International Recognition Of NZ Warmbloods For The First Time Ever

The NZ Warmblood Association is holding a Classification Tour in March for all equestrians interested in breeding the very best warmblood sport horses possible. 

Leading German Assessor, Gerd Küst, will be touring all parts of NZ along with members of the NZ Warmblood Committee.  Gerd is famous for being one of Germany’s most prominent breeders and producers of dressage and jumping horses and he is a regular assessor for some of the top Verbands in Germany,

He will most certainly be interested in the quality of the New Zealand Warmbloods being bred.  It has been several years since he was last here and in that time the NZWA has made huge improvements in the way they are running the association.  These improvements include new computer and data base systems and much more stringent and concise rules.  Couple this with an eager and friendly committee and you get a breed Association that is really going places and turning heads.  The NZWA was recently awarded membership to the World Breeders Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) which is testament to the work put in by the Executive Committee to bring the NZWA up to world standard.

So who gets to enter the Classification Tour?

All warmblood horses and young-stock along with Thoroughbred and Arabian mares (Foundation Stock) are eligible to enter.

At three years of age registered mares and colts can undergo this classification inspection and if they pass they may be entered into the NZWB Studbook.  Gerd will give an impartial and expert review of your horse's conformation and movement, and in the case of stallions, its jumping technique. The results and feedback will identify your horse’s strengths and weaknesses. 

Classification elevates a horse from the NZWB Register into the NZWB Studbook.
Classification also approves TB, Arab and Anglo Arab breeding stock and allows their inclusion into the NZWB Studbook as Foundation horses.

There is a comprehensive  Breeder's Guide available with information on Studbook Structure and the registration process available at www.nzwarmbloods.com

Classification of course is a valuable tool for breeders.  It is a chance to get your breeding mares assessed by one of the world’s best.  This can help you to understand her strengths and weakness’s, and help plan the best possible stallion to match with her temperament, movement and bloodlines to create your ultimate foal.  Getting your young-stock inspected is also a good way to get your young horses pitted against some of the best in the country.  A travelling judge makes much more sense than getting together at one centralised venue.  So, if you want to know how your foal stacks up against the best in the country – the Classification Tour will help.

After a Classification, the feedback from many members has been how great it is to discuss the merits of their horse with an overseas expert.  Visiting assessors are able to provide an unbiased judgement and a genuine international comparison of the breeding stock in New Zealand to our members.  The inspection feedback will be an invaluable tool in deciding the future direction of your breeding program. 
 

Being able to join the WBFSH has allowed NZ Warmbloods to finally be recognised on the FEI’s breeding rankings.  Did you know that the amazing horse Balmoral Sensation bred by Bruce Goodin is a New Zealand Warmblood by Senator VDL?  A year or two back he was ranked number 1 in the World but no studbook got the recognition for this.  Now that the NZWA is a member of the WBFSH they will be pushing to be listed at the very top of the world eventing rankings.  Horse’s such as Balmoral Sensation bred by Bruce Goodin, Warhawk, bred by Sam McIver and Darius bred by Starlight Farms, are all flying the NZWA flag high on the international scene.

This will in turn contribute to bringing back the once upon a time huge numbers of overseas horse buyers to our country.  NZ can still lay claim to breeding the fabulous, world beating, good old fashioned TB, the colonial stock, mares with great staying bloodlines, three true paces and built uphill.  We are all aware that when the Warmblood became popular these NZ TB’s took a back seat.  Well the tables may be turning as each German assessor over the past few seasons has asked to look at quality NZ TB colts with colonial-type pedigrees and type.  There’s a real possibility of assessors buying or assisting in the purchase of young NZ TB stallions to ship to Germany and use to fine down their own Warmbloods. 

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST TODAY AT http://nzwarmbloods.co.nz/classification.php

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO http://www.ispyhorses.com/ispy_new/services/329