Performance Tests
• Register of PRE Breeding Program Collaborating Stud Farms now available.
Performance Testing is a systematic method to verify a horse’s functional skills and aptitudes. At the same time, it provides other valid information to determine a breeding horse’s genetic value in keeping with the established model in the PRE Breeding Program and the current legislation.
An individual performance test is a set of operations carried out by a given horse—a candidate as future breeding stock—that allows a series of individual phenotype measurements to be obtained from the control variables, with a specific chronology to obtain a genetic value or a Genetic Index.
All of the stud farms participating in the performance tests, as established in the PRE Breeding Program, are listed in the Collaboration Stud Farm register, as established by Article 15 of Royal Decree 2129/2008.
Performance Testing for Dressage
The performance test for Dressage shall take place during the Young Horse Selection Tests organized by ANCCE, at Dressage Competitions organized by the Royal Equestrian Federation of Spain (RFHE) or the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), whether national and international. Likewise, tests may be carried at other events that comply with the conditions and necessary technical requirements to perform the genetic assessment of horses. Phenotypic information is compiled on the established forms for each category and/or age group.
Calendar
Performance Testing for Conformation
Conformation-Functional performance tests are conducted on horses as of three years of age using Linear Conformation Score methodology during performance tests at stud farms (Assessment for Basic Aptitude as Breeding Stock) or at events (competitions, young horse selection tests, federation events, testing centers, etc.). In all cases, proper interaction between judges is guaranteed to allow valid comparisons of the horses. To do so, phenotypic data for conformation is collected on forms approved by the Association; these, in turn, are computerized for genetic-statistic processing, as well as other information regarding the horse, the judge performing the test and other environmental factors. Furthermore, zoometric measurements (length, height, angles, perimeters, etc.) are collected, which allow the subsequent conformation characterization of horses, as well as their functional capacity for dressage. The morphological scores shall be granted by a judge, belonging to the group of linear conformation judges for the breed.
