Inspection - Stallions

CRITERIA & GUIDELINES FOR STALLION OWNERS

The Canadian Sport Horse Association has been inspecting horses for breed improvement since its incorporation in 1933. Canadian Sport Horse breeders, through the use of Thoroughbreds and warmbloods from other sport horse registries, along with established Canadian Sport Horse lines, strive to produce sound, sensible, athletic performers. Horses should be of sport horse type; defined as a horse that is built to succeed in the hunter, jumper, dressage or eventing disciplines. They are preferably between 16.0 and 17.0 hands high at maturity with a minimum of 8” cannon bone circumference and 72” heart girth. Smaller horses will be considered if other attributes are above average; eg: movement, quality, substance or verifiable performance record. Qualities looked for are good body depth and substance and a well-defined head with large, expressive eyes. Joints should be strong and clean with knees and hocks low to the ground and pasterns well angled with appropriate length. The neck should be well set on with suitable length, withers well defined with a long, sloping shoulder and a smooth, strong top-line. Hindquarters should be strong and well rounded and able to provide balance and impulsion. The movement in all gaits is very important and should be sequentially correct, straight, balanced, ground covering and have impulsion. Rounding out the ideal sport horse stallion is a horse with good character, pride, intelligence, courage and a masculine, athletic presence that leaves a good impression on the observer.

Undesirable qualities include cribbing, weaving, bone spavin, ring bone, side bone, curbs, wind sucking, parrot mouth, navicular or predisposition to navicular, or any such unsoundness which would be detrimental to a breeding program. In cases where a question may arise regarding the presence of a heritable unsoundness, an independent veterinary examination may be requested, at the owner’s expense. Stallions must be 3 years of age or older at the time of inspection

APPLICATION PROCEDURES:

Before a stallion is brought before the Inspection panel, the following MUST be received by the Regional Inspection Secretary or the CSHA National office prior to inspection date.

 Inspection and Membership Applications completed and signed.

 Photocopy of registration paper (breed of origin) showing four generations of pedigree. Proof of ownership to include details of all owners. If the horse is a Canadian Sport Horse, include ORIGINAL registration paper with application.

 A completed DNA test form. The hair sample will then be taken with inspection personnel during the inspection process and attached to the form. If the horse already has DNA results (external), a copy of the results must accompany the Inspection Application.

 Applicable Fees Payable to “Canadian Sport Horse Association”.

• Inspection Fee $500.00 + HST
• Annual Membership 80.00 + HST
• DNA Test Fee 60.00 + HST or  DNA External Report 25.00 + HST if on file with another registry

Once a stallion is presented for inspection, inspection and membership fees are non-refundable. Registration of existing offspring of stallions receiving approval can be made at the “foal rate” if the application for offspring’s registration is made at the time of inspection.

PHASE I – EVALUATION PROCEDURE:

All horses are to complete each phase, in a designated order (youngest to oldest), before moving on to the next phase. Horses are to be well turned out and presented in a snaffle bridle with detachable reins. Handler is advised to wear comfortable running shoes.

 Veterinary inspection for general soundness and absence of obvious congenital defects. Eyes, mouth, heart, lungs and reproductive organs will be checked. Height, heart girth and cannon bone are measured. Colour and markings are verified. Mane hair sample is pulled for DNA testing.
 Presentation of horses in hand at the walk and trot on a hard surface. Handler will walk in and stand horse up for the panel before being asked to walk and then jog the horse, in a straight line, away from and then toward, the panel. Conformation, way of going and correctness of movement are assessed.
 Presentation of horses in hand. Horses are then evaluated on conformation and movement. The handler will walk the horse into the arena and stand the horse up for the panel. The handler will be asked to walk and then trot the horse clockwise around the perimeter of the triangle. This should be practiced prior to the inspection in order that the horse leads properly and moves forward freely and straight. The handler will then be asked to detach the reins so that horse can be presented at liberty. Strength of movement in all gates will be evaluated at liberty.
 The horse will be put thorough a free jumping exercise that will be evaluated. Details of the free jumping format and evaluation points will be provided in advance of the inspection.
 Final group assessment. Handlers will be asked to walk horses in to ring as a group. Overall impression to be assessed and final decision of panel will be made and announced.

PHASE II – PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

• 3, 4 & 5-year-old stallions: Completion of Phase II – All performance requirements of stallions are due by December 31st of the six-year-old year.

• 6 year old and older stallions: Completion of Phase II – Performance requirements of stallions are due by December 31st of the year following inspection.