The “final” 70 day stallion test – in the USA!
For a KFPS-registered Friesian stallion to be approved for breeding purposes, he must go through a barrage of tests. Some are conformation and movement exams by Dutch inspectors. Some tests are xrays, DNA testing, semen testing. And those who make it through all this get to the finals of testing – a 70 day test where the young stallion is trained to ride and drive and is judged for performance.
I have said before that last year about 1500 young stallions began the journey to be approved as breeding stallions. Only 5 made it through the gauntlet and are now allowed to breed.
The 70 day test has always been held in Friesland. During the 70 days of training, inspectors come twice to judge the horses as they progress in their training. A horse can be eliminated at either of these times. These judging events are attended by the locals who are anxious to see how these young stallions are coming along.
2008 is a banner year for Friesians in America. For the first time, we also have a 70 day test in America, and we had 4 stallions who were good enough to attend. On January 25, the mid-term exam was held and the Dutch inspectors flew to America (the testing center is in California) to see how these four were coming along, and to eliminate any that were not good enough. As in the Netherlands, the public was invited to watch as the horses were judged under saddle and in harness.
All four of the stallions have made it through to the final exam, to be held in late February!
I may be overly optimistic, but I see this as a watershed even for Friesians in America. With the ability to have our own stalli0ns judged in America by international inspectors, we will be able raise awareness in these wonderful horses. For breeders there will be a glimmer of hope that you could actually raise a colt to be an approved breeding stallion. Yes, sending a horse to California is expensive, but nothing like shipping him to the Netherlands where you never see him again. And besides, perhaps one day there will be a facility in the east as well.
Marc DiLeo has taken a number of photographs and posted these in photo albums. Check out our “made in America” young stallions:
