Since the World Sport Horse Breeding Federation and the International Equine Federation published the pedigree rankings in 2001, the Hannover horse pedigree has long been in the top five in the three equestrian disciplines. To put it bluntly, in show jumping alone, six Olympic individual gold medals were won by Hannover horses together with their riders. The Hannover WM Association is the leading force at the top of the breeding circle.
On March 14, 2023, the Equestrian Magazine team bid farewell to the World Equestrian Sports Fair in Essen, Germany, and traveled via Münster and Bremen to Felden, Lower Saxony, to visit the Hannover Horse Association.
The Equestrian Magazine team and Ms. Maren Schlender, Deputy Breeding Manager of the Hannover Horse Association, pose for a group photo in front of the headquarters of the Hannover Horse Association
The headquarters of the Hannover WM Association looks unremarkable, and you won't be attracted by its steep pitched roofs along Lindhooperstrasse. Truly iconic is the horse sculpture in front of the association, consisting of a mare and her foal.
The mare, named "Dieta", is a two-time German Division of Local Government champion, and DLG stands for Germany's highest production standards. The foal is named "Gitano 86" and the paternal line is the "Garibaldi II" with outstanding results in breeding. Painted in Hannover in 1982 by artist Ulrich Conrad, this group of bronze statues showcases the infinite intimacy between mare and foal, full of artistic tension and is widely known and is now the symbol of the Hannover horse.
Ms. Maren Schlender, Deputy Breeding Manager of the Hannover WM Association, is already waiting for us by the statue. When we entered the door, we were surprised to see a wall chart of the bull pulling on the wall on the right-hand side.
Flip chart on the wall on the right-hand side of the entrance
Ms. Mullen was calm, but there seemed to be a few ripples of joy under her calm expression, and it seemed that the Chinese guests seemed to have discovered the key to the problem at a glance. POINTING TO THE BULL AUCTION BANNER, SHE INTRODUCED US: "THIS IS THE MASTERRIND BULL ASSOCIATION AUCTION DISPLAY, WE SHARE THE INDOOR FIELD. In addition to Hanover horses, bulls are also auctioned indoors. THE MASTERRAND BULL ALSO HAS A RIGOROUS BREED REGISTRY, WITH A VARIETY OF PERFORMANCE, BALANCE AND ANATOMY MEASUREMENTS. When these bulls were auctioned, they were kept clean, and the morning glory staff were dressed appropriately. ”
In 2022, the Hannover WM Association celebrated its centennial. It's hard to think of a century-old association, a unique presence in the horse industry, that works within the same boundaries as the bull association.
Hannover stallion performance measurement site
Ms. Mullen said that the Hannover Horse Association, which is responsible for the registration and auction of Hannover horses, is an association established by Hannover horse breeders themselves to serve the breeders themselves. The association itself does not carry out breeding activities, which partly indicates that the huge venue will be vacant during the non-auction and non-registration seasons. If you choose to operate with the Bull Association, the cost is greatly reduced.
After passing the conference room, you will come to the indoor field that can accommodate 1600-1800 people. Low fences and flower pots are laid out on the grounds, where a variety determination will be conducted recently. This year, there will also be four adult sports horse auctions, seven foal auctions and two stallion auctions.
Hannover horse auction site
In 1938, the Hannover horse auction was held for the first time in Velden, but it was not organized by the Breeding Association. Today's auction is about business and communication, and behind the first auction is the story of Hannover horse breeders saving themselves.
After World War II, troops no longer needed directionally bred war horses. There are too many horses in the breeders' stable, and the agricultural and draft markets cannot absorb these horses. At that time, equestrian sports were not yet hot, and everyone had to think about new breeding directions. For the benefit of Hannover horses, the Velden auction was launched spontaneously to promote the horse trade and ensure that the good breed was not lost. Velden was the heart of the horse breeding region, with excellent transport links and a reputation as the "Cradle of the Hannover Horse", as well as a horse riding and carriage school on the local military site, and rightfully held the first Hannover horse auction.
When Ms. Mullen tells this history, we can no longer be envious of the results of Hannover horse breeding. For them, Hannover is a bread necessary for survival and a bill that must be carefully calculated in their livelihood.
When we heard that there was a variety registration here, we asked questions one after another. It turned out that this time it was a breed registration for 3-year-old mares. Ms Mullen told us: "When mares are three years old, we assess whether and what kind of pedigree register they can enter based on their posture and their slow and fast gait. There are three categories of pedigree registers: Master Pedigree Book, Pedigree Book and Reserve Lineage. For example, the mare's four generations have been officially certified, the mare's paternal line has been registered in the main pedigree book or pedigree book, and the mare's posture is above 6 points and the gait is more than 5 points (out of 10 points) to be eligible to enter the main register. What kind of pedigree book is decisive for the breeding career of the mare, and a mare that does not enter the main pedigree book cannot breed. ”
Mare performance measurement site
"Directly lose the right to breed?" Ms. Mullen first proved our conjecture, but then told us that such a rule would be difficult to enforce only at the initial stage.
Today, these stringent regulations have had little impact on the expansion of the Hannover horse population, largely because breeders have been aware of and respected these breeding and selection rules for generations. In 2014, 16,687 out of 17,015 3-year-old Hannover mares were included in the main register, with only about 1.9% excluded from the main register.
Of course, there is always room for such provisions. If the mare misses the 3-year-old determination, the 4-year-old and 5-year-old mares can also be measured according to the measurement method of different age stages. Meres with outstanding results can also deflect from the sword and gain a chance to enter the main register.
In addition to registration, breeders can also present their mares at the Mares Performance Determination and the Mare Show, where the best ones receive the honor of "Hannover Quality Mares".
The selection of stallions is more stringent, because artificial insemination breeds so that stallions have a higher reproductive rate. Ms Mullen said: "If a stallion that is not excellent is allowed to breed, it is a disaster for the progress of the entire population. ”
When stallions are two and a half years old, they undergo a 14-day performance measurement that mainly evaluates the stallion's temperament, gait, free running and free overtake without interference from the rider in order to obtain a stallion license. After the license is issued, there are 14 days of riding testing. After that, at the age of 4 or 5, there are 50 days of performance measurement and 3 days of exercise capacity test waiting for them.
Stallions are free to go beyond
Behind the main venue is an obstacle course and a dressage training ground. These venues are used for the horse warm-up before auctions and formal breed determination, as well as normal training during the regular breed determination phase. "Of course, the warm-up and preparation of the bulls also takes place here." Ms. Mullen told us.
In the stable are young horse riders from various breeding families, who come from all over the vicinity of Felden. When Ms. Mullen saw them busy, she suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked, "Have you booked a nearby hotel?" The town's hotels are now full of horse breeders. ”
The Equestrian Magazine team visits the stable of the Association for Hannover horses in the stable of the 3-year-old mare to be registered
I secretly rejoiced in my heart: I have heard this news for a long time, maybe I can ask these old quacks tonight.
Breeding is a meticulous and complex job, and Ms. Mullen's brief description alone contains a lot of information that I can digest for a long time. After visiting the association and returning to the statue of the "mare with a foal" again, a cool breeze passed by, what direction, what system, all disappeared. Looking at the statue, all that remained in my heart was my love for horses.
It was snowing lightly in Velden in mid-March, and the back of the statue of "Dieta" was draped like a blanket
With this love and energy, the Germans studied breeding and tossed for hundreds of years. Horse breeding in rural Hanover had been going on for centuries before the establishment of the State Celle Stud Farm. Several wars have reduced the local horse stock, lost breeding files, and even slammed the steering wheel in the direction of breeding, but love and research can really withstand personnel changes and long years!
Text/Wan Fulin
Photo: Hannover WM Association, Equestrian magazine