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Stallions

Hanoverian breeders can choose from more than 300 stallions. Many of them are successful in international competitions. The selection of stallions at the Hanoverian Society takes place in two stages: Stallion Licensing and stallion performance test. Only when both selection stages have been successfully completed a stallion can be used for breeding.

The licensing is one of the two necessary prerequisites for a stallion to become fully approved for breeding. The stallions are either licensed in-hand at the age of two-and-a-half or under saddle at the age of three. Evaluation criteria are conformation, basic gaits and scope.

Stallion pre-selection

Stallion pre-selection

As part of the stallion pre-selection process, the jumping and dressage stallions are pre-selected for licensing. To this end, the selection committee selects the dressage stallions and jumping stallions at the pre-selection dates in Verden.

Stallion licensing and stallion sales - Dressage

Stallion licensing and stallion sales - Dressage

The breeding highlight is the stallion licensing and the stallion sales for dressage stallions in Verden. At the main licensing, two-and-a-half-year-old stallions are presented in hand and three-year-old stallions under saddle. Stallion owners and riders buy their future stud stallion or sport partner here. From November 20 to 22, 2025, the stallion licensing of dressage stallions and the FRH Cup for seven- to nine-year-old dressage horses will take place.

Stallion licensing and stallion sales - Show jumping stallions

Stallion licensing and stallion sales - Show jumping stallions

The breeding highlight is the stallion licensing and the stallion sales for show jumping stallions in Verden. At the main licensing, two-and-a-half-year-old stallions are presented in hand and three-year-old stallions under saddle. Stallion owners and riders buy their future stud stallion or sport partner here. The stallion licensing of show jumping stallions and the Hanoverian Show Jumping Masters will take place from November 27 to 29, 2025.

Hanover stallions (HVP and yearbook stallion)

Hanover stallions (HVP and yearbook stallion)

All stallions registered for breeding in the current breeding year are published online in our stallion directory. You can find our current stallion directory here.

Stallion Performance Test

Stallion Performance Test

In addition to licensing, the stallion performance test is another necessary prerequisite for the breeding use of stallions. There are various ways to meet the requirements of the performance test.

Stallion licensing

Stallion licensing

The licensing is one of two necessary requirements for use in Hanoverian breeding. The licensing takes place either at two and a half years of age in hand or at three years of age under saddle. The conformation, basic gaits, and jumping ability are used as assessment criteria.

Awards

Awards

Honor where honor is due: Promising Hanoverian stallions can be awarded the title of Stakkato, Weltmeyer, or Grande Prize. Stallion of the Year is awarded to exceptional stallions that have had exemplary careers and have achieved great things in breeding.

Stallion book division

The main division of the studbook includes Stallion Books I, Ib and II. Stallions registered in Stallion Book I and Ib participate in the breeding program. The additional division consists of the pre-book for stallions and the foal pre-book for stallions.

The main division consists of the:

  • Stallion Book I (Hb I).
    In order to be entered in the Stallion Book I (Hanoverian studbook), the stallion must have been licensed by the Hanoverian Society and must have fully completed and passed the performance test. He must have at least six generations of licensed and performance tested sires in his pedigree. The stallion's dam and granddam must be registered in the main studbook, the great-granddam at least in the studbook. The stallions must achieve an overall score of at least 7.5 in the evaluation of the selection criteria for external appearance for licensing.
  • Stallion Book Ib (HB Ib).
    Stallions that have not yet been presented to the Hanoverian Society for licensing and have been licensed by another recognized breeding society and have been performance tested in accordance with their age can be entered in Stallion Book Ib. This applies to riding horse type stallions 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, Z.Rpf. The same pedigree requirements apply as for registration in Hb I.
  • Stallion Book II (HB II).
    Stallions that have been licensed by the Hanoverian Society or another recognized breeding society (all German warmblood breeding societies, as well as BWP, DWB, KWPN, SWB, SF, Z.Rpf ) and cannot yet present proof of performance according to age are entered in Stallion Book II. The same pedigree requirements apply as for registration in the Hb I and Ib.
  • Annex for stallions (A).
    For registration in the Annex, a pedigree certificate or a birth certificate must be available. Stallions that do not meet the entry requirements for Stallion Book I, Ib or II are entered in the Annex. The entry is made without evaluation. Stallions registered in the Foal Book for Stallions are automatically entered in the Annex if offspring are registered from them.
  • Foal Book for Stallions
    In the year of birth, all stallions whose parents are registered in the studbook of the breed are entered.

The additional section consists of the:

  • Pre-book for stallions
    In the pre-book, stallions can be entered that do not meet the entry requirements for the main division, but are of the German Riding Horse type and meet the breeding goal.
  • Foal pre-book for stallions
    In the year of birth, all colts are entered that do not meet the entry requirements for the Foal Book for Stallions.

After licensing, stallions that have not yet been performance tested will initially be listed in Stallion Book II and will only be listed in Stallion Book I (provisionally) after presentation of proof of performance appropriate to their age. The stallions (provisionally) listed in stallion book I are published in the stallion directory. Stallions registered in Stallion Book Ib can be transferred to Stallion Book I by licensing with the Hanoverian Society. The possible ways to the provisional or final registration in the stallion book I in the German HLP system can be found here

Do you have questions about stallions or registering a stallion?
We are happy to help.

Fiona Koch

Processing of breeding data, support for stallion owners, young breeders, Issuing of foal registration forms and animal breeding certificates young breeders

Ulrich Hahne

Zuchtleiter

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