Holstein delegates' meeting: Breeding and sport even closer together

(Neumünster) At the first delegates' meeting of the Holsteiner Verband as a presence event this year, among other things, new members of the licensing commission and the objection commission were elected, as well as a change in the statutes was passed, with which Holsteiner mares can receive the state premium title in the future through sport successes. In addition, there was good news to report regarding the current WBFSH rankings: The Holsteiner Verband is ranked second in show jumping breedings as well as first according to successes of eventing horses with Holsteiner pedigree.

It was the first meeting of this kind for the new board elected in March around the first chairman Hinrich Romeike, his deputy Dr. Maximilian Slawinski as well as Inken Gräfin von Platen-Hallermund, Harm Sievers and Dieter Feddersen. After the reports of the Managing Directors Roland Metz (Gesamtverband, Vermarktungs und Auktions GmbH) and Norbert Boley (Hengsthaltungs GmbH) as well as the Breeding Director Stephan Haarhoff, the regular new and re-elections of some members of the licensing commission were on the agenda. Jens Hauschildt wanted to hand over his office as licensing commissioner to a younger person and also Wulf-Hinrich Hamann did not stand for re-election as sporting representative within the commission. In the opposition commission Harm Sievers retired due to his board activity as well as Tjark Nagel and Hermann Blohm due to their age. For the remaining term until2023 of Jens Hauschildt, Horst-Klaus Heleine received the most votes in a secret ballot. Christian Thoroe was also elected as a member of the licensing commission for four years and Deike Ahsbahs as a substitute member. The election of a show athlete for the commission for four years fell on Lars Nieberg, the second most votes received Max Kühner, who will hold the office as a substitute member in the future. Also in the opposition commission offices were new or to be filled again: Rasmus Lüneburg was elected as a member for four years, Friedrich Wettberg will serve as a substitute member for a term of four years. Two tournament athletes were also needed to fill the appeals commission for the next four years. Delegates elected Carsten-Otto Nagel (member) and Peter Jakob Thomsen (alternate member).

Animal Welfare Officer and State Premium by Sport Success. Changes in the statutes make it possible from now on that mares, which have received a Verband premium on the occasion of the Verband mare show at the age of three, can receive a state premium with corresponding proof of sport successes. Until now, the successfully completed mare performance test was the only possible path to the state premium title. "We would like to further strengthen the sport orientation and focus of breeding in the Holsteiner Verband," emphasized Breeding Director Stephan Haarhoff. For this reason, it will be possible in the future for Verband premium mares that have not passed a broodmare test to provide proof of their performance for the award of the state premium through age-appropriate sport successes. Upon written application by the owner, the title "State Premium" can thus be awarded retrospectively. The basic requirements are still the corresponding pedigree, a height ≥ 160 cm, a total score of 52 points (type at least score 8) and participation in the Verband mare show in Elmshorn. Four-year old horses must show successes in advanced tests for riding horses or at A-level, five-year olds in elementary class and six-year olds in medium class. Since a change in the licensing system is pending due to the newly published guidelines "Animal Welfare in Equestrian Sport", the Holsteiner Verband has already developed a concept for the procedure of future licensing and auction events. In addition, the use of an animal welfare officer was anchored in the statutes. "With this, the Holsteiner Verband is setting a forward-looking example," said First Chairman Hinrich Romeike, "and we are demonstrating to politicians how much we care about the welfare of our horses." The board also recognized the activities of the former interim board member with the Holsteiner Verband pin of honor: Carmen Hinrichsen-Bockmeyer, Kathrin Huesmann, Claus Delfs and Thomas Voß received the Bronze Badge of Honor, the former First Chairman Hinrich Köhlbrandt received the Silver Badge of Honor by the acting board members, who thanked the interim board for their work.

Rankings of the WBFSH. Recently, the current rankings of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) have been published. In the eventing horse rankings (as of May 2021), the Holsteiner Verband ranks first, and in the show jumping horse federation rankings, the Holsteiner Verband ranks an excellent second. 884 points have been collected by the six most successful Holstein bush horses, putting them at the top of the studbook ranking. Holstein show jumpers collected a total of 3,319 points, securing second place after the Selle Français Studbook.