The Mare Inspection process begins in advance of the inspection day, when the breeder fills out an Inspection Reservation Form, pays a $100 deposit, and sends in a copy of mare’s registration papers. This information is entered into the database. Mares with performance careers may earn a Pradikat Sport – please submit Performance Results for review when sending in the mare’s pedigree. On inspection day, the paperwork is reviewed, original mare papers are inspected. and remaining payment is collected. Next, depending on the host site's schedule, mares, then mares with foals will be presented, with mares being shown in the bridle and foals beside their dams on a leadline. After the evaluation of conformation, measurement, and drawing of markings, mares and foals (turned loose without the halter) will be presented at walk in a straight line toward and away from the judge, and then on the triangle. Finally, trot and canter will also be judged at liberty, for mares and foals, as long as there is no safety or health precaution against doing so.
The following is a general guide to what Mare Book your mare is eligible for:
Westfalen Mare Books
Mare Book I
- must fulfill the pedigree requirements (4 Generation pedigree main section eligible breeds)
- must reach an overall score of 6.0 and no individual score below 5.0
Mare Book II
- mares that are not eligible for MB1 but both parents are in the main section
- also offspring of Pre Mare Book (PMB) mares if the PMB ancestors have been crossed for three generations with horses from the main section and the mare reaches an overall score of 6.0
Pre-Mare Book
- mares that are not eligible for the main section but represent the warmblood type and reach an overall score of 5.0 and no individual score below 4.0
Mares must be at least three years of age to be inspected into a Mare Book. To be eligible for the Main Mare Book, a mare must have an average score of 6.0 or above, with no single score lower than 5.0. She must also meet Pedigree Requirements. Mares entered into Pre-Mare Book must have an average score of at least 5.0, with no single score lower than 4.0. Mares who are eligible by pedigree for Mare Book I and who earn a score of 7.2 or above overall will be awarded Verbands Premium. Mares who earn Premium and also complete a Mare Performance Test are eligible for Elite Status. At inspection, Scores ranging from 1-10 will be given in the following categories:
- Breed and Sex Type
- Quality of Conformation
- Correctness of Conformation and Elasticity of Gaits
- Walk
- Trot
- Canter
- Free Jumping (for stallions)
- Overall Impression and Development
Westfalen Warmblood Eligible Breeds