New test system in Norway

Link to the article published on the website of Norges Fjordhestlag : click here

Short translation by Nils Ivar Dolvik below:

In autumn 2013 the Board at Norwegian Horse center decided to change the stallions tests for all stallions 4-5 years for the fjords, and our two other native breeds.
A group of people where the organizations were represented was established.

What is the difference between the new and the old system?

One wants to register data in a new way to easy their use for making breeding indexes.
One thing is to get information from a lot of more horses and therefore register data on more exhibitions.
Further to find practical solutions to register the right data.

The system will proceed and improve over time and will not be 100 % finished the first year.

New cards for judges are developed, and there are a lot of changes to be aware of for horse owners, judges and others. Therefore the test system will not be perfect the first year. The card for judges will be adjusted further, and there is a lot of learning for judges. There will also be challenges for the people that shall arrange the exhibitions.

Consultations for the local associations and a common meeting on the issue:
This year one will use the old and the new system parallel. So there will be two teams of judges for the tests.
Then one can compare the results from the new and old system. This will be presented in a meeting for all relevant organizations and then after a discussion the organizations probably feel an ownership to the new system. There will not be any changes for mares and geldings this first year. Voluntarily owners can also show their horses in some of the new tests, and it will be possible to show the same horse several times though the year. Further one will try to gather data also from specific competitions.

New this year is a special track where the horse is walked by hand.

For stallions that come for the first time, (3-years old) the only new thing is this special track. The horse shall pass several obstacles and temperament will be judged.
This shall be done first by the owner or one he trust and then by one experienced appointed by Norwegian Horse Center.