Breeding inspection of foals, mares and stallions

The most beautiful event for every breeder of the oldest cultured horse breed in the world is the birth of a Lipizzaner. Beautiful dark foals that carry the history of centuries of horse breeding and training grow into graceful animals, and their touch takes us to the sky.

In autumn is the most important event of the year for the Association of Lipizzaner Breeders of Slovenia. At that time, we prepare a breeding inspection and horse exhibition. We register all Lipizzaner foals, which we judge by their exterior, and we expect that the exceptional potential that the foals have, will develop into proud, elegant horses that mark their place and time with their nobility.

The assessment of young mares and candidates for breeding stallions is the most responsible work of the Association, because with them we build the future of almost half a millennium old breeding of the most beautiful horses. We are trying to upgrade the preservation of classic lines of mares and lines of stallions with the usefulness of horses in dressage and carriage driving, and thus transfer the essence of useful, capable of the most demanding work and friendly horses to new generations of horses.

Association of Lipizzaner Breeders of Slovenia – a recognized breeding organization unites more than 80 private breeders who breed around 800 Lipizzanes. This year’s breeding inspection and breeding exhibition took place on September 24, 2022 at the Equestrian Sports Center in Lopata near Celje. Breeders brought mares with foals, young mares for admission to the stud book and a stallion for licensing from all over Slovenia. A total of 21 mares with foals, a breeding stallion and as many as 16 mares for admission to the breeding herd were presented.

Members of the breeding commission for evaluating the foal were Klemen Turk, Nataša Gorišek, Jana Jašović Memon and Peter Slavič from Slovenia with invited member Damir Jakšić from the Croatian stud farm Lipik. The exterior characteristics of Lipizzaner horses are evaluated according to the evaluation model prescribed by the Rules on Keeping the Pedigree Book. For foals, type, head and neck, body, legs and gait (horse movement) are evaluated. A total of 50 points are possible.

The members of the breeding commission for accepting mares into the pedigree were Nataša Gorišek, Primož Tanko, Milojko Strajnar, Barbara Turk and Damir Jakšić.

Even in mares and stallion licensing, the external characteristics of Lipizzaner horses are evaluated according to the assessment model prescribed by the Rules on keeping the pedigree book. Based on the evaluation of the external characteristics, the horses are classified into quality classes. In this group, type, head, neck, front, middle and rear parts of the body, front and rear legs, correctness of gaits and activity of gaits are evaluated. A total of 100 points is possible.

Judging began with female foals. Among the 12 fillies, Canissa, breeder Milojko Strajnar, born: 23/04/2022, sire 363 Siglavy Samira XXII and mother 658 Canissa XXXV from Lipica was the best rated with 40 points, second place was Thais, breeder Kramar Urška, born 30/04/2022 by sire 426 Maestoso Gratios II and dam 925 Thais XIV with 39 points and the third was Thais, breeder Šnajder Franc, born: 29.04.2022, by sire 397 Pluto Betalka XXIV and dam 829 Thais VIII with 38 points.

 

The continuation took place with the evaluation of male foals. The best rated were the foals of the breeder Janez Peternel. The first place was won by Conversano Dubovina, born on 07/05/2022, by sire 388 Conversano Allegra XLVI and Lipica dam 633 Dubovina XXXIV with 40 points. The second place was Pluto Thais, born on 14/04/2022 by father 397 Pluto Betalka XXIV and mother 715 Thais IV with 38 points, and the third place was shared by the foal Conversano Monteaura, born on 12/05/2022 by father 388 Conversano Allegra XLVI and mother 288 Monteaura X and Siglavy Barbana born on 14/03/2022 to father 363 Siglavy Samira XXII and mother 576 Barbana VII with 37 points.

The breeding commission continued after the evaluation of foals with the licensing of the stallion brought for evaluation.

Members of the breeding commission for licensing stallion were Klemen Turk, Nataša Gorišek, Matjaž Hlebš, Primož Tanko, Milojko Strajnar, Barbara Turk and Damir Jakšić. They evaluated the young stallion 130 Conversano Famosa XVI, breeder Milojko Strajnar and owner Peternel Janez, born on 08.04.2019, by sire 631 Conversano Bonadeo XXVI and Lipizzan dam 676 Famosa XVI. The stallion was confirmed as a breeding stallion with 76 points and will obtain the status of a breeding stallion after passing the working test.

This was followed by an assessment of the appearance of the young mares for admission to the studbook. For a long time, not so many mares were brought to the ZRLS breeding inspection for admission to the pedigree. A total of 16 mares were evaluated, of which 13 mares were accepted into the breeding herd. The best rated was 93 Capra XXXIV, born on 08/05/2018, by sire 388 Conversano Allegra XLVI and dam 793 Capra XXIV, breeder and owner Kosec Marjan. The mare was rated with 75 points.

The second place was taken with 74 points by mare 106 Allegra XXXVI, born on 18/04/2018, by sire 487 Siglavy Capra I and dam 641 Allegra XXIV, breeder Hosta Andrej, and owner Marc Andrej.

The third place went to the mare 143 Thais XXIV, born on 26/05/2019 by father 631 Conversano Bonadea XXVI and mother 323 Thais L, breeder Jože Turk, and owner Klemen Turk. The mare got 73 points. It is encouraging that the average score of the mares that are accepted into the pedigree is growing and this year it amounts to 71.46 points.

 

After the successful evaluation, President Aleksander Ozmec addressed everyone present and, with the cooperation of the sponsors, awarded ribbons and practical prizes to the best-evaluated horses. In his address, he pointed out that sponsors, breeders, volunteers, and judges do not only help concretely with work or material support, but also mainly represent support in preserving Lipizzaner breeding, in preserving part of Slovenian identity and living cultural heritage.

 

photos: Sibil Slejko