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11 Keuring Sites throughout North America

Sutherlin, OR — You’ve devoted your resources – financial and energetic – to producing quality sport horses with hopes that they will compete at the highest levels of dressage, jumping, eventing or driving. One of the best tools for breeders, whether you have one mare or a herd, is the keuring, or inspection of breeding stock. You can receive invaluable advice and feedback on your breeding and training decisions from respected authorities. Perhaps your horse will be rewarded with high scores or a predicate, potentially increasing his or her value. There are also the networking and marketing opportunities that can only occur when like minded horse people get together. The 2011 KWPN of North America (Royal Dutch Warmblood Studbook) keuring tour kicks off next month and has 11 locations throughout North America. Breeders, owners and spectators are welcome at all events.

The KWPN-NA keurings offer inspections for both young and mature horses. Foals are examined for correct movement, conformation and type. The jury comments on each foal, making the process educational for all who attend. Mature horses are evaluated on conformation, movement and jumping (if applicable for their type) and are assessed in-hand and moving freely. Horses are able to advance to the studbook, earn predicates and compete in the DG Bar Cup (dressage 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old) or Iron Spring Farm Cup (jumping 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old) Championships.

Are you ready to take your horse to a KWPN-NA keuring? Download an eight-page guide, complete with photos at: KWPN Keuring pictorial overview. This reference will help you present your horse properly and answer many common questions.

Continue reading Ready for the KWPN Keurings? Eight Page Guide Available Online →

Spring is an exciting time of year with all the new foals, warmer weather, and more daylight. It’s also the time of year we breed our mares for next year’s foal crop.

Have you ever wondered why we breed mares in the springtime? As many of us know, mares are classified as seasonal breeders. Most of us have heard that mares need the increasing period of daylight (longer photoperiod) associated with spring before they will come into heat known as estrous. As the length of daylight increases, it stimulates the pineal gland within the brain. This stimulation results in a decreased production of melatonin which allows for the secretion of hormones that lead to estrous.

The photoperiod is a primary factor initiating estrous in the mare and consequently it gains most of the focus. Also very important in influencing estrous in mares is nutrition and climate. In my experience, conception rates are always highest in those mares with a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 5 or 6 on a scale of 1-10. This means the ribs are invisible, but readily palpable. Also noted, conception rates are lower when there are cold spring storms throughout the breeding season. Working in the Northern climate, this is also seen when using artificial lights to manipulate or “trick” the endocrine system of the mare in order to stimulate estrous. Increasing the photoperiod on a mare that is too thin or too heavy may or may not stimulate estrous. Inconsistent results also occur without the use of heated barns or blankets in the colder northern climates. However, if I am able to increase the photoperiod in a climate controlled barn with mares having a BCS of 5 or 6, I consistently produce estrous behavior greater than 90% of the time.

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