Everything used to be better?
How often do we hear that everything used to be better in the past, with people romanticizing ‘the good old days’—and yes, I think that in many areas of horse breeding, ‘progress’ has not always been for the benefit of the breed, because:
In the past, we had a great diversity of types in Arabian breeding; today, bloodlines are reduced due to the use of a few fashionable stallions, and the horses must conform to a ‘modern standard’ set by a select few (judges).
In the past, it was normal to ride Arabians, and every stallion had to pass a stallion performance test; today, Arabians are often merely ‘decoration’—people enjoy their beauty, but the ancestors of these horses have frequently not seen a saddle for three or more generations.
In the past, events were for breeders and aspiring breeders; today, shows are for high society or those who consider themselves part of it.
But there is also a counter-movement. For instance, the VZAP has begun entering sire and dam lines into its online database—just as they were already recorded in the old studbooks. This gives breeders an indication of whether their horse belongs to a common sire line (Saklawi I) or a rare one (all the others…). Although these sire and dam lines do not inherently display a diversity of types, they do provide guidance to counteract a narrowing of bloodlines.
Stallion performance tests are offered but not utilized. Nevertheless, there are stallions under saddle that actually have something ‘to offer.’ This was evident in the wonderful exhibition classes in Kranichstein, where stallions from classical dressage, Western riding, Working Equitation, and endurance sports were showcased. And increasingly, buyers and breeders are asking whether the breeding stallion, his offspring, or his parents and siblings have proven their rideability.
The high society shows—at least regarding German participation—have hit rock bottom, as not a single German horse competed at the All Nations Cup, and the National Championship had fewer entries than ever before. On the other hand, there are tentative attempts to establish a sort of ‘breed stock show,’ such as the one at the Kauber Platte. The association stallion show / licensing, which took place in Kranichstein this year, could also be expanded in this direction.
With our detailed reporting on these ‘old-fashioned’ event formats, we want to contribute to a slow but certain shift in awareness, encouraging the increased use of ridden stallions. Because education and alternative event options for both breeders and buyers are the only way out of this dead end.
Gudrun Waiditschka
