging over of mane and muscle) blow in the mane crest and/or suspicion of “summer eczema” an allergy that provoques heavy irritation resulting in rubbing of all mane and hair on the upper side of the body) a mane-rash at the mother or close relatives are reasons for excluding her suns from breeding.

Breeding Limits

As we can not yet expect a young stallion to perform at the high level that we require of Arabo-Friesians, it is impossible to execute this with a Performance Judgement. Because we can not use the Performances Judgement to make our selection, the licensed stallions themselves or at least 4 of their products must prove of performance in the sport. This explains our fairly liberal assigning management, which on the other hand is strict when it comes to putting stallions on hold at later age. We also maintain breeding limits to prevent domination of influence of a particular stallion.

If a stallion after 4 breeding seasons fails to meet one of the sport performances criteria below, it will automatically be put on hold. In the waiting period, his descendants get the chance to prove capacity to perform in the sport. When 4 of its descendants show exceptional sport performances, the stallion may return to the breeding. This is all subject to judgement of the EAFS Board.

However every approved stallion may perform at least 50 breeding, allowing these breeding to be spread over several years. (because the stallion is outside of a large breeding area or because breeding is the owners hobby). The products from these 50 breeding also have to prove their ability to perform in sports, otherwise final disapproval will happen.

The breeding limits depend on 4 factors:

  1. The blood percentage.
  2. The performance level of the parents.

    3. These 2 factors largely determine the starting-breeding limit of the young stallions first 2 breeding years.

    After that breeding limits are determined according to the criteria:

  3. The progressive improvement in performance of the young stallion (and maybe its descendants.
  4. The physical quality of the offspring.

The breeding limit system is a click system. Provided that he meets the performance level required for his age, the stallion may breed up to the determined limit. If the stallions fails these performance-levels he will automatically get to the lower limit and so.

The following limits apply for the licensed Arabo-Friesian breeding stallions:

Each of the above criteria A, B, C and D are separately taken into account to determine the breeding limit (e.g. a stallion with sufficient growth in performance, will still get a smaller breeding limit if flaws in breeding are suspected). Every breeding limit applies exclusively to pure Friesian mares. Mares of other breeds must remain limited to exceptions only. The Arabo-Friesian Breeding must avoid crossing with any other breeds, even those that come close to Friesians. Such “wild crossing” infringement may be sanctioned by the Board. And stallions with any other blood, will have less chance to be admitted to the breeding programme.

Maximum of 200 breeding for definite approved stallions, which is reached when:

  1. After 4 breeding seasons the stallion has proven sufficient and growing ability to perform in sports, showing good results in official competitions.
  2. The stallion appeared to be a good father by breeding products with ample quality, character, consistency, etc.

Note: Definitive approval does not automatically mean lifelong approval. If later in breeding appears that the stallion does not contribute enough to meet the newest requirements to improvement, the Board may still decide to disqualify the stallion at an older age. Especially if the performances of its products and possible previously unnoticed deviations or flaws would be significant. Also –to the contrary- a “disapproval” does not mean lifelong disapproval, for when its products later on appear to have become good sports horses with relatively little flaws, in exceptional cases the Board may consider to re-establish the stallion in breeding.

Maximum of 100 breeding per season (maximized to 400 breeding in the first 4 years) for young licensed stallions:

  1. During the first 2 breeding seasons, when the blood percentage is between 18 and 40% AND BOTH parents or their kin have performed satisfactory in sport.
  2. During the next third and fourth season the same limit applies when the young licensed stallion performed satisfactory in sport after 1 or 2 breeding seasons AND the foals appeared to be of more than sufficient quality.
  3. Breeding limits can be raised from 75 to 100 for licensed stallions that were on a lower limit in the first 2 years and that performed very well in sport AND have produced foals of more than sufficient quality.

Maximum of 75 breeding:

  1. During the first 2 breeding seasons for a licensed stallion with less blood % (13-20%) and of which there is less knowledge of sportive achievements of the parents/relatives.
  2. Limits can be raised from 50 to 75 for stallions with even less blood % but that performed very well in sport the first 2 breeding years AND produced foals of more than sufficient quality.

Maximum of 50 breeding:

  • When the young stallion has either a very low blood percentage (6-13%) or where there is little knowledge of the performance- ability of the parents.

Maximum of 10 breeding:

  • For “Foal Book” stallions, that become EAFS-recognized for breeding locally abroad. The performance and quality of the offspring are take into account when prolonging the breeding permit. This permit is revised yearly.

All other mixtures (e.g 50/50 mixtures) will be registered in the B-book II and therefore such a stallion can never be registered in the Studbook

  • The Board may deviate on these breeding limits, when considered necessary, especially if a stallion is coming from a very different blood line, so that he can help bringing down the in-breeding percentage.

    • Every stallion that does NOT meet the required performance levels

  • For every year that the stallion does not show the required achievements according to his age, it will automatically fall back to the lower breeding limits that apply for his age.
  • After 4 years, will be put on hold and reinstatement in breeding will only be considered if a sufficient amount of descendants have shown convincing achievements in sports.

Finally all breeding limits are decided upon by the Board. Both the Breeding Technical Committee and the Sport Committee advise on the subject.