Elite and Improver Categories

Young Recommended Breeding Stock - Qualified Breeding Stock - Improvement Breeding Stock - Elite Breeding Stock

The PRE stallion improvement program is used to establish different categories of reproducing stallions - the Young Recommended Stallion, Qualified, Improvement, and Elite. The main objective is to improve the morphology (conformation), shape, and functionality (movement) of the PRE horse. To achieve this goal, the Spanish breeders focus on genealogy, reproduction, health, genetics, morphological function, behavior (disposition), functionality (movement), and environmental selection criteria.

Morphological performance testing (ridden) is done in a linear fashion and has been perfected within the PRE breed. The method is based on given conformation characteristics that are measured on a numerical scale according to a fixed pattern. This rating system is supplemented by other secondary characteristics to provide information about the “racial character” (breed fidelity) of each horse.

These tests are carried out during the Basic Fitness Assessment of Reproduction and in other venues such as contests, shows, selection of young horses, etc.

The functional performance testing for dressage is done in the Young Horse Selection Test and in dressage competitions recognized by the RFHE, both in Spain and internationally.

GENETIC RATING

The Official Animal Genetics Centre (MERAGEM) is responsible for the genetic evaluation of horses.

Ermitano III, Stryker’s sire, is considered GENETICALLY SUPERIOR and his ranking scores show that his offspring have a high potential for exceeding within conformation and dressage.

Ermitano III was genetically assessed using his relatives, mainly his offspring, and had to achieve a global genetic index above 100 with a reliability of 60%. Ermitano reached the required scores for both Classic Dressage and for conformation. This means that he transmits the desired qualities to his offspring on a reliable basis and is a higher than average quality Spanish horse.

CATEGORIES OF STALLIONS

Joven Reproductor Recommendado en Aptitude Morfologia - Young Recommended Stallion in Morphological Aptitude. This horse would be registered in the Libro Genealogico (stud book). Horses in this category are four to six years of age and have obtained a genetic index over the 70th percentile. Also they have excelled in dressage tests and have exceeded the necessary reproductive and health standards set by ANCCE (Spanish studbook).

Joven Reproductor Recommendado para la Doma Clasica - Young Recommended Stallion in Dressage. This horse has met the levels of dressage tests and is between four and six years old. They have obtained a genetic index in dressage higher than 50%. They have also exceeded the necessary reproductive and health standards set by ANCCE.

Reproductor Mejorante an Aptitud Morfologica - Improvement Stallion in Morpholgoical Aptitude - this stallion is age 7 or older and has obtained a genetic index in dressage in the top half of the population. They also have had sufficient offsprsing in the Young Recommended Stallion category.

Reproductor Mejorante para la Doma Clasica - Improvement Stallion in Dressage - This is a stallion age 7 or older that has a genetic index in the top half of the population for dressage and also has sufficient number of Young Recommended Stallions as their offspring.

Elite Stallion - this is the stallion that is age 7 or older and has obtained status of Improvement Stallion in both Morphological and Dressage.

The Elite category is unique and has only been achieved by a handful of Spanish horses. They must have obtained Improver Breeding Stock and must participate in breeding controls established by the Program of Breed Improvement for Morphology and Dressage.