Hanoverian Breeding programs

The extraordinary position of the Hanoverian in the national and international competition is only possible through consequently applied selection measures.

With the help of various breeding programmes, Hanoveiran breeders try to consolidate and further improve the success of their horses. We would be happy to help you with your breeding programme!

Hanoverian Breeding Aim

The Hanoverian is to be bred as a horse which is particularly suitable for riding. The aim is to produce horses which, on account of their inner qualities, rideability, external appearance, sequence of movement, natural jumping ability and health, are suitable as performance as well as leisure horses.

On this basis it is aimed to breed horses with particular ability for the discipline either of dressage, jumping or eventing. With the qualities mentioned, it is also aimed to breed horses which are suitable for driving sport. The breeding aim offers each individual breeder enough freedom to realize his own ideas.

Breeding program of the Hanoverian breed

(pdf)

Breeding Breeding Program Half-Blood Racehorse

(pdf)

Breeding aim for the Rhineland Riding Horse

Goal is to breed noble, big-framed and healthy, fertile horses with a perfect conformation and powerful, ground-covering and elastic movement that are suitable for all equestrian purposes when it comes to temperament, character and rideability.

Breeding program of the Rhineland riding horse

(pdf)

Guidelines breeding

The Studbook Committee of the Hanoverian Society has developed guidelines. This is intended to draw attention to partial aspects of the breeding aim and on currently important selection criteria. The guidelines, like signposts, describe the direction of decision-making processes and at the same time serve as a basis for discussion for the implementation of concrete measures. They provide valuable orientation for every breeder.

Guideline Main Disposition
Breeding sport horses requires a clear orientation towards a particular disposition for dressage, show jumping or eventing. For the selection, all trait complexes must be evaluated. In the breeding of show jumpers, only show jumping lines and suitable sires should be used. Dressage bloodlines, appropriate show jumping bloodlines and well-matching sires should be used in the breeding of dressage horses.
Guideline Quality
The evaluation of the back is of special importance in the breeding of sport horses in all disciplines. Selecting horses who display expressive steps over a powerful, relaxed back is in the focus of attention to pursue the goal of improving the horse’s movement by means of perfectly developing the carrying power under the rider. Furthermore, the importance of hoof and conformation quality is to be increased again.
Guideline Identity
The Hanoverian Society aims to stabilize the valuable genetic basis of the Hanoverian breed in the long term by encouraging the use of proven and newly developing Hanoverian performance lines.

Innovations in the Hanoverian breeding program

Entry requirements made easier
Due to the changes in the Hanoverian breeding program, the entry requirements for mares and stallions from other breeding societies into the Hanoverian studbook are made easier. A difference is made between riding horse populations (breed group 1) and special breeds (breed group 2). Thus, all eligible mares for entry of the riding horse populations listed in breed group 1 are eligible to participate in mare shows and can also receive the candidacy for the Hanoverian Premium if they perform accordingly. In addition, the studbook will be kept as an open studbook in the future. A pre-book will be introduced, as it already existed in the past. Horses without pedigree in the riding horse type can be entered in this pre-book. Foals from these horses will receive a birth certificate, not a pedigree certificate.
Stallion use - wider range
The main division of the studbook includes Stallion Books I, Ib, and II. The additional section consists of the pre-book for stallions and the foal pre-book for stallions.

Stallions which have not yet been presented to the Hanoverian Society for licensing and which, among other things, have been licensed by another recognized breeding society and have been performance tested according to their age
- This applies to stallions of the riding horse type of the following societies, as their performance test system is comparable to the system used in Germany: All German warmblood breeding societies, as well as BWP, DWB, KWPN, SWB, SF, ZANG
-six generations of licensed and performance tested sires in their pedigrees.

In the past, the Hanoverian Society additionally required a so-called special performance (e.g. minimum score HLP 9.0; placing Final World Championship Young Horses), this is now no longer required. Thus, the breeder whose foal is to be registered as a Hanoverian (pedigree certificate I) is offered a wider choice and simplification in the use of the stallion.

For the transfer to Stallion Book I, i.e. the inclusion of the stallion in the Hanoverian stallion directory, the special performance previously required for registration in Stallion Book Ib is still necessary. Alternatively, this goal is achieved with a presentation to the licensing commission and a positive licensing verdict from the Hanoverian Society.
Licensing - Opening and uniform selection threshold
All stallions of the riding horse populations (breed group 1) are entitled to participate in the licensing, provided that they meet the pedigree requirements. By opening the main licensing for stallions of other riding horse populations, a uniform selection threshold for all stallions is introduced. The new uniform selection threshold to the licensing is an overall score of at least 7.5. Thus, half scores can also be awarded at the licensing.
Colors - more variety
All colors of the warmblood populations (e.g. piebald, palomino, cremello, smokey black, buckskin) are accepted for the Hanoverian breeding program. Accordingly, foals, mares and stallions of all colors can be registered, entered and licensed as long as they meet the pedigree requirements. Especially in the case of the special colors, these are not always given. Special breeds such as Gelderlanders, Pintos, Appaloosa, Lipizzaners, Lusitanos and PRE are still not eligible for registration in the breeding program for Hanoverians. The following pedigree requirements also apply to the newly approved colors: For registration of mares in the main studbook:
- The sire and dams' sires must be eligible for registration in Stallion Book I/ Stallion Book Ib for four generations.
- The dam must be eligible for entry in the main division (except for the annex and foal book)

For accepting stallions for licensing:
- The sire and dams' sires must be registered for six generations in Stallion Book I/ Stallion Book Ib or a division corresponding to Stallion Book I in a studbook of an approved breed
- The dam and granddam must be registered in the main division (except annex and foal book) or a division corresponding to the main division of a stud book of an approved breed

Foals whose parents meet the above mentioned requirements can be registered as Hanoverian.

Hanoverian Jumper Breeding Program (PHS)

In 1993, the Hanoverian Springpferdezucht (PHS) program was initiated. The support program aims to improve the breeding of show jumping horses. A part of the Hanoverian breed is designated to specifically produce above average jumpers

Hanoverian Dressage Breeding Programm (PHD)

In accordance with the star system of the Hanoverian Jumper Breeding program, dressage mares with good performances of their own or those of their offspring have been awarded stars since 2024. For this purpose, the * system from Hanoverian Jumper Breeding was transferred to dressage mares.